Alarm is causing havoc.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 135
Likes: 0
From: Moorestown NJ
Alarm is causing havoc.
On my 1989 the po had an aftermarket alarm on the car that has been nothing but trouble. Right now I am going with notion that I believe it is the aftermarket and not the factory one, so I want to start with removing it. I am not really good with the electronics ends of cars but I am going to take a shot at removing the aftermarket one on Monday.
I am going to try and find the brain first and work from there.
Is there anything important I should look out for not to screw up and cause me more headaches?
Thanks guys.
I am going to try and find the brain first and work from there.
Is there anything important I should look out for not to screw up and cause me more headaches?
Thanks guys.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,079
Likes: 1
From: Niagara Falls ON
Make sure that you have a wiring diagram for your year of Corvette. Make sure that everything that is supposed to be there is there. If you see anything that isn't on the diagram see how it is installed. You might also want to post pics in case someone on the forum has experience with specific aftermarket brands of alarms...assuming of course that you find one.
If your car has the factory alarm check all of the connections. Poor connections are the first place to test.
Is there an aftermarket stereo? Sometimes poor installation of these can cause problems somewhere else.
If your car has the factory alarm check all of the connections. Poor connections are the first place to test.
Is there an aftermarket stereo? Sometimes poor installation of these can cause problems somewhere else.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 6,514
Likes: 1,301
From: Windermere FL
+1 on the FSM wiring diagrams. Alarms are one of the most frustrating things to work on these cars. Often, after market installed must make all kinds of draconian changes to get aftermarket alarms to function in these cars. Door locks, and the interface with the factory system are particularly troublesome. There are a few people that helped me with my after market replacement and with out their remote help I would never have been able to do it. But they are only remote, you have to in the end figure it out. Just a word of caution. I also had to go to a car alarm forum to get information on how to setup special relays to interface with the stock alarm. There was one professional there that really knew his stuff and pointed me to a special relay that I had to special order so that it would work without draining the battery. Without that info, I would have been screwed.
Once you start it - if you cannot finish it, a professional may really rape you over the coals to get it working verses having them do it from the start.
In any event, last year I replaced an aftermarket system it took me about 3 weekends working both days and a couple of hours nights here and there to get-r-done.
Once you start it - if you cannot finish it, a professional may really rape you over the coals to get it working verses having them do it from the start.
In any event, last year I replaced an aftermarket system it took me about 3 weekends working both days and a couple of hours nights here and there to get-r-done.
Last edited by Flame Red; Oct 3, 2011 at 08:29 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,647
Likes: 4
From: Argillite KY
Aftermarket alarm wiring is......interesting. After you get the brain you may consider getting a wiring diagram for it. Some of the circuits are paralleled with those in your car and others are hooked up in series. If you just cut it out you may not be able to start your car.
The paralleled wires can just be cut off and insulated but the series wired circuit will have to be removed and your original factory wires re-attached to each other. The good news is that they will normally be close together. Most manufacturers will have diagrams of their boxes online if they're not too old or esoteric.
The paralleled wires can just be cut off and insulated but the series wired circuit will have to be removed and your original factory wires re-attached to each other. The good news is that they will normally be close together. Most manufacturers will have diagrams of their boxes online if they're not too old or esoteric.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 135
Likes: 0
From: Moorestown NJ
First off thank you for the help. It is cutting the ignition at times and is giving me a no start at times. It sounds over my head in patience. I may need to go to the pros. I will end up cutting the wrong wire and it will no start at all.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,298
Likes: 240
From: Summerland B.C. Canada
As 1963SS stated, find the brain and it's model number. From there we can get a diagram and help you sort it out.
Did you get a remote with the aftermarket system ?
Pull the codes from your ECM and see if there is a code 46.
http://corvettephotographs.com/c4vettes/codes.htm
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