Panic alarm

[buckeyeguy]

For some strange reason, my panic alarm will go off and sound for about 5 seconds or so and then shuts off. It does this intermittently....does anyone know what is going on? I am not having any other electrical issues.

[richtazz]

It could be a sensitivity issue. If you have your owners manual, it will tell you how to adjust it, maybe that will help.

[BNaylor]

Just in case by chance the OP has no owner's manual I recall we discussed the content alarm sensitivity issue in the past on many occasions so here is an old thread that covers '99 models fairly in depth.

Click here

[buckeyeguy]

Well, there is no alarm on my GTP. When locked I can walk up and pull the handle, rock the car etc and nothing.....but for no apparent reason it will sound like 5 times and then stop.

[monkeylizard]

when you lock the car, do you have a red light in the center of the dash at the base of the windshield? If so, you have an alarm (and I think you do).

IIRC, up through '99 models, there is a sensitivity knob that can be accessed by opening the drivers door and then a small access panel on the end of the dash (sits flush against the door when the door is closed).

2000+ makes you do it through some strange combination of setting a fuse (or removing one, can't recall) and then turning the key backwards in the ignition one stop, and then turning the headlight switch/dial in some pattern.

If this hasn't been answered better by the time I get home tonight, I'll post the full instruction set out my Owner's Manual (2000 GPGT).

[monkeylizard]

Here it is, direct from the Owner's Manual for a 2000 GPGT.
Again, 99 (I think) and older have a knob in the left access panel by the driver's door in the end of the dash.

"If you experience nuisance alarms (alarms which are not caused by the opening of a door and are not desired), you may need to reduce the damage detection sensitivity. Try programming the content theft-deterent to Mode 1. If you continue to experience nuisance alarms, you may want to try turning off damage detection by programming the content theft-deterent to Mode 2.

If you are still having trouble with nuisance alarms, you can turn off the content theft-deterent system by programming the content theft-deterent to Mode 3."

Well, how do you program this stupid thing? Wait there's more!

" To program features, your vehicle must be in this programming mode. Follow these steps:

1. Turn the ignition key to LOCK or OFF
2. Remove the MALL PGM fuse from the instrument panel fuse box.
3. Turn the ignition key to ACCESSORY
4. Count the number of chimes you hear. You will hear two to four chimes, depending on the vehicle content.

The instrument panel fuse block is in the passenger footwell below the dash.
You will probably hear 3 or 4 chimes. Just 2 and you don't have the theft deterent system.

Now for the real meat.

"To change the Mode do the following:

1. Turn the Parking Lamps on, then off
2. Count the number of chimes you hear. The number of chimes tells you which mode the vehicle is set for. You change the mode by turning the parking lamps on, then off again.
3. Repeat step 2 until you hear the number of chimes that matches the number of the mode you want."

Here's the chime chart:
Mode 1 - Reduce sensitivity
Mode 2 - Damage detection OFF (alarm still sounds if a door is opened)
Mode 3 - All OFF
Mode 4 - Default sensitivity

Now, you'll need to exit the programing mode.

"To exit programming mode, turn the key from ACCESSORY to OFF and put the MALL PGM fuse back into the instrument panel fuse block"

That's it. Hope it works for you. It fixed mine.

The programming instructions begin on Page 2-12 of the 2000 GPGT Manual. It's neat some of the things that you can change from the default like the door unlocks for the remot, or the interior lighting delay.