Alarm on 1997 Pathfinder goes off randomly

[Driver1979]

My father's had this car since 1998, and it has never happened until about a month ago. Now it happens maybe a couple times a week at random times.

To my understanding, the factory alarm is only supposed to go off if the door is opened from the inside when locked, and it used to be like that. Now, it goes off when there's nobody even near the car at 3 am, at 10 pm outside a restaurant, at 5 pm in our driveway. I'm positive that nobody's tampering with the locks. Is it possible that the wiring is messed up?

Thanks

[cyclone1410]

Originally Posted by Driver1979

My father's had this car since 1998, and it has never happened until about a month ago. Now it happens maybe a couple times a week at random times.

To my understanding, the factory alarm is only supposed to go off if the door is opened from the inside when locked, and it used to be like that. Now, it goes off when there's nobody even near the car at 3 am, at 10 pm outside a restaurant, at 5 pm in our driveway. I'm positive that nobody's tampering with the locks. Is it possible that the wiring is messed up?

Thanks

Car alarms generally sense that someone is entering the car either via a switch connected to the locking button (it usually forms part of the central locking solenoid) or via the courtesy light switch. It could be that one of these switches is a bit crook or that the alarm control unit itself is faulty. It is unlikely that the 'wiring is messed up' unless someone has been playing around with it recently. Have the system checked via someone who knows what they are doing. You don't want to have it played with by someone with no expertise in this area, mess the whole system up and have it fail when there is an attempt to steal the car (Murphy's Law).

[jimparker999]

I have been having trouble that may be related. My dome lights keep flickering and at the same time the dash light sometimes says a door is open. I have checked all switches and lights - the wiring diagram says there is a diode in that circuit somewhere and I suspect that it is faulty.

[stef722]

I myself also had this problem and figured out what the hell was going on.what happened to me was i had a door sensor(senses if the door is open)on my passenger side that was kinda faulty.it would tell me the door was cracked open when it was closed all the way.i stuck im tissue in between the rubber boot and the plastic stalk that the door hit to make it get pushed in more by the door so it would work.this worked but the sensor sat on a fine line and somtimes when i went over bumps the door ajar light would flicker.on windy days the alarm would go off because the car thought the door was being opened for a split second when the door was budjed by the wind.the stock alarm is not all that sophisticated and it runs on the basics of onced it's armed no doors should open until it's disarmed.this could b your problem too.watch the door ajar light carefully when driving.if it flickers once and awhile u might have the same problem i did.the fix?stuff more tissue in their!hope it helps.