REVscene - Vancouver Automotive Forum

underscore · 03-16-2010, 08:01 AM

My girlfriends 1997 Prelude has a factory alarm in it, I'm not in town with her at the moment but all winter it has been acting up. When she would hit the fob to disable the alarm, the doors would unlock but the alarm was still on, she would have to open the door (setting it off) and hit disable again to turn the alarm off. Now that it's warmed up again it seems to be working fine (her dad turned it on last night by accident). So in the interest of allowing her to use the alarm next winter without it being finicky (although I've told her an alarm is about useless, she wants to use it) can anyone tell me what may have caused this? My only guess so far is that the capacitors inside the control box are getting old and don't work properly in the cold. I have no problems taking it out and popping it open (hopefully it can be opened) but won't be able to for a couple of weeks.

TIA

Phil@rise · 03-16-2010, 09:42 AM

Pull it and get a new one. Its most likely just an age thing.

underscore · 03-17-2010, 12:23 PM

I could, but I'd rather not. I know an alarm is useless so I just want this one to work right for her piece of mind. Otherwise is there an easy way to swap one from a Del Sol to this? or am I gonna be fully rewiring everything like it was a new alarm anyways.

Come on don't tell me none of you security guys have ever actually repaired anything.

Cman333 · 03-17-2010, 02:15 PM

Sounds like a brain issue. Just happens with age and condensation etc

Honda factory alarms are actually quite troublesome to fix. Alot of them have other modules built into them so you can't just pull it out.

Most car stereo shops don't repair alarm brains themselves, we install the alarm not repair circuitry inside the brain.

It's like selling and installing a TV, most guys that install them can't repair a TV.

underscore · 03-18-2010, 05:28 PM

ah darn, I was hoping I might luck out and just be able to yank the brain and use the wires going to it for an easy install of the aftermarket alarm from her other car. I guess I'll have to look up some wiring diagrams and see what goes to it (if any of you have access to such diagrams and things it would be greatly appreciated) and maybe sort of piggyback it, with the alarm stuff going to aftermarket and other stuff left going to the stock alarm. Thoughts? How would you guys suggest going about this?

I know I'm looking for a less than standard alarm guy to sort this out the way I would like to (repairing the stock alarm) so I'm looking at other options.

@$$wipe · 03-18-2010, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by underscore

ah darn, I was hoping I might luck out and just be able to yank the brain and use the wires going to it for an easy install of the aftermarket alarm from her other car. I guess I'll have to look up some wiring diagrams and see what goes to it (if any of you have access to such diagrams and things it would be greatly appreciated) and maybe sort of piggyback it, with the alarm stuff going to aftermarket and other stuff left going to the stock alarm. Thoughts? How would you guys suggest going about this?

I know I'm looking for a less than standard alarm guy to sort this out the way I would like to (repairing the stock alarm) so I'm looking at other options.

:noob:

orgasm_donor · 03-18-2010, 08:04 PM

We don't you bring it to a sponsor and not mess up your car?
We'll all give you a warranty, professional service and probably won't charge all that much.

Cman333 · 03-19-2010, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orgasm_donor

We don't you bring it to a sponsor and not mess up your car?
We'll all give you a warranty, professional service and probably won't charge all that much.

Xbox Nazi is from Kelowna. I don't think he's gonna drive 4-5 hours to get it repaired.

underscore · 03-20-2010, 11:44 PM

Yeah I'm not gonna take my g/f's car all the way to Van just to solve somn that's more of an inconvenience than a problem. Especially considering I don't think alarms are overly worthwhile. But thanks for the suggestion.

I'm not quite sure what @$$wipe is trying to point out but yeah, if anything I would kinda need to ask someone that designs alarms if old caps + cold weather = alarm doesn't fully work.

edit: although, if one of you has a working brain + remotes for a 97 Prelude (or somn that would have used the same setup) kicking around let me know, I will be in Van for a weekend in May (with a different car)

orgasm_donor · 03-20-2010, 11:49 PM

Or you could try Andre's in Kelowna. Tell them Mike from SoundsGood sent ya.

Puck Luck · 03-21-2010, 09:34 AM

do you know if this is a factory installed and dealership option installed alarm? i can't remember if these came with alarm or not.

underscore · 03-21-2010, 12:30 PM

not too sure, from what I've found it's wired to under the carpet under the drivers seat. so it might've been one of those deals where they only put the brain in or only gave you the remotes if you paid the extra cash.

Puck Luck · 03-21-2010, 07:22 PM

sounds like a dealer installed option. If it is, the car was prewired to have and alarm installed. The alarm kit came with a control unit, wire harness, remotes, some relays and an LED. From what i can remember from that era, all the alarms that were options were to have the led's installed on the steering colum cover, behind the steering wheel.
What i'm getting at is if its dealer installed option, the system can be removed and set back to original and have an aftermarket alarm installed

underscore · 03-21-2010, 08:02 PM

easy test would be yank the control box and see if everything still works yeah? either way I'm gonna take it out and try to open it up if I can and see how the insides look.