Car alarm removal - any hints or tips?: Off-topic discussion forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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Nov. 28, 2011 7:56 p.m. BoxheadTim SuperDork

The Miata has an alarm that seems to be doing its best to drain the battery, plus I wouldn't be surprised to learn that it's nearly as old as the car.

I don't like alarms and I don't think there's a big theft risk out where I live so I'd like to remove it. I'm guessing there are no how-to manuals around for older alarms? I'll probably end up having to do it myself anyway as I'm a little particular about electrickery.

Oh, and the alarm also seems to have the wonderful option of being hooked up to the power door locks (I assume those are aftermarket as well) and seems to love locking the doors about every few seconds when it's inconvenient (like when you start the engine - I really don't want the doors locked if I take the car on the track).
Nov. 28, 2011 8:28 p.m. carguy123 SuperDork

Sledgehammer?
Nov. 28, 2011 8:30 p.m. BoxheadTim SuperDork

That comes after the removal .
Nov. 28, 2011 8:38 p.m. MrJoshua SuperDork

cut the noisy part off first.
Nov. 28, 2011 9:00 p.m. Streetwiseguy Dork

Find the box, trace the wires, remove any that are just piggybacked onto other wires, and if it is actually capable of doing something to disable the vehicle, those wires will be cut into the power wires, usually near the ignition switch. Those need to be reconnected after removing the aftermarket crap. Hopefully it is a cheap unit, poorly installed, cause then it will just have a bunch of scotchlocks, instead of soldered joints. Its probably pretty obvious what belongs to the car and what is alarm wiring.
Nov. 28, 2011 9:08 p.m. BoxheadTim SuperDork

It's some older GM alarm - not sure if that qualifies it as a cheap unit.
Nov. 28, 2011 9:10 p.m. alex SuperDork

If it's anything like most aftermarket wiring I've seen, look for the Scotchloks and remove with extreme prejudice.
Nov. 28, 2011 9:15 p.m. Osterkraut SuperDork

alex wrote:

If it's anything like most aftermarket wiring I've seen, look for the Scotchloks and remove with extreme prejudice.

Pretty much how the Astro went...Though there was one tiny line that was diverted into the box that needed to be reconnected to itself for the van to start.