Hello my droogs,
My new brilliant '76 has what appears to be an alarm lock on the left quarter panel:

I'm not familiar with the system- although I do see wiring from underneath- will someone fill me in on just how this system operates? The key fits in there and twists like a key should, but I don't know what I'm engaging exactly and just how to verify that the system is operational. Help anyone?

Thanks Forum-I luv ya!

 

If an open door or hood causes an on-and-off honking to come from the back end...it's working. If not...it's not.

 

Thanks once again, Sam (you should wear that tux 24/7)- you're a veritable wealth of information! I'll attempt to set the alarm off by opening doors and hoods....do I dis-engage by twisting the key again?
-Bryan

 

I think that's how it works. If not, closing the offending door or hood should kill it. I don't know much about the operation, just what it's supposed to do...last time I tried to hook mine up, it almost ate the main dash wiring harness...

 

The only why to kill the alarm is by turning the key counterclockwise (vertical) Closing the door will do nothing, as the alarm relay is already activated.

 

I was thinking that even with the key off, the alarm might keep going until the door was shut. Like I said, I haven't messed with one that's working.

 

Hmmm, has anyone actually used this alarm? I'll ty every way I know tomorrow to set the thing off- curious if it works. I'll check-in tomorrow. In the meantime, there might be somebody that, in fact, has used this thing. Let us know!!

 

They aren't known for their great reliability. Like I said, mine tried to set the car on fire. Also, Saturdays tend to be slow around here...you might get a better answer tomorrow or Monday.

 

Thanks Sam,
It's really just an incidental. I've had the '66 for 18 years and just enlisted the '76 in the last month. I love it like my first girlfriend and want to know every detail about it, including the stupid alarm thingy. I'm still learning the nuances. Hey, how about a shot of your engine cavity? I'm all about the beauty under the hood.

 

Beauty is not to be found in my engine bay...

 

Just a minor point, that is the left front fender, not the quarter panel.

 

My 73 alarm works fine. Its a simple system. There are three triggers, (both doors and the hood). With all three shut you can turn the key clockwise (slot horizontal) and "set" the alarm. If a door or the hood is opened, the alarm will go off, (if its still operational). If you try and set the alarm with a door or the hood open, it will go off immediately. Once the alarm is beeping, the only way to turn off the alarm is with the key. Closing the offending door/hood will not have any affect.

Now if you don't hear an alarm, listen for the relay clicking when you turn the key off. If you at least hear that, then the first place to check would be the horn itself. Assuming your horn is in the same location, (mounted to the back side of the drivers rear wheel well) unbolt the horn, (you may have to remove the drivers side muffler to get up there) and connect a test light to the two wires (one wire plugs to the horn and is live at all times. The other wire is bolted to the horn bracket and is ground, controlled by the relay and a flasher.) With the test light hooked up. Set the alarm, open a door and check for a flashing light. If it flashes, your system works and your horn does not. Otherwise you'll have to check your wiring.

If the horn is in-op, you can try and hook the horn to a battery charger and move the adjuster and see if you get any sound at all out of it. Put some pbBlaster on the adjustment screw (its the only moveable part on it) and a pair of vice grips to move it back and forth. Give the horn some rest from the battery charger often to prevent toasting the horn. If you can get some noise from the horn, continue adjusting the screw until it sounds more horn/siren-ish, and remount it. Good luck!

Hope this helps. Let us know what you come up with.

 

I believe once alarm is key activated, it kills the ignition to the starter, at least my 75 schematics show that. The switch inside the fender is the same switch used on the headlamps to indicate when they are in the "up" position. Get a schematic and you will see that it cuts the starter................................B

 

Perhaps in a later model, but my 73 will happily start up and continue beeping. And I don't understand the reference to a headlight switch.