Panic Alarm goes off by itself at night ('99)

I just bought this '99 Continental a couple of weeks ago, and about 4 or 5 nights ago, the panic alarm started going off all by itself. The remote key fob was sitting on my desk so it wasn't being touched. It went off at around 1:00 a.m. which I'm sure pleased the neighbors. I got up and clicked the unlock button which turned it off. 15 minutes later (right after I was just starting to doze off again) it goes off again. It's been doing it every night since then, and always in the middle of the night. Last night it went off at about 4:00 a.m.

However, yesterday I decided to do a test. I opened the remote fobs so there was no battery connection to the buttons. Did this for both remotes. the thing STILL goes off! So I know it's not the remotes.

I've searched google for forums dealing with this issue and haven't found any on the Lincoln, but plenty of other similar complaints for other vehicles including the Ford F150, Toyota, Nissan, and other vehicles.

Nobody seems to have a solution. People have even said dealers are stumped about what to do. One post had the following suggestion:

If you want to test the door switch/trunk switches, fold
down the rear seat and get in the car at night. Make sure
the interior dome light is set to turn on when a door is
opened. Press outwards on each door to see if the light
flickers or turns on. Similarly, climb into the trunk and
push up on the trunklid to see if the trunk light turns
on.

It could also be a hood switch, if it's so equipped.
There is an electrical connector at the hood switch;
disconnect it and see what happens. If the alarm stops
going off, the hood switch is faulty.

Now this brings up a point... my fuel door button doesn't seem to work properly. Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't, and I have to open the fuel door with the release cable inside the trunk.

Also, sometimes the automatic driver seat adjuster changes it's setting by itself. I had set it to be "off", and occasionally I'll get in the car and the seat is adjusting.

I wonder if either of those could be the problem.

Really, I would just like to disable the panic alarm, but from what I read, there is no way to do that on those other vehicles.

Any ideas? I love the car, but this is getting to be so annoying and embarrassing that it's just not worth it. I'd hate to have to dump this car over this stupid panic alarm (which is not such a great feature... everyone is desensitized to car alarms these days... it's like crying wolf).

By the way, this is not an anti-theft alarm I'm discussing, just the panic button on the remote.

Thanks for any help you can give me.

Signed,
FRUSTRATED!

I should have searched THIS forum more thoroughly before posting... I see others are having the same problem. I'll check the hood switch (but I really don't know how to check it unfortunately. Guess I'll just go see if I can find it and then I don't know what to do when and if I do find it... still need help there I guess).

You mentioned tons of research, good for you!! Seriously, most folks don't get that far before posting.

Yes, there are a few possible contributors to this problem, Hood Pin Switch, Drivers Seat Sensor, Door Switches, Ignition Lock Position, and some others....

You mentioned in another thread you went to a Stealership after much frustration...

What was the outcome ??

You mentioned in another thread you went to a Stealership after much frustration...

What was the outcome ??
Stealership! HAHA!!! Ain't it the truth!?

They called after 5 oclock yesterday and said they still hadn't found the problem and could they keep it overnight. I said "sure, I need the sleep" (can't sleep well when you just know that thing will go off in the middle of the night and you'll have to disarm it). Let their neighbors deal with the noise instead of mine.

I slept well last night. Now just waiting on them.

I have had my mechanic and lincoln mercury look at my 99 linc. for the panic alarm problem.finally lincoln said it was coming from the trunk lock and scensor.300.00 later for a new trunk lock and not fixed.I have done my research and even tried unhooking the hood scensor. went off later that day.finally I think I figured it out and haven't had the problem in months.go into your trunk,near the lock remove the plastic plugs to get to the lock,pull back on the material around the lock.one big black cable coming out of the lock,one small wire going off to the right of lock.the small wire needs to be unplugged or unhooked.the remote and door trunk unlock will still work but the scensor won't pick up for the alarm to go off.love the car and the panic alarm has been a hassel for years.now love the car again.hope this helps/ norm.

My boyfriends car does this...it is because the stupid door ajar light comes on, something w/ the latches, so even w/ car off, the door is signaling it is ajar- thus the alarm goes off! See the posting about putting WD on door latches! I'm guessing this always/mostly happens at night due to temp change (is cooler then day & triggers the latch to indicate "ajar". When using car interior lights come on & off for same reason (door ajar) What a simple but nuisance thing causing all this trouble! We're greasing door latches tonite!