how might the alarm on my '94 850 have been switched off? Topic is solved

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 03 Apr 2005, 15:06

hi there

I have just bought a '94 850 GLT and I notice the alarm has been disabled. The LED below the windscreen stays off.

Presumably the previous owner thought the alarm was more trouble than it was worth, but I would like to establish this for myself, if it's easy to revive temporarily.

What's the most likely way the alarm has been disabled? I have no idea where to look right now.

White850Turbo · Post by **White850Turbo** » 03 Apr 2005, 16:50

Look under the driver's side kick panel. There should be an easily visible relay (I think it's black in color) for the anti-theft system. It'll say anti-theft relay on it. If you don't see one, that's the most likely cause of the problem.

wildatheart · Post by **wildatheart** » 04 Apr 2005, 01:23

thanks very much - I'll take a look. If this relay is missing, would it be expensive to replace? Where might be the best place to buy..?

( I posted my initial question as 'guest' by mistake...)

wildatheart · Post by **wildatheart** » 05 Apr 2005, 11:55

White850Turbo wrote: If you don't see one, that's the most likely cause of the problem.

I just checked things out and I DO have the anti-theft relay. When I remove it, the car won't start.

Sot, the alarm appears to be disabled somewhere - but where/how..?

Thanks for any suggestions.

Jaap

White850Turbo · Post by **White850Turbo** » 06 Apr 2005, 08:59

I don't have much experience working with the alarm system on these cars, but you may want to check this link out and look under the electrical section. I believe there is some alarm system info there.

wildatheart · Post by **wildatheart** » 06 Apr 2005, 11:21

Thanks for the link - I have just now, minutes ago, discovered where I was going wrong. The alarm only functions when I deadlock the car, not when I simply lock it. I presume this is an intentional, if mildly baffling design. Either way, it works now, I think; at least the LED flashes.

What's a good way to test if the alarm triggers? (I don't feel much like smashing a window..)

borges · Post by **borges** » 06 Apr 2005, 21:23

wildatheart wrote:
What's a good way to test if the alarm triggers? (I don't feel much like smashing a window..)

Leave the window open

and pull the lever. It ought to make noise. My '93 also has the feature that if you hold the key fob button down for awhile the alarm will sound. Then click it to make it stop.

wildatheart · Post by **wildatheart** » 07 Apr 2005, 01:44

borges wrote:
wildatheart wrote:
What's a good way to test if the alarm triggers? (I don't feel much like smashing a window..)
Leave the window open and pull the lever. It ought to make noise. My '93 also has the feature that if you hold the key fob button down for awhile the alarm will sound. Then click it to make it stop.

...but my alarm is armed only when I deadlock the car...so I can't open the door using the lever from the inside

borges · Post by **borges** » 07 Apr 2005, 04:40

wildatheart wrote:
...but my alarm is armed only when I deadlock the car...so I can't open the door using the lever from the inside

Ok...Leave someone else inside the car? I'm not familiar with that term deadlocking. My '93 will set the alarm with the window open.