Alarm/remote start troubles

[inkfx 3]

I just got an omega Excalibur installed by a shop around here and I'm having a very strange issue that hopefully someone can shed some light on. The shop has been troubleshooting this problem for over a week now. So here isnthe problem...

After I arm the system, 30 minutes to the dot the alarm triggers and kills my ignition. What this means is the remote start feature becomes entirely useless unless I constantly start it before the 30 minutes is up. Today the installer told me it's the trunk that's triggering the alarm. I don't know anything about alarms so I'm pretty lost here. The installer has been doing this stuff for years and has never seen this happen. Anybody have some ideas as to why my alarm would trigger exactly 30 minutes after being armed?

The car in question is a 2008 mercury grand Marquis LS. The alarm is the 1820edp by omega.

[ssh 924]

I'd post on 12v, they have a lot of knowledgeable people and info on car alarms and anything car electrical related

[inkfx 3]

I'll have to make an account over there when I get to a computer. I'm at the shop right now so I'm on my iPhone. He disabled the trunk release and I have about 5 minutes to see if the alarm will go off. Thanks for the response steffan.

[Tirefryr 1,742]

Omega boards suck ass. Learned this 10 years ago. Let me guess, the alarm was $100 and the installation $300. . . At least they are troubleshooting it.

[ssh 924]

I agree they are cheap alarms and there's always the possibility it's faulty...

There may be a bad sensor setting it off, check if there's a hood latch sensor, door latch sensors, etc. Long process of elimination =/

[inkfx 3]

Ya I paid $400 for it all installed but I rather spend that then someone steal my rims or smash my windows.

Well it's been 30 minutes with the system armed and the trunk release unhooked and the alarm hasn't sounded. Does this mean the trunk release feature is the culprit? If so, what can be done to fix this? Should I call up omega and see what they say?

[ssh 924]

Ya I paid $400 for it all installed but I rather spend that then someone steal my rims or smash my windows.

Well it's been 30 minutes with the system armed and the trunk release unhooked and the alarm hasn't sounded. Does this mean the trunk release feature is the culprit? If so, what can be done to fix this? Should I call up omega and see what they say?

If it's not going off with the trunk release disabled then it sounds like that's your problem... Does the aftermarket alarm tap into the stock trunk release sensor or does it use it's own?

[cobra93 47]

I'm no expert by any means, I'd also look int "the 12volt" forum.

I recently installed a 5002 on my ranger and one of the things I ran across is that you have to diode isolate the door trigger wires/dome light depending on which wire is used, maybe the trunk as well.

It had something to do with the eec "throwing" everything to ground after a period of inactivity.

I believe this will false trigger the alarm.

I read that it usually happens ~two hours of inactivity, but who knows.

I don't know for sure this is your problem, just a guess, but I'd ask the installer if he used diodes to isolate the doors/dome light depending on which wire he used and if he installed them in the correct direction.

A diode blocks + in one direction and - in the other, it depends on what you need it to do.

I hope you get this sorted out, soon.

Good luck!

[inkfx 3]

It taps into the stock sensor. There is no additional module for trunk release.

[ssh 924]

It taps into the stock sensor. There is no additional module for trunk release.

Make sure it's wired correctly, if the actual sensor is bad then It would have gone off before you put the aftermarket alarm in. At least that's my guess, makes sense.

[cobra93 47]

It taps into the stock sensor. There is no additional module for trunk release.

I believe the trunk release is built in to the alarm wiring harness, one of them anyway.

However, that's not at all what I was referring to.

[cobra93 47]

Try going to bulldog security and do a search for your vehicle.

They may have a note as to what I'm referring to on the door/dome light trigger wires.

They should have schematics and such for free.

[inkfx 3]

Thanks for the reply cobra. I'll have the installer check the wire tomorrow since they just closed. It really sounds like a wiring issue to me as well.

[cobra93 47]

I really hope I'm not misleading you, it's just a thought.

I'd do a search for "false triggers, alarms" and see what you can find.

There's allot of wires and the instructions aren't user friendly on purpose, but I think clifford, viper , excaliber and others are all the same manufacture.

Good Luck!

If you don't know the installer I'd ask him to show me the diodes when you go back to him and see what he say.

Check out "the12volt" for sure, allot of good info. on alarms over there and I've seen some good help given.

Edited October 26, 2010 by cobra93

[Tirefryr 1,742]

The problem is probably with the PATS system. That's one of the issues you run into mixing aftermarket with OEM. If he knows his shit, he should be able to figure it out. . . . OR call Omega. They will know what do.

[inkfx 3]

Omega is closed for the day but I did leave a message. The wiring issue sounds very plausible. Im going to have him rewire the trunk release and see what happens. I will also ask him about the diodes and if he says they are in place I'll ask to see them. Now that I know it's the trunk hopefully I can get it resolved by tomorrow

[jonbearsmt 919]

i had that same alarm.. i never had any real issues most of them were from havin so many sensors set so high..

but my shit did end up catching on fire .... i was in a friends house.. i was about to leave .. i remote started my car.... i went out 5 mins later to see my car FILLED with smoke.. i shut up off open my doors and pop my trunk to check all my batteries make sure nothing fell on them and to insure my amp was not in flames.. i aired the car out.. started it with the key drove home and un hooked all cells and checked it the next day.. the factory wire harness burned up the cheap ass fuses they came with were layed on eachother.. with the ground.. the fuse melted causing the ground to melt then spark spark...

make sure you change your fuses out.. dont trust them

[cobra93 47]

i had that same alarm.. i never had any real issues most of them were from havin so many sensors set so high..

but my shit did end up catching on fire .... i was in a friends house.. i was about to leave .. i remote started my car.... i went out 5 mins later to see my car FILLED with smoke.. i shut up off open my doors and pop my trunk to check all my batteries make sure nothing fell on them and to insure my amp was not in flames.. i aired the car out.. started it with the key drove home and un hooked all cells and checked it the next day.. the factory wire harness burned up the cheap ass fuses they came with were layed on eachother.. with the ground.. the fuse melted causing the ground to melt then spark spark...

make sure you change your fuses out.. dont trust them

That sucks!!!

[manrossdamn 57]

dammmn that sucks !

And good luck finding your problem

I have no idea about alarms lol

[inkfx 3]

Ya it ended up being the trunk release. They did not wire it correctly. So at the moment, I can't pop my trunk with the new alarm keys. They offered to re-wire it but I just don't have time to sit at that shop every day for a week again. It's really not too big of a deal for me since I have a door keypad that lets me pop my trunk. I definitely learned my lesson when buying alarms.

[cobra93 47]

Ya it ended up being the trunk release. They did not wire it correctly. So at the moment, I can't pop my trunk with the new alarm keys. They offered to re-wire it but I just don't have time to sit at that shop every day for a week again. It's really not too big of a deal for me since I have a door keypad that lets me pop my trunk. I definitely learned my lesson when buying alarms.

Glad you/they got it figured it out.