My OEM car alarm has gone off (lights & horn) 5 times in the last week alone (plus 3 times in the 2 weeks previous) - all without any reason. How do I know this? I park it where I can see it and I can see no one's been trying to get into it. The last time it went off was last night (Saturday) - 4am. I'm tired of it! What can I do? I've been told it might be dirty ground wires. Their solution was to cut the horn wire. I will not give up my horn to stop this because the current will still be activating. Anybody else experience this? Should I take it to Isuzu or a car alarm dealer??
TIA

{edited title and content to change OME (Old Man Emu) to OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) that should help searches... -- Randii}

<small>[ September 30, 2002, 01:19 PM: Message edited by: randii ]</small>

You sound very much like me; I park my truck ONLY where I can see it from my living room window. (Crappy aparment complex in a crappy neighborhood <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="images/icons/frown.gif" /> )

Obviously, you want an alarm. Do you have about $300 to spend? That's how much a decent aftermarket alarm (Clifford/Viper/DEI) will set you back, installed.

Take it to a place that 100% guarantees their work (parts & labor) and let them disable the factory alarm and put an aftermarket in there.

Any Isuzu dealer will charge you at least $300 to replace your factory alarm (it sounds like it's bad...I doubt the ground wire is dirty...unless you've recently had the interior full of water and/or mud) and you'd be better served w/an aftermarket alarm with features like "warn away" where the alarm "chirps" when someone violates a pre-set perimeter around your vehicle. I have this on my Troop.

I could be sitting at the PC, typing a post (like I am now) and I'll hear "wheo-wwooop!" and I run to my living room window and throw the blinds open just in time to see someone parking next to me and getting out of their vehicle. They SEE me WATCHING, so they are extra carefull with their doors on that POS 1989 Ford Aerostar minivan they drive. You get the idea.

If the little punk criminals know that your alarm will alert if they even get NEAR your truck, they will leave it alone.

Sorry, I got OT here...look, it sounds like your alarm is toast. Forget factory, go aftermarket.

Tammy...

Easy solution. Very typical problem. The rear door pin switch on the left side, does not fully engage when door is shut.

Get you a couple washers to space it out upon the screw and you should be good to go. Look in the archives, I am pretty sure its in there. Long time problem, easy solution.

HTH

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">Originally posted by Locomigo:
<strong>Tammy...

Easy solution. Very typical problem. The rear door pin switch on the left side, does not fully engage when door is shut.

Get you a couple washers to space it out upon the screw and you should be good to go. Look in the archives, I am pretty sure its in there. Long time problem, easy solution.

HTH</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">Orrrrrrrrrrrrr, it just could be ^^that^^. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Embarrassed]" src="images/icons/blush.gif" />

I still say you'd be better off w/an aftermarket alarm...depending on where you live and your driving habits (where you go...malls, stadiums, etc) Good luck.

I didn't know OME (Old Man Emu) made car alarms...or did you mean OEM?
<img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" />

It could be the shock sensor that is setting it off. Any sizeable vibration will set it off. Such as another vehicle with deep rumbling exhaust, planes going overhead, construction, etc. I finally had to disconnect the shock sensor on my alarm because I worked close to an airport and whenever the planes would go overhead, it would set the alarm off.

Richard

There is no shock sensor...

Simply a keyless entry with pin switches on the doors. That is all it consists of.
Very simple, but proven effective for my needs.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">There is no shock sensor...

Simply a keyless entry with pin switches on the doors. That is all it consists of.
Very simple, but proven effective for my needs. </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">Alright, that rules that out. Didn't know if the OEM alarms came with shock sensors or not. Some do and some don't. I would have to put my bet on one of the switches is not making good contact so it thinks there has been an intrusion.

Richard

Like I said, 99% chance of it being the rear one. It likes to not fully depress the switch with the plastic of the door. A couple 2-3 washers, spacing it out 3/16 - 1/4" and Tammy should be golden.

Look in the archives, I am confident they are in there. I had the same problem within the forst few months of ownership. Did this ittle gem, and have had no problems since.

Yea, OEM that's what I meant! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Embarrassed]" src="images/icons/blush.gif" /> (Thanks, Randii)

MichaelD, If I had $300 right now, I'd install my TeraLows! I know I want to get an after market alarm, but now is not the time. Thanks for some ideas to look for, though.

Keith, I'll check the rear door out. I have been packing things in there and you know how you get just that little bit too much so you shut the door anyway? Well, maybe that's affected that switch you refer to.

I also contacted Jerry Lemond and he thought maybe the rear hood corners at the SWs (I think rubber cushions) are not sitting tight. That apparently these can be real touchy. I did mash the lip of my hood a bit and it now has subtle hump. That, too, could be causing this. He suggested adding a 1/4" layer of hard rubber where the SWs touch the hood if adjusting them up doesn't work.

I will try both things and let you know how it works out. Thanks for all the info!

And to let you know, I had tried the search feature, but maybe I just wasn't using the right phrases? "Car alarm" "auto alarm" or should I of used "rig alarm"? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />