theft-deterrent system problem

[dreday]

:mad: Has anyone ever had a problem with their security system.
I'm trying to avoid the dealer if it's something system.
Mine will not activate when I lock the doors or anytime and it never has.
I did the security system check that's in the owners manual and the alarm will not sound off because it never activates.
The security light itself does come on when turning the ignition key to on just to show that the bulb is good but the alarm will not set when locking the doors.
According to the owners manual the security light is suppose to flash for a few seconds after locking the doors and then activate,mine doesn't.
And then when reaching in through the window from the outside and opening the door from the inside the alarm system is suppose to sound off until using the remote or key to stop it.
Well mine doesn't do that.
Will someone do this check and let me know if their alarm sounds off?

2004 Envoy

[02EnvoySLE Guy]

I don't think all envoys have the theft deterrent on them... mine doesn't appear to either.

[dreday]

Mine has it.
Something is just wrong with it.
So your key fob doesn't have a red button with a horn symbol on it?

[02EnvoySLE Guy]

Mine has it.
Something is just wrong with it.
So your key fob doesn't have a red button with a horn symbol on it?

Yes, it does... but I was told that isn't always the indication. I dunno, maybe mine has it but I haven't seen it do the flashing red light the same as I have on other vehicles.

[dreday]

Do you have the word "security" light up when you turn the ignition on?
Have you ever pushed that button on the remote and held it down?
The horn should sound and lights flash.
That's part of the security system.

[jimmyjam]

Does anyone know about the security system? I'm looking to install a high freq piezo speaker in my car that will sound when the alarm is tripped. Is there a wire that I can tap that will go high when the alarm goes off?

[MoJoe]

Do you have the word "security" light up when you turn the ignition on?
Have you ever pushed that button on the remote and held it down?
The horn should sound and lights flash.
That's part of the security system.


Mine has it, but the red button on the remote is called a Panic button, I do not think that has anything to do with having an alarm. My fathers 98 Tahoe has the panic button, but no alarm, that is there incae you are getting robbed, etc to draw attention. I will look at my security light tonight.

[rcam81]

My security light comes on when I lock the door using the button on the armrest. The panic alarm is also good when you misplace your vehicle in a large parking lot. Just hit the button and listen for the horn.

[Jman423]

So, am I to gather from this thread that even though the "Security" light flashes after you lock the truck, it may not be a real security system? :undecided

[dreday]

If your security light flashes that's a good thing. You should have it. My security light doesn't flash as it should nor does the alarm sound off.
All you have to do is the "alarm check" to know if you have it and it's working.
I know mine has it it just isn't working as it should.
It's stated on my window sticker and the security light lights up when the ignition is turned on for the bulb check.
Have you ever done the procedure stated in the owners manual to check it?
Will you do it and post the results?

Now I'm waiting for someone to say "That doesn't mean you have an alarm". :mad:

[deathbynosleep]

mine has an alarm. The first time i opened the door at the dealer, the alarm went off.

[jimmyjam]

I did the security check today:
1) roll down a window
2) turn off the engine & remove the key
3) open the door
4) lock the doors from the FOB or from the door panel
The security light should turn on.
5) exit the vehicle. wait for the security light to turn off
6) reach through the window, unlock the door and open the door
Horn should start honking now.
Worked for me.. now to install the ear-bleeder piezo speaker...

[tb_ky]

I guess mine has it...i tried the window thing and the security light also flashes. I think that most factory security systems are useless though. :m2:

[dreday]

jimmyjam and tb_ky, I really appreciate you doing the alarm check for me.
That's all I was asking for.
I'm calling the dealer for sure.
Thanks

[yak8998]

the security light will also come on for passlock, so its there regardless of if you have a 'security' system or not. try the test as described above with opening the doors. thats a test for an actual 'alarm' or not.
if you want to do anything to 'improve' the factory alarm, tear it out and go get a real alarm. factory alarm takes no time to get past. smash window, pop hood, cut power wire. I'd get at least a $99 prestige/DEI if you wanted to do anything in regards to security.

[jimmyjam]

excuse my ignorance because I don't know much about car alarms.. how would an aftermarket system not be suseptable to that same issue, besides using a shock sensor? I really don't want to use shock sensor, too many false alarms when someone comes by booming their stereo.

[yak8998]

I have a prestige 996a - top of the line model (for prestige. some of the DEIs will still laugh at it)

i have a hood pin, you open the hood, the alarm goes off and it pages me. if the alarm loses power, it has a battery backup, it pages me. the shock sensor on mine is turned down all the way, it has only gone off 4 times or so in the past 6 months, even during storms and at work (stereo shop). I personally think the shock sensor should be used in the following manner - install it onto the main 'trunk' for the alarm wiring, that way if someone should get all the way into the car, as soon as they touch that harness, the shock sensor goes off, which in my car means a pair of 115db sirens going off in their ears :D
I'll go dig up my factory alarm and post pictures comparing it to an aftermarket if you want, you'll be amazed. the factory alarm is good for pretty much remote lock/unlock and thats about it (all my opinion of course - wish my mom would listen, someone's going to steal the setup i put in her car)

[jimmyjam]

cool.. my personal experience with shock sensors are my friends who were afraid of someone stealing rims / foglights / spoilers off of their rice burners. In college I had a neighbor who had their sensor way up and it would go off just about every night.:mad:
I think putting the sensor by the radio cranked down would serve my purpose nicely. I have some piezo pain generators coming in the mail and I was wondering how to trigger them..
Looks like I have another project!
Do you have any pics of your system? looks sweeeet

[yak8998]

haha, i'll post it when im done. its alright whats in right now, most of it is still sitting in the garage. my friend accidentally touched 12V to my h701's chasis the other day when we were working on the car, so I'm out an alpine at the moment. Once I get the install mostly done / cleaned up I'll post it. As of now, the LCD is sandwiched between the radio mount and dash, and the back has half the stuff laying around. Oh, and my lower dash piece is missing, and both kickpanel areas are taped off in anticipation of fiberglassing :D
The sirens are easy to wire up, you can just add them off the alarm out (if you have the DEI automate installed at the dealer, its the brown wire off the main harness)
what I would do is get the orange (-200mV when armed for starter kill) and hook that up to a relay for the piezos, so they only go off in panic/trigger mode, not when you lock/unlock. i have a pair of sirens on the interior, and its annoying if someone is waiting in the car and it auto-arms. just my :m2: I can draw up a diagram if you want.
I'd still pull that alarm out and put a real one in. a basic alarm isn't too hard, even on these cars. the only PITA is that you need a door lock module (~$50) unless you want to do some extremely fancy wiring. I've ran into a few weird issues, like my headlights not coming on with remote start, but I haven't done much to troubleshoot it yet. When I get the whole alarm done, its going to be freaking sweet. I just need time :worried:
For the stealing rims and such issue, mercury sensors front and back (also called tilt sensors). I think we sell them at work for around $35. Shock sensor won't do jack if the theif goes slow. Shock sensor is for hits and such, not rocking the car or lifting an end up.