Car thinks it's stolen?

lnzlou · #1 05-19-2005, 10:48 PM

Hi, I apologize in advance for having the stupidest question ever.

Okay, the other day I was walking to my car with a bunch of shopping bags, of COURSE, and I went to hit the trunk-open button on the remote, and accidentally hit the panic button. Then I panicked for real and hit a bunch of buttons until it went off.

So, now the car thinks it's stolen. It locks and unlocks and runs and does everything just fine, but when the car is off it flashes the 'THEFT' light on the console every three seconds. Any idea what the hell I did, and how to make it go away?

lnzlou · #2 05-19-2005, 10:49 PM

Oh, and it's a 2004 Mustang.

2crunk · #3 05-19-2005, 11:31 PM

Nothing is wrong, it should have always done this.

2crunk · #4 05-19-2005, 11:33 PM

By the way, next time you accidentally hit the panic button, press the panic button again and it will shut off your alarm.

Sadair · #5 05-20-2005, 12:27 AM

Kind of funny but I have a similar problem....I just bought a new (used) car and my alarm does think its always being stolen. If I set it it will start to go off in about 15 secs. If I hit the lock button and close the door or use the keyless. If I lock the doors with the keys its fine. I checked to see if the doors were open. Is it probably a sensor in a door or somthing? Thanks for any help.

Sadair · #6 05-20-2005, 12:33 AM

Oh yeah and if it matters the only way to turn it off seems to be to unlock the door with the key.

99DenaliMan · #7 05-23-2005, 01:24 AM

I have had many car alarms. All the alarms I have had the light has always flashed on and off to tell thefts its armed. Lnzlou double check your manual to see if this is narmal.

Sadiar is this an aftermarket alarm? I'm not sure if factory came stock with a mercury switch, (it may have), but if it's an aftermarket unit there may be a mercuy switch (under the hood, or in the trunk) that is off balance thinking that it's open. Does it only happen when you are on a steep upward or downward hill?

dampachi · #8 05-23-2005, 02:09 AM

oh god. thats normal. that does not mean your car thinks it's stolen. haha. jesus christ. how old are you people? and how many cars have you owned? this is hilarious. OH NOZ! MY CAR THINKS ITS STOLEN! Nah dude. It's fine. They all do that.

Sadair · #9 05-23-2005, 08:27 PM

so its normal for the alarm to start going off all the time? Wow that makes alarms great. Not to mention my keyless entry kind of useless to lock it with. It's a factory alarm and it doesn't matter how it sits(I'm talking I could break out a level and it be perfect). I don't see how my question is dumb. this is my 3rd car and I'm 21. I was using the term "my car thinks its stolen" only because the alarm is going off and its loud(honking and everything) and it was the title of the thread. I'm hoping you're only talking about the first guy that posted Mr. dampachi. The car is a rebuilt 96 cobra. Mechanically it runs great it's just that after like 15 secs someone opened a locked door. When it starts going off the panic button doesn't turn it back off either. So if I set the alarm it will start going off no matter what. Honestly I think when it was put back together the sensors were not done right. Any way I can check it? What all can set it off? Is it just if the doors or trunk is opened while it is set? Are they two piece sensors? It looks like the trunk has a sensor in it but not one cooresponding to the body. Also the passenger door needs some alignment as well could that be the problem? It doesn't need a ton but maybe what a regular door would look like if it wasn't quite closed all the way. Thanks

2crunk · #10 05-25-2005, 04:50 PM

Was the car totaled or in a wreck? Sounds like too many problems, to just start happening out of the blue.

Sadair · #11 05-25-2005, 09:13 PM

No it's not just out of the blue. It was like that when I got it. It had been in a wreck before I bought it. I'm not 100% sure on how bad(It does have a rebuilt title).

dampachi · #12 05-26-2005, 02:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sadair

so its normal for the alarm to start going off all the time? Wow that makes alarms great. Not to mention my keyless entry kind of useless to lock it with. It's a factory alarm and it doesn't matter how it sits(I'm talking I could break out a level and it be perfect). I don't see how my question is dumb. this is my 3rd car and I'm 21. I was using the term "my car thinks its stolen" only because the alarm is going off and its loud(honking and everything) and it was the title of the thread. I'm hoping you're only talking about the first guy that posted Mr. dampachi. The car is a rebuilt 96 cobra. Mechanically it runs great it's just that after like 15 secs someone opened a locked door. When it starts going off the panic button doesn't turn it back off either. So if I set the alarm it will start going off no matter what. Honestly I think when it was put back together the sensors were not done right. Any way I can check it? What all can set it off? Is it just if the doors or trunk is opened while it is set? Are they two piece sensors? It looks like the trunk has a sensor in it but not one cooresponding to the body. Also the passenger door needs some alignment as well could that be the problem? It doesn't need a ton but maybe what a regular door would look like if it wasn't quite closed all the way. Thanks

My comment was to the first person. Yours sounds like an actual problem.

99DenaliMan · #13 05-27-2005, 02:17 AM

Ok, Lets start process of Elimination here.
First, Do you have a dome light that illuminates when the doors are open? If so does it shut off when the doors are closed? If so then it's not the doors. If the light stays on constintely it's probably the doors.
Second, next time the alarm goes off try to unlock the car with the key, This may reset the alarm and work. (This sounds really stupid, but I bought a 91 Acura that had an aftermarket alarm. I didn't know it but it also had an original alarm that would go off and I deactivated it by turning the key in the door.)-A shot in the dark, but worth a try-.
Third, If there is a sensor in the trunk simply disconect it and see if this solves the problem. It very well may. These things can and do get off balance and/or go bad. They are a type of switch (probably mercury), That is when they get to a certain angle; the conducting material inside will move, closing the normally open circuit and set off the alarm. Check else where (under the hood, etc) for any other switches. Thse can be checked by checking resistance between both wires coming off the sensor. If the switch is in Neutral it should not have a resistance reading. When the circuit is closed it will have a low resistance reading.
Fourth, are ALL of your connections going to and from the battery tight and free of corrossion? Some alarms will activate when a battery Voltage drops to quickly. Others have a back-up battery that activates the alarm when there is a sudden power shortage. (battery gets unplugged)
Finally, There may be an impact sensor that is turned to be to sensitive. My 99Denali had this problem. My alarm kept going off. I pulled the center console off. Found an impact sensor, turned it down some and my problem went away. (After a local shop condemned the BCM)

tturnpaw · #14 05-27-2005, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sadair

Oh yeah and if it matters the only way to turn it off seems to be to unlock the door with the key.

that is how it is supposed to be. When you lock the doors, the alarm arms itself. so when you shut them the alarm will go off. so shut the doors and remote lock them.

Sadair · #15 05-31-2005, 12:42 AM

Well then I guess its not the doors because the dome lights work like they should. The other stuff I'll have to wieght untill I get some free time to start checking it out.

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