Factory Alarm
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From: Kansas City
Factory Alarm
I just purchased a MY01 S2K a few weeks back and the only problem thus far that I haven't figured out is my factory alarm.
It appears to have the factory alarm installed, ie. little red light on console, plugged into factory harness, what appears to be a valet switch on the left lower driver side panel (push button) which is hooked to a factory appearing harness w/ 2 fuses and routes into the rest of the factory harness.
So I'm at a loss, I appear to have it, but I can't make it work.
I haven't looked into it much, other than looking at the fuses and glancing at where those wires go, but I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions, advice and or comments.
Is there any common user errors w/ the factory alarm?
Also where is the brain for the factory alarm usually located?
My car goes in for TSB's on Thursday, but I would rather figure it out on my own if at all possible as to avoid any diagnostic charge etc...
I appreciate any help.
Thanks,
James
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From: Ellicott City
James,
The install manual for the factory alarm may be found at H and A Honda. This should answer some of your questions as to what is where.
As far as the alarm goes, if you lock the door with the remote the alarm will arm. An easy check for this is to do it with the top down and then unlock and open the door - if the alarm goes off you armed it. If it doesn't arm the alarm then you may need to program it or take it out of valet mode. Let me know if it is a programming problem and I'll try to explain the programming stuff.
It is possible to configure it so that the horn beeps once when you arm the alarm. On mine you just press and hold both the lock and option buttons for two seconds. This is a toggle so if your horn doesn't beep when you lock the doors just do this and it will, or if it beeps and you don't want it to do it and it will stop. This is set by each remote individually. That is I have it set so that it beeps when I arm/disarm the alarm and my wife's remote doesn't.
The button under the dash is the valet switch.
To disarm the alarm when it is going off, turn the ignition switch to the 'ON' position and press the valet switch.
To place the system in "valet mode"
1. disarm the system
2. with the key out of the ignition press and hold the valet switch for more than 3 seconds.
3. the status LED on the dash should flash once indicating the thing is in valet mode
To put the thing out of valet mode press and hold the valet button for more than 3 seconds, the status LED light will flash twice indicating the thing is out of Valet mode.
Hopefully this will provide a starting point for you. Let me know if I can provide any additional info.
John
The install manual for the factory alarm may be found at H and A Honda. This should answer some of your questions as to what is where.
As far as the alarm goes, if you lock the door with the remote the alarm will arm. An easy check for this is to do it with the top down and then unlock and open the door - if the alarm goes off you armed it. If it doesn't arm the alarm then you may need to program it or take it out of valet mode. Let me know if it is a programming problem and I'll try to explain the programming stuff.
It is possible to configure it so that the horn beeps once when you arm the alarm. On mine you just press and hold both the lock and option buttons for two seconds. This is a toggle so if your horn doesn't beep when you lock the doors just do this and it will, or if it beeps and you don't want it to do it and it will stop. This is set by each remote individually. That is I have it set so that it beeps when I arm/disarm the alarm and my wife's remote doesn't.
The button under the dash is the valet switch.
To disarm the alarm when it is going off, turn the ignition switch to the 'ON' position and press the valet switch.
To place the system in "valet mode"
1. disarm the system
2. with the key out of the ignition press and hold the valet switch for more than 3 seconds.
3. the status LED on the dash should flash once indicating the thing is in valet mode
To put the thing out of valet mode press and hold the valet button for more than 3 seconds, the status LED light will flash twice indicating the thing is out of Valet mode.
Hopefully this will provide a starting point for you. Let me know if I can provide any additional info.
John
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From: Kansas City
Thanks for the reply I truly appreciate it. 
Here is where I am at, after looking at the installation instructions and verifying everything is intact (seemingly) my first issue appears to be my transmitter. The only one I received when I purchased the car appears to be a factory keyless entry one. It doesn
Here is where I am at, after looking at the installation instructions and verifying everything is intact (seemingly) my first issue appears to be my transmitter. The only one I received when I purchased the car appears to be a factory keyless entry one. It doesn
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From: Ellicott City
I just tried putting mine in Valet Mode and my LED didn't blink either. So I re-read the manual - it turns out you can put it in valet mode if you have the alarm set to Auto or Auto Lock mode. Mine is set to manual, yours may be set that way also. Double check that before messing around with it any further. Sorry that I misread the manual! 
Another way to verify the alarm would be to set it to Auto (make sure the top is down!!) Next, turn the car on and off and exit the car making sure the doors and trunk are shut. The alarm should arm itself in 20 seconds. The LED on the dash should now be flashing. Open the door and the alarm should go off. Insert the key in the car, turn it to the on position and press the valet button and the alarm should shut off.
This will allow you to see if the thing works before you buy a new remote.
I have an MY04 and my alarm remote has a lock button and an option button. The original remote had lock button and a and trunk button. I'd guess that you didn't get the correct remote when you bought the car.
Good Luck!!
John
Another way to verify the alarm would be to set it to Auto (make sure the top is down!!) Next, turn the car on and off and exit the car making sure the doors and trunk are shut. The alarm should arm itself in 20 seconds. The LED on the dash should now be flashing. Open the door and the alarm should go off. Insert the key in the car, turn it to the on position and press the valet button and the alarm should shut off.
This will allow you to see if the thing works before you buy a new remote.
I have an MY04 and my alarm remote has a lock button and an option button. The original remote had lock button and a and trunk button. I'd guess that you didn't get the correct remote when you bought the car.
Good Luck!!
John
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From: Ellicott City
James,
Auto Lock will automatically arm the alarm and lock the doors 20 seconds after the key is removed from the ignition and the doors are closed. Auto will arm the alarm 20 seconds after the key is removed and the doors are closed. Manual will arm the alarm only if told to by the remote.
My preference is manual. I had a car lock me out of the car once when it was set in auto lock mode - never again. Auto might work, but I'd probably be setting the alarm off in my garage every other morning - that wouldn't make my wife very happy since I leave for work at 5:30am.
Double check the install against the instructions. I'll try to check the shop manual and see if it has a wiring diagram, but I'd bet that they didn't hook up the dash LED. Check to see if you have a 2 pin connector hanging under the dash - check page 6 of 8 on the install diagrams and you'll see what I'm talking about.
Good luck!!
John
Auto Lock will automatically arm the alarm and lock the doors 20 seconds after the key is removed from the ignition and the doors are closed. Auto will arm the alarm 20 seconds after the key is removed and the doors are closed. Manual will arm the alarm only if told to by the remote.
My preference is manual. I had a car lock me out of the car once when it was set in auto lock mode - never again. Auto might work, but I'd probably be setting the alarm off in my garage every other morning - that wouldn't make my wife very happy since I leave for work at 5:30am.
Double check the install against the instructions. I'll try to check the shop manual and see if it has a wiring diagram, but I'd bet that they didn't hook up the dash LED. Check to see if you have a 2 pin connector hanging under the dash - check page 6 of 8 on the install diagrams and you'll see what I'm talking about.
Good luck!!
John
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From: Maricopa County, Arizona
What does the remote look like?
When the factory alarm is installed you get another set that replaces the regular remotes that just lock the door.
Does the remote have an OPTION button?
When the factory alarm is installed you get another set that replaces the regular remotes that just lock the door.
Does the remote have an OPTION button?
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From: Ellicott City
Originally Posted by walkabt,Jul 29 2004, 09:24 PM
What does the remote look like?
When the factory alarm is installed you get another set that replaces the regular remotes that just lock the door.
Does the remote have an OPTION button?
When the factory alarm is installed you get another set that replaces the regular remotes that just lock the door.
Does the remote have an OPTION button?
The OEM Alarm Remote looks just like the regular one except instead of having a picture of the trunk open, it has the word "Option" printed on the button. The option button opens the trunk. The OEM Alarm kit comes with two new remotes to replace the two remotes that originally came with the car.
The new remote takes the place of the original remote.
John
