Removing Non-working Viper Alarm
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Removing Non-working Viper Alarm
I have a 1996 C4 that had some body work done to it a while back and ever since, my Viper alarm system never worked. The people doing the body repairs were hacks when it came to the aftermarket alarm. They just cut the siren and sensor wires and left them loose. I don’t know where the alarm is hidden or even if it is still in the car. I’m pretty sure that either way, the wiring is not back to factory original. If it was, I should be able to use my factory key fob, but neither this fob nor my Viper one unlock the doors.
So now I’m trying to rewire the system to factory original and get the PKE system going again.
I have the kick panel off in the driver’s side and I don’t see anything really obvious. I would think that I should see a substantial wiring harness for the Viper system somewhere. I’m wondering if I’m looking in the wrong place. Any clues on where and what to look for?
Thanks,
Ron
So now I’m trying to rewire the system to factory original and get the PKE system going again.
I have the kick panel off in the driver’s side and I don’t see anything really obvious. I would think that I should see a substantial wiring harness for the Viper system somewhere. I’m wondering if I’m looking in the wrong place. Any clues on where and what to look for?
Thanks,
Ron
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,254
Likes: 3
From: Souderton Pa.
It's a shame that I didn't see this post earlier when I was working on my alarm system. Mine is installed under the steering column, everything looks factory from my install. I believe that my installer placed my sensor to the far right, just behind the OBD connector. Everything else is right under the steering column. I don't have a siren, my installer used the factory horn since space under the hood is so tight for placing a siren.
One idea is to look up the model Viper that you have and then look up what comes in the box. Maybe then you'll be able to trace the wiring and fix what you need to fix. Good luck.
One idea is to look up the model Viper that you have and then look up what comes in the box. Maybe then you'll be able to trace the wiring and fix what you need to fix. Good luck.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
I got looking at it again. From what I can surmise, the Viper alarm is not installed in the car at all anymore. It looks like the relevant wires that were cut are now spliced back together with no third wire tapping off of them. The wiring looks pretty much factory stock except for the splices.
I think what happened was the body shop got the car in, didn't know what to do with the aftermarket alarm, so they just patched things up as a stock car. Then they handed the car back saying "Don't know about the alarm you've got in there. You'll have to take it to an alarm installer to have it reinstalled." I never did.
What is odd is that they left a few remnants in, like sensors, but with the wiring cut. I didn't actually expect to find the wiring pretty much back to factory stock seeing how they butchered up the alarm.
The main reason that I didn't think things were back to normal is because my factory key fob doesn't work with the car now. I figured that the Viper alarm relays were preventing things from working. But apparently this is not the case. I'm going to start a new thread on the PKE issue because it seems that the alarm is not the culprit after all.
I think what happened was the body shop got the car in, didn't know what to do with the aftermarket alarm, so they just patched things up as a stock car. Then they handed the car back saying "Don't know about the alarm you've got in there. You'll have to take it to an alarm installer to have it reinstalled." I never did.
What is odd is that they left a few remnants in, like sensors, but with the wiring cut. I didn't actually expect to find the wiring pretty much back to factory stock seeing how they butchered up the alarm.
The main reason that I didn't think things were back to normal is because my factory key fob doesn't work with the car now. I figured that the Viper alarm relays were preventing things from working. But apparently this is not the case. I'm going to start a new thread on the PKE issue because it seems that the alarm is not the culprit after all.
