!996 lt4 alarm problems
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
!996 lt4 alarm problems
Hey guys,
I just got a 1996 lt4 a few months back, ever since getting the factory alarm keeps going off, i had a aftermarket viper installed to see if it would cure the problem. Now I still have the problem and now it sets off the viper alarm. Its killing my battery, I have to jump the car every other day. Is there anyway I can disable the factory alarm? I was told that it was wired into the ecm and the dealer had to fix it... Thanx in advance
I just got a 1996 lt4 a few months back, ever since getting the factory alarm keeps going off, i had a aftermarket viper installed to see if it would cure the problem. Now I still have the problem and now it sets off the viper alarm. Its killing my battery, I have to jump the car every other day. Is there anyway I can disable the factory alarm? I was told that it was wired into the ecm and the dealer had to fix it... Thanx in advance
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,043
Likes: 8
From: Tampa Florida
Hey guys,
I just got a 1996 lt4 a few months back, ever since getting the factory alarm keeps going off, i had a aftermarket viper installed to see if it would cure the problem. Now I still have the problem and now it sets off the viper alarm. Its killing my battery, I have to jump the car every other day. Is there anyway I can disable the factory alarm? I was told that it was wired into the ecm and the dealer had to fix it... Thanx in advance
I just got a 1996 lt4 a few months back, ever since getting the factory alarm keeps going off, i had a aftermarket viper installed to see if it would cure the problem. Now I still have the problem and now it sets off the viper alarm. Its killing my battery, I have to jump the car every other day. Is there anyway I can disable the factory alarm? I was told that it was wired into the ecm and the dealer had to fix it... Thanx in advance
Pro
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 658
Likes: 0
From: Lubbock for now, headed for Oklahoma
Engle is probably right. Your alarm would have to go off for hours and hours in order to kill the battery.
To find a battery draw: Pull the dome light and radio fuse. Disconnect the positive battery cable and put an ammeter in between the cable and positive terminal on the battery. This will now show the current amperage draw. Position the meter to where you can see it from the fuse panel. Next start pulling one fuse at a time and replacing them until you see a large drop in the amperage draw. When you do you are holding the fuse for the circuit that has the short or draw.
Keep in mind there will always be a parasitic draw from the ECM basic loss. You will no doubt be looking for a 5-10 amp change when you hit the right circuit.
To find a battery draw: Pull the dome light and radio fuse. Disconnect the positive battery cable and put an ammeter in between the cable and positive terminal on the battery. This will now show the current amperage draw. Position the meter to where you can see it from the fuse panel. Next start pulling one fuse at a time and replacing them until you see a large drop in the amperage draw. When you do you are holding the fuse for the circuit that has the short or draw.
Keep in mind there will always be a parasitic draw from the ECM basic loss. You will no doubt be looking for a 5-10 amp change when you hit the right circuit.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 195
Likes: 0
From: Lancaster CA
My LT4 has had a habit of turning on the interior lights, which I suspect to be a bad door/window open switch. It did set off the alarm once but it does drain the batty. I've started at the hatch by disconnecing the switch to see if that cur
es the problem, maybe the same thing is happening to you?
es the problem, maybe the same thing is happening to you?
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Hey guys thanx for all the advice, I am going to give it a try as soon as this ny weather warms up a little. I do know that i need a passenger side door jam switch, and the drivers door look only works manuelly. Could this be it?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 3,261
Likes: 9
From: sonoma ca
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,672
Likes: 0
From: Hereford AZ
I have a 1992 with the PKE alarm system and I have the same problem! I have been threw everything with no luck. But I did figure out the the guy that lives across the street from me, has a new GM truck with the factory remote start. When he uses the remote start function on his remote it sets the alarm off on my Corvette??? But that doesn't account for the 3am false alarms on my car for no reason.
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Intermediate
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 30
Likes: 2
From: Cypress TX
I agree with engle1147 and BluRay - your battery drain problem might be coming from somewhere else. But how many times a day does the alarm go off?
To take the alarm out of the equation, you should disable it and see what happens for a few days.
To answer your question about how to disable the alarm: You can put it into a "valet" mode by holding down the door button on your remote for about 5 seconds. Do this with the key OUT of the ignition. When the door locks cycle once, then it is in valet. Remember though, that in this mode you will have to manually lock the doors and unlock them every time (your PKE will not work in valet). To return to normal PKE mode with the alarm active, put key in the ignition (do NOT turn the car on), and hold the door button for about 5 seconds. When the door locks cycle, you are back in PKE alarmed mode.
Good luck!
To take the alarm out of the equation, you should disable it and see what happens for a few days.
To answer your question about how to disable the alarm: You can put it into a "valet" mode by holding down the door button on your remote for about 5 seconds. Do this with the key OUT of the ignition. When the door locks cycle once, then it is in valet. Remember though, that in this mode you will have to manually lock the doors and unlock them every time (your PKE will not work in valet). To return to normal PKE mode with the alarm active, put key in the ignition (do NOT turn the car on), and hold the door button for about 5 seconds. When the door locks cycle, you are back in PKE alarmed mode.
Good luck!
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,363
Likes: 7
From: 1994 LT1 Coupe 6-speed with FX3 & 2000 LS1 Vert 6-Speed with F45 Hunterdon County, NJ
The 'door ajar' switches can fail mechanically, electrically, and intermittently either way too.
So, if they do not 'close' the circuit when the door is openned, alarm will not set. If they do not maintain a 'open' circuit overnight (moisture 'shorting' out inside), they will set-off the alarm at 3 am.
Unfortunately, they are very poor quality and prone to failure in many ways. It's a shame how many of our car's systems depend on them functioning correctly, yet often they do not...
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Update:
Hey guys thanx for all the responces, I have ordered a door ajar switch form the dealer, they said about 10days. So I am going to try that first, last nite i recharged the battery and did not set the alarm, so I will see if it dies again before i put the switch. I will keep you all posted...
Hey guys thanx for all the responces, I have ordered a door ajar switch form the dealer, they said about 10days. So I am going to try that first, last nite i recharged the battery and did not set the alarm, so I will see if it dies again before i put the switch. I will keep you all posted...
