Hi Tom and all you other experts,
Well, another problem, this time it's my '98 Dakota. Appeared to be a dead battery, so I bought a new one at NAPA, installed it, and voila - nothing! Except, that is, the vehicle alarm siren shrieking and deafening me. I cut the wires to the siren. Still nothing. Re-spliced the wires, thinking I'd broken a circuit. Nothing. Removed and reattached the negative cable. Started! Shut it off. Now nothing again. Repeated the remove/reattach - nothing.

Is the alarm cutting out the starter/ignition circuit, since there's power to everything else? What can I do?

Thank you.

John Bossolt

This could be a faulty Body Control Module OR Your engine Immobilisor. The worst thing you could of done is cut the wires to the alarm siren, the computer in your car logs such actions and that's why I am guessing the second time you tried the trick it didnt work.

Is your vehicle remote entry?

Is it a factory fitted alarm or aftermarket?



All the advice I can offer you is this if it is the factory fitted alarm.
1. Lock you vehicle with the remote - Once doors are locked wait 20 secs
2. Unlock your vehicle with the remote
3. Put key in in igntion, and turn to the ON position but do not start the vehicle. wait 15-20 sec and turn it over.
4. if you get nothing, your immobiliser is killing your car
5. If it turns over, leave it running for about 10-15 secs, then turn off, get out and relock the car.

This is the standard reset security code sequence used in cars I have worked on, if that don't work the secondary sequence involves step 2, to change. Unlock your vehicle with the KEY not remote and proceed to so the same steps after step 2.

Lemme know how you go.


**Working PART-TIME for Carjunky for a while, Please bare with me =)**




Going for GOLD in Beijing

Hi DrElectrics,
Thank you for the helpful reply. The alarm system appears to be factory-installed, but I know nothing abut the truck except the name and address of the small lot where I found it in August 2006. I did cut the siren wires and then I reattached them. I locked and then unlocked the doors with the key, then fiddled with the remote switch activating a timer (I think) that clicked like a clock, which I took to be a positive development. My assumption was that I had until the ticking stopped to start the truck. It started and has not given me trouble since.

So, I'm cured, but I cannot say exactly why. Maybe it's best to just leave well enough alone.

Thanks, mate.

John Bossolt