Expert: INSTALLSUPPORT - 3/11/2008

Question
QUESTION: I have a 2000 Chrysler sebring convertible. For about a month the alarm goes off everytime I start the car. It does go off after a little while. Makes it hard to drive when it's dark out. But if you unplug the horn you can drive it with the lights flashing.  What could be causing this?

ANSWER: Not sure what aftermarket system you have
there, but it's not a factory alarm.
This is what I think is going
on....

The alarm seems to be in long tamper mode.
You will need to reset, and possibly
re program the remotes. That part you will need
your manual for, but the aftermarket alarm
seems to be doing it's job.
At least we know it's installed correctly
which is actually a good thing here.

Ok, try this.
Put the key in the ignition, and turn forward
all the way just before cranking. Then within
5 seconds, locate, press and hold in the
valet/overide button, found under the
dash area, (push button, spring loaded)
until the installed LED (the blinking light)
in your dash area goes on solid,
and the siren chirps once.

(Your valet switch might be the toggle
(on/off) type. in this case, key on,
flip switch in opposite direction,
then turn the key off.)

This should reset the alarm, and reset
the grounded relay on the starter wire,
allowing you to start the engine.

At this point, the only thing working would
be the keyless entry from the alarm,
if it came equipped that way.

Just Repeat these steps to place it
back to usable armed mode.
You may get 2 chirps, confirming it,
and the lights may flash twice as well.

That should do it.
If you want to remove it at this point,
take it to your neighborhood installer
for this, or buy the wiring chart
(Go to: www.vehiclewires.com)
for the vehicle, and reverse engineer it wire
by wire, until safely removed.

If it does not work out this way,
you will have to replace the system
with one you know how to operate
and what to expect. Don't want to
get stuck in another bad situation.

Let me know what happens.

ALARMTEK
INSTALLSUPPORT.COM

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for responding: But there's no reason to think that this alarm is an aftermarket system. My husband is an insurance adjuster and knows that this alarm is factory.

ANSWER: Ok, let's narrow it down to be certain.
Please be more descriptive if possible.

"GOING OFF?"

I need to determine whether it's a factory alarm
issue or, if it's an aftermarket system you are
dealing with.

Is it: Headlights flashing, car horn honking
and a worded SECURITY" light in the dash flashing?
(doubtfull since none of the notes show this
car as having a factory alarm system)

Or,

is it: flashing parking lights,
an LED in the dash area, and a siren
going off?

RM

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: thanks for your help. i, mr just got home and my wife was trying to give you some answers,  la,  la, la.  we purchased this car, and ever since we have had it, the lights flash on and off on the mirror, doors and back floor boards. i checked the fuse box on the left side of the dash and found the two fuse relays were missing and in the center councel, i installed these back into the fuse box and then the headlights started flashing and the horn starts and stops sounding,and the interior lights are flashing. i would think this is a factory installed system. any suggestions. i am mechanically inclined, but not the best on electrical problems.  thanks,  steve

Answer
If it's a factory issue,
the headlights would be flashing
and the car's own horn would be honking. Trouble
here is that the factory alarm and the door lock
mechanism are intertwined.

To disable the factory alarm, you would need
either the factory remote, or wire in resistors
to an after market system to
control them.

That's just one part of this...

This vehicle also uses the DAIMLER SENTRY KEY® VEHICLE IMMOBILIZER   
THE KEY SENDS AN RF SIGNAL TO THE BCM MODULE THROUGH AN ANTENNA
LOCATED AROUND THE IGNITION CYLINDER, ALLOWING THE ENGINE
TO START ONLY WITH THE PROPER KEY, OR BYPASS MODULE.

If the vehicle will not start, this is going
to be the problem, and a bypass is required to make
it go away. (the Directed 555cw=69.95)

Does this sound like yours?

RM