92 C4 Alarm Disable
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 266
Likes: 20
From: Philadelphia Pa
92 C4 Alarm Troubleshooting
Hey everybody,
Need some help... I was away on travel and apparently my Vette's alarm was going off in the parking lot for about 14 hours. Cops came and pulled the battery cable. Wouldn't have been a big deal if I didn't live in an apartment complex. Well now that all that fun is over and I'm 90% sure my entire complex wants to blow up the vette, I need to fix it.
I've seen some things about bypassing the vats with resistors and things of that nature, I was wondering if there was a common failure point or if it's better to just bypass it. I don't need an alarm on the car, so bypassing or getting rid of it all together are definitely options.
Thanks for the help!
Need some help... I was away on travel and apparently my Vette's alarm was going off in the parking lot for about 14 hours. Cops came and pulled the battery cable. Wouldn't have been a big deal if I didn't live in an apartment complex. Well now that all that fun is over and I'm 90% sure my entire complex wants to blow up the vette, I need to fix it.
I've seen some things about bypassing the vats with resistors and things of that nature, I was wondering if there was a common failure point or if it's better to just bypass it. I don't need an alarm on the car, so bypassing or getting rid of it all together are definitely options.
Thanks for the help!
Last edited by hockeyhead019; Oct 26, 2016 at 08:44 AM. Reason: More accurate thread title now
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
Hey everybody,
Need some help... I was away on travel and apparently my Vette's alarm was going off in the parking lot for about 14 hours. Cops came and pulled the battery cable. Wouldn't have been a big deal if I didn't live in an apartment complex. Well now that all that fun is over and I'm 90% sure my entire complex wants to blow up the vette, I need to fix it.
I've seen some things about bypassing the vats with resistors and things of that nature, I was wondering if there was a common failure point or if it's better to just bypass it. I don't need an alarm on the car, so bypassing or getting rid of it all together are definitely options.
Thanks for the help!
Need some help... I was away on travel and apparently my Vette's alarm was going off in the parking lot for about 14 hours. Cops came and pulled the battery cable. Wouldn't have been a big deal if I didn't live in an apartment complex. Well now that all that fun is over and I'm 90% sure my entire complex wants to blow up the vette, I need to fix it.
I've seen some things about bypassing the vats with resistors and things of that nature, I was wondering if there was a common failure point or if it's better to just bypass it. I don't need an alarm on the car, so bypassing or getting rid of it all together are definitely options.
Thanks for the help!
You could disable/bypass VATS and still have an alarm. I'd check your door and lock switches.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 15,926
Likes: 579
It is not the vats. I would ajust the door switches. On my 94 I just pull the plungers out all the way and shut the door. And tun the key both ways fully.
Last edited by antfarmer2; Oct 25, 2016 at 10:54 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,394
Likes: 2,741
Is the 14 hours maybe a "stretch"?
Maybe the ALARM was actually doing the job!! Maybe!
If you set it then you understand I guess the ARMING and DISARMING procedures. I wouldn't think it coincidental. When you reconnected the battery did it sound again?
Do your door locks operate as expected? Does the SECURITY light flash as expected when you exit the car but haven't ARMED yet? If it doesn't then I'd think that "hints" maybe an ajar switch issue.
I'd think you just confirm correct operation and move on. I believe this is the accepted diagnostics for confirmation:
What to do if it fails DIAGNOSTICS - Do you have the FSM for the car?
Maybe the ALARM was actually doing the job!! Maybe!
If you set it then you understand I guess the ARMING and DISARMING procedures. I wouldn't think it coincidental. When you reconnected the battery did it sound again?
Do your door locks operate as expected? Does the SECURITY light flash as expected when you exit the car but haven't ARMED yet? If it doesn't then I'd think that "hints" maybe an ajar switch issue.
I'd think you just confirm correct operation and move on. I believe this is the accepted diagnostics for confirmation:
What to do if it fails DIAGNOSTICS - Do you have the FSM for the car?
Last edited by WVZR-1; Oct 26, 2016 at 02:57 AM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 266
Likes: 20
From: Philadelphia Pa
Ok so after last nights initial panic, I settled down and read through my FSM. I get the arming and disarming sequence. I'll go through the checks after work today. There is definitely a possibility that the car just did it's job. One that I didn't even know it was doing because the LED on the dash never illuminates when I arm the system via the auto locks.
I'll proceed with diagnostic testing and look for any stuck door ajar switches. Sorry for the panic, mods you can feel free to remove this one.
To all who responded, thanks for clearing things up and basically telling me to pull my head out of my a$$ and read my FSM. Sometimes you need that haha cheers
I'll proceed with diagnostic testing and look for any stuck door ajar switches. Sorry for the panic, mods you can feel free to remove this one.
To all who responded, thanks for clearing things up and basically telling me to pull my head out of my a$$ and read my FSM. Sometimes you need that haha cheers
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,394
Likes: 2,741
If you have an LED - where and maybe that hints an after-market package of some sort
Last edited by WVZR-1; Oct 26, 2016 at 08:20 AM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 266
Likes: 20
From: Philadelphia Pa
Here's a picture of the dash with a small circle around the led that I was referring to.
You'll have to look close but the light (or what I assume is the light) is just forward of the three vents.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 266
Likes: 20
From: Philadelphia Pa
Ok so scratch that LED theory, it was an assumption based on other cars I've been in.
Back to the issue that I've never seen the security lamp light up and yet had the alarm go off. Could be as simple as a burnt out bulb? Is there a diagnostic to check the function of all the bulbs behind the filters?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,394
Likes: 2,741
thanks Jim.
Ok so scratch that LED theory, it was an assumption based on other cars I've been in.
Back to the issue that I've never seen the security lamp light up and yet had the alarm go off. Could be as simple as a burnt out bulb? Is there a diagnostic to check the function of all the bulbs behind the filters?
Ok so scratch that LED theory, it was an assumption based on other cars I've been in.
Back to the issue that I've never seen the security lamp light up and yet had the alarm go off. Could be as simple as a burnt out bulb? Is there a diagnostic to check the function of all the bulbs behind the filters?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 266
Likes: 20
From: Philadelphia Pa
I'd think it very easy to overlook the SECURITY light in the cluster if you weren't looking for it. Have you ever seen the CHANGE OIL? It's just below it I believe. Do the diagnostics, look left lower extreme of the cluster and I believe you'll find it. BULB out? It's certainly possible.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,075
Likes: 109
From: Longmont Co
If you want to bypass the alarm just lock the doors with the manual door switch. And how did the cops pull the battery cable anyway, did they break in? (Don't dismiss a simple burned out bulb explanation).
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 266
Likes: 20
From: Philadelphia Pa
My guess is that the cops broke in. I checked this morning and there isn't negative signs of forced entry on either side. So I just locked it and will do the testing and diagnostics later today/tonight.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 266
Likes: 20
From: Philadelphia Pa
Ok it's confirmed to be a wonky door ajar switch. I just pulled the power to the horns for now until I get it squared away. The security light is working and I've just never looked for it (oops). The system functioned as designed via the test listed earlier by WVZR-1 so that checked out.
I noticed that when I'm driving it the interior lights pop on when i hit a hard bump or the car twists a little while turning up hill. I'll have to get the driver side door ajar switch squared away. Also confirmed by the fact that when i opened the driver door it didn't turn off the radio like it usually does.
I noticed that when I'm driving it the interior lights pop on when i hit a hard bump or the car twists a little while turning up hill. I'll have to get the driver side door ajar switch squared away. Also confirmed by the fact that when i opened the driver door it didn't turn off the radio like it usually does.