Car won't shut up! [Or start...] {SOLVED]

nakirush

Long story short: I went out, left keys in car. AAA comes out and opens car, I grab keys, lock car, return to fun. A few hours later I go to start my car, battery dead. Friend tries to jump car, alarm starts. Only way to silence alarm is to raise headlights. Have car towed home. If I lower the headlights the alarm starts blaring.

My car is a 1993 Mazda Miata. I know nothing about the alarm system in the car, but it appears to be going nowhere for the time being. I know nothing about cars, but I have two theories:

1) The car battery is actually dead and I need to get it charged. Also, I need to find a way to deactivate the alarm.
2) When the lock guy opened my car he triggered the alarm, which triggered a kill switch, which won't let my car start until I disable the alarm.

Any thoughts?

Dunadan019

you can try making the alarm go off and then lock/unlocking the driver side door with the key.

your battery is most likely low but not dead. dead would mean the alarm wouldn't work and neither would the lights.

Demerdar

Sounds like an electrical problem. They are tough to doagnose by yourself... take it to a mechanic.

Dunadan019

I found this, it might help you:

Here are the instructions for resetting the radio code.

For most 1990 - 1996½ factory radios:
To determine if this radio has been set with an antitheft user code, remove battery power from it for at least 45 seconds. When battery power is restored with no user code set, the radio's operation is immediately restored. If a code is set "cod e" flashes in the radio's display.

When "cod e" flashes in the radio's display after battery power is restored, and you know your antitheft user code, the radio's operation can be restored by following your Owner's Manual "If Antitheft system is Activated" procedure. If you don't know your antitheft user code, or to remove one previously set, follow the same procedure three times entering an invalid 1 to 4-digit user code each time. Once an invalid 1 to 4-digit user code is entered three times, "err" flashes in the radio's display. When flashing "err" displays, the radio is now set to accept the following re-set procedure.

Press the # 1 button
Press Stop/Eject
Press Am/Fm
Press Clock Button
-- -- -- -- Will appear.
Enter code 4 9 8 9
Press F/Forward & Reverse at the same time and hold for a couple seconds.
The code should now be removed. Follow the instructions in your manual to set a new code.

Casual

If the alarm is going the battery can't be dead. Does your car have an immobiliser equipped?

Spudge

In your user manual, there is an 800 number in the back (last couple pages or so). Call it. Tell them your alarm needs resetting. They'll walk you through the process of resetting it

If that fails, the number one reason for the Miata's alarms frying is jumping the car, improperly or not. The alarm "brain" is a feeble piece of equipment and will fry at the slightest voltage spike. If it's fried, it's more cost-effective to replace the Mazda equipment with an aftermarket alarm

nakirush

Thanks, all. Incidentally the alarm did go off after trying to jump the car, however the alarm is already an aftermarket alarm. I've taken the battery out and am recharging it, hoping that may help me narrow things down at the least. We'll know in the morning.

nakirush

Update: I took out my battery and brought it to the mechanic. They tried charging it, but it didn't hold. I bought a new battery then, before installing it, set the ignition to ON. I installed the battery and tried to start the car, but nothing changed. The guy at the dealership suggested getting the car to a stereo shop and having them completely remove the old alarm and install a new one. He said it would only run about $100.

A friend said the alternator might be dead, but most people are saying it's the immobilizer.

I'm so confused right now...

Spudge

I HIGHLY doubt it's your alternator

There is still a good chance that the immobilizer/alarm control module was fried during the jump process. Do you know what make/model the alarm set is? You may be able to get some help from the manufacturer

L Ron Howard

The immobilizer wasn't fried. It's doing its job - immobilizing the car when you lose power because someone is trying to steal it. Old car alarms would go off, and you could just unplug the battery, reset it, and drive away.

Really, you can either remove it or reset it.
The reason why your mechanic suggested going to a professional is that they do these things all the time, know how it's supposed to be done and what the tricks usually are. It's much easier for them to do it than you. They can either remove it or reset it for you, your choice.

If the whoever installed it wasn't a complete goose, it should take some work to remove it. I, sadly, have one in my car now. Remote starts, fancy schmancy car alarm, and it's tied into the stock(?!) stereo system and all that as well. It came with the car when I got it. However, it was done by a professional, so it's integrated really, really well with the original wiring harness. It's a tedious task to try tracking it all down.