1997 Explorer XLT Erratic Alarm!!

[BearCave]

Hi everyone,

I am new to this forum as well as being a recent first time Ford owner. A few weeks ago I bought a 1997 Ford Explorer XLT with low miles/excellent shape. After the first few days of owning it, I'm beginning to see why the previous owner got rid of it. The anti-theft alarm on this thing is crazy!

The problem is that about five to ten minutes after the vehicle is parked from being driven and the anti-theft system is enabled (either by remote fob, keypad, or just locking the doors with the power lock button on the door panel, it doesn't matter) the alarm will just start going off for no apparent reason! Why is this? Could it be a bad door jamb sensor? Is there a bad relay of some sorts? It's really starting to drive me AND my neighbors nuts! I can't even lock my vehicle now, for fear that the alarm will go off after five to ten minutes!!

Please help!!

[kekul]

Are you talking about an after market alarm system?

[BearCave]

No. It's the Ford factory anti-theft system.

What's really weird is that after the alarm goes off (horn honking & lights flashing) and I turn it off, I wait for about a half an hour (enough time for the truck the cool down) re-arm it, and it's fine (doesn't go off for no reason)!

It only seems to go off for no reason, five to ten minutes after the truck was just driven.

[ponchonutty]

Originally Posted by BearCave

No. It's the Ford factory anti-theft system.

What's really weird is that after the alarm goes off (horn honking & lights flashing) and I turn it off, I wait for about a half an hour (enough time for the truck the cool down) re-arm it, and it's fine (doesn't go off for no reason)!

It only seems to go off for no reason, five to ten minutes after the truck was just driven.

Yeah, FOrd loves using those POS Code Alarm things!!! The only thing I can think of is to check ALL of the pin switches for the doors and hood. Make sure none of them are hypersensitive or work funky. Also, some of these alarms will sense wierd voltage drops. You could have a short somewhere or have a bad battery/altinator??? If none of that works, you could ground the disarm wire perminately so it never rearms.

[BearCave]

I checked all the door latches and hood and everything seems to be perfectly fine. You may be right about there possibly being a short somewhere because the alarm doesn't act this way every single time I arm it.

Where is the disarm wire and how would/should I go about grounding it permanently?

Thanks again for all of your help!

[ponchonutty]

Originally Posted by BearCave

I checked all the door latches and hood and everything seems to be perfectly fine. You may be right about there possibly being a short somewhere because the alarm doesn't act this way every single time I arm it.

Where is the disarm wire and how would/should I go about grounding it permanently?

Thanks again for all of your help!

remember that you will be treating the symptom and not the cause but this can buy you some time. Then, later you can dig into the car to see what is the problem. The Factory Alarm Disarm ia dk. green/purple and uses a - pulse to disarm. You can find this in the driver's kick panel or inside the driver's door. Just take a piece of wire and tap into the green/purple and then ground the other end to anything metal that is grounded.

[rjay]

keyless entry module gone bad and replace seal on rear back window when you replace it or you will be buying a new one again.

[paulhg1]

I also have a 1997 Ford Explorer which has the same crazy alarm problem. I took it to local ford dealership and they kept it 2 days. I had the driver side door lock replaced and I replaced the batteries in remote. problem is still there and has now worn out my horn. I have had this car since beginning and it is a factory installed alarm. Has there been any update on this problem. It is really annoying.