Alarm going off when no alarm installed??

[pdbarry]

Hi There.

Today the alarm went off on my base model 2002 Caravan. The problem is that as far as I know there is no alarm in this vehicle. It has no power options (manual windows/locks, etc).

However, today at the soccer field I unlocked the door and the horn started honking and the headlights started flashing - just like an alarm equipped vehicle does!!??

I started the van and it started OK, but the alarm condition stayed. Of course I had no way to disarm the alarm (that we didn't know/think we had ) so I disconnected the horn wires.

The alarm stayed on as we drove home with the lights flashing. Once home I disconnected the battery. After reconnecting it- the lights were no longer flashing and the horn was off (I had reconnected the wires).

Finally - the alarm was hibernating.

Does this make sense to anyone? Now my wife is not keen on driving it in case it happens again.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Paul

[KManiac]

This may sound like a silly question, but please bare with me and answer to the best of your recollection.

When you unlocked the door of you van, the unlocking that set off the alarm, which method of unlocking did you use:

1) Inserting a key into the driver door lock
2) Inserting a key in any other door lock and which one
3) Reaching in an open window and pulling up on the lock button
4) Opening a door from the inside

Your answer here will help me solve your dilemma.

[pdbarry]

Hi - thanks for your message.

In fact I have tried hard to remember which sequence I used to unlock the van. I'm pretty sure (but not certain) that I unlocked the trunk, then the passenger door, then the driver's door. I'm pretty sure the driver's door was last.

In each case I used the "normal" key to unlock the doors manually. I may also have reached around and manually unlocked the sliding doors (that's the only way to do it since there is no lock cylinder on either sliding door).

I also can't remember whether the alarm went off before or after I started the engine. It took a while to register that it was actually my van with the alarm going!

A neighbor told me that it's possible to set off his Durango alarm by opening the doors in the "wrong" sequence. I'm guessing that's where you are going with your questions.

I'm hoping that there is some procedure for shutting it off if my wife or I accidentally set it off again.

Sorry - that's pretty vague, but I hope you can help anyway!

Regards,

Paul

[KManiac]

Now I am abuzz with questions.

1) Did you buy this van new or used? (A second owner may not have received everything that came with the car new.)

2) Are you absolutely sure you don't have electric "Lock" buttons on the insides of your driver and passenger doors?

3) Have you ever seen a light on your dashboard that blinks "Security" when you lock and close your door?

Now for some comments.

I don't know for sure about 2002 models, but for the 1998 through 2000 models, those that came with keyless remote from the factory DID NOT have lock cylinders in the sliding doors. Those that did not have keyless remote, DID have lock cylinders in the sliders. Since your van does not have lock cylinders in the sliders, and IF you bought it used, you may have keyless remote capability without knowing it. But then, you should have power lock buttons, as well.

These models were available with a passive security system. The system was set by locking the driver door either manually by lock button when open or with a key when closed, or by keyless remote. Then, a light on the dashboard would blink for about 30 seconds. Once the light stopped blinking, the alarm was set. Once the alarm was set, the system expects you to unlock the driver door either by key in the driver door or keyless remote. If the car is unlocked either from the inside by a passenger, or by reaching in and unlocking through an open window, and the alarm is set, the alarm will go off. In any case, the way to reset the passive alarm is to insert the key in the driver door lock, lock it, then unlock it.

Here is a test you can do to check for the existence of the passive security system. First, make sure all the other doors are locked. Then open the driver door, lock the door when open, sit in the drivers seat and close the door. Look for a flashing light on the dashboard. If you don't see one, assume it is burnt out or disconnected. Sit in the driver's seat for a full minute. Then, open the driver's door. If an alarm goes off, exit the van, close the driver's door, insert the key in the lock, lock it, then unlock it to shut it off.

Anyway, think about this, answer the questions, try what I said and let us know what you find.

[pdbarry]

Hi there,

Thanks for your message and good questions.

(1) I bought the van as a demo, with 18,000km, from a local dealer in 2002. Apparently it was used by the leasing manager for 6 months.

I should mention that, several careers ago, I was an auto maechanic. I've been working on cars and bikes for 30+ years.

(2) The van has no power lock buttons or switches. Also, all of the power lock equipped caravans that I've seen have a rubber covered switch assembly on the rear liftgate that is activated by your fingertips when you lift the door. Your fingers press a switch which activated the solenoid which then opens the latch. With my van you have to turn the key - hold it turned and then lift up on the leftgate. It is a 2-handed effort - one hand to hold the key turned and the other to open the door. In fact I wrote to Chrysler after I bought the van to tell them that this design was very poor for a family vehicle. If you had a child or groceries in your hand you have to put them on the ground to open the liftgate!!!

Also, after I bought the van I realized that to open the sliding doors you had to reach around the pillar and lift up the lock manually (incredibly poor design) I investigated adding aftermarket power locks. I think (this was 4 years ago) that I removed the door panels and found that there was no lock solenoids installed.

(3) There is no security light on the dash other than the small red LED that lights up until the transponder key is recognized.


I tried the test you suggested - no alarm. In fact I tried lots of variations and no alarm.

There was some lightning activity not too far away from us when the alarm went off. I wonder now whether that had something to do with it. In any case, not being able to shut the alarm off was disconcerting to say the least.

Sorry for the long post but this has me puzzled. I'm going to go to local dealer in the next few days and have them check the VIN to see what should be installed.

Thanks for you help.

Paul

[KManiac]

Tell me a little more about this "Transponder Key" and "Red LED". This sounds like something aftermarket and could have some type of alarm system attached.

And just for you updated knowledge, the factory power lock systems in these cars no longer use a separate solenoid with a rod to lock and unlock the doors. They now have tiny motors built into the latch assembly. I learned this one when I replaced the latch assembly in my fathers 1998 Dodge Ram 1500 Sport truck when the driver's side power lock failed to activate.

I believe you know your van very well. Just seems strange that without power locks and keyless remote, that you don't have lock cylinders in the sliders. That could very well have been an assembly mistake in the factory.

Anyway, good luck with this.