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I just bought a loaded 2004 Sable with 14K miles on it. I'm presuming it has a car alarm. I will never want it to go off. EVER. What can be done to make sure of that?
Country: United StatesMake: MercuryModel: SableYear: 2004
Hello and thanks for using Just Answer.I will try my best to help you with your question.
Is this an aftermarket alarm or a factory alarm?Does the horn go off or is it a siren?
I am presuming it is a factory alarm - Carfax records show only routine checkups. I take possession on Thursday, so don't know if it is horn or siren yet....whatever factory preset is, I'm guessing.
The factory alarm is a horn and it is part of the keyless entry system. It cannot be disabled.
Is it possible the factory alarm can be replaced by an aftermarket alarm then? I absolutely abhor car alarms, and if this can't be disabled or replaced, will probably sell the car to the first taker. It's in primo condition, so hopefully that won't be difficult.
The alarm cannot be replaced with a factory alarm. It is hard wired into the vehicle and communicates with the other modules in the vehicle during operation. Some modules need the information from the keyless entry module to operate. The alarm will only go off if someone opens the door without using the key. There are no motion sensors or other sensors in the system. Only if a door is opened or a dome light comes on, will the alarm sound the horn.
Well, this is gonna sound truly stupid, but if it has a keyless entry, wouldn't the alarm go off every time then, since you don't *need* a key to open the door, and the alarm goes off if someone opens the door *without* the key? If you are guessing I never had a car with all these electronic doo-dads, you are guessing right.
It will not go off if you unlock the doors with the remotes.
It will not go off if you unlock the doors with the keyless entry key pad.
It will only go off if someone breaks into the vehicle without unlocking the doors and opens them from the inside.
OK. And if I don't have the remote, or I forget the combination for the keypad, I can use the key without the alarm going off? (Or is the remote physically part of the key?) Last question...I think...
The remote is separate from the key.
Let me better explain the system.
If you use the key, keypad or remote to unlock the doors, the alarm will not go off.
The alarm will only go off if the door is opened without unlocking the door first.
Does that help you better understand my rambling?
Yup. You're being extremely patient. I understand it now, at least about the car I'm about to get. The reason I hate alarms so much is that sometimes alarms go off on a pleasant morning, when there is no one anywhere near the car whose alarm is going off - I see this in my neighborhood, which is otherwise quiet, around restaurants, etc. I'd be mortified if mine went off like that.
Thank you for being patient.
Those are caused by improperly adjusted motion sensors in aftermarket alarms. Your does not have a motion sensor.
Excellent!! So...sorry, I really thought that was the last question 2 questions ago....there is no way this car could have had an aftermarket alarm installed, correct? Aftermarket alarms are what people put on cars that a manufactured *without* an alarm?
Yes, you are correct.
But some people install alarms on top of the factory alarm. But if this has been done, the aftermarket alarm can be removed from the vehicle and retain the factory alarm.
What a bizarre concept. I had a Carfax report done, and it did show some electrical work in the spring...hopefully it wasn't *that!* Thanks for the good answers. I am the office manager at an electronics shop (repairing circuit boards for commercial laundry machines), and the guys, as brilliant and helpful as they are, were probably not going to come up with the one right answer I needed... Thanks again!
You are very welcome.That is why I am on here, even after turning wrenches on Ford all day in the Florida heat.
FL? I thought with a name like Penland, you'd be up here in western NC - there's bunches of Penlands here, and a famous craft school named Penland.
My family is actually from Canton, NC. near Asheville. I ended up in Florida when my father retired from the Air Force. My wife and I plan on moving to the west side of NC in the next year or two.. Florida really bites. Been here for the last 32 years. Time to go home to NC.
Good thinking. I lived in DeLand (without air conditioning) for 4 years. We almost bought a place between Waynesville and Canton, but ended up in Burnsville. Love it...wouldn't live anywhere else. Hope you get back home soon!
We are working on it. This fall we are going up to look at houses. My wife likes Charlotte, (NASCAR). But the homes are a bit expensive there. I was looking at Fayetteville or Asheville. Somewhere in the Blue Ridge Mountains. I really want to see the seasons change again. There are 4 seasons, correct? In Florida, we only have 2. Rain-Heat.
Definitely look around Yancey County - stay in the mountains! It's about 75 here right now. We're less than 2 hours from Bristol - Charlotte is too HOT. My boss' husband's grandfather built the Darlington track, so I know my boyfriend's probably going to make me go with him sometime - I am not a race fan - any kind of race, especially when it's hot, loud, and crowded, which it probably always is. No asphalt-intensive sports for me...it's all about trees and waterfalls...
Thanks for the information. Will look into it. It is 98 down here, high humidity and the usual summer rain is upon us............AGAIN!! Yea Florida!! Now all we need is another hurricane or tropical storm!!
I hope you do end up here - I don't think there's a Ford mechanic for miles around.
I hope so too.
Experience: ASE Master Certified. ASE Gasoline Engine Performance Certified,Ford Senior Master Technician
Guess what? The night before last, I inadvertently left the car unlocked. (It's safe enough around here to do that.) In the morning, when I opened the unlocked door, the f****ing alarm went off! I was not breaking into the car; I was just opening it. So, I hate to say it, but you were wrong when you said it won't go off unless someone's breaking in to it - sorry! I did have some fun with it - didn't realize I was going to have 6 cylinders or how that felt. Opened it up on a rare flat, straight stretch - woohee. Also, I filled it with premium, and the next time I started it, it wouldn't turn over the first two tries, and then it did, and a cloud of dark gray exhaust sort of poofed out of the tailpipe. I wonder if I should always feed it premium? Why would it have done that?