This is in regards to the '89 IROC in my signature.

I bought this car from the previous owner with a Viper alarm system in. The alarm system didn't work when I bought the car, and it hasn't worked since.

I have no idea if the alarm system was installed professionally or if the previous owner did it by himself. Parts of the harness have definately been hacked up (spliced and tapped), especially around the fusebox. There's a large orange rectangular battery sitting in the engine compartment near the siren, a hood switch (for the alarm, I think), a vibration sensor in the engine compartment, and a little LED between my stereo and A/C controls. So it looks like a pretty extensive alarm system.

Here's the deal: I would *like* to have an alarm on this car. However, I have had no experience with automotive security systems, and just looking at some of the wiring makes troubleshooting look very overwhelming. I believe that the Viper line of alarm systems are a rather popular brand, so somebody here must know about the common problems and how to work with them. I am a "do-it-yourselfer", partially because I like it, and partially because I generally don't have the money to pay some of the labor fees for automotive work.

So, looking at the situation, what would probably be a good suggestion for me? Do you think it will be too big a job for "novice" to security systems? Should I get a new system? Or is the original wiring system probably so far gone that I should just leave everything alone?

I am happy to give more information (even pictures), if needed.

I appreciate any helpful advice that I can get!

Thanks.

 

Unless the alarm is only a couple years old, junk the system and start from scratch with a new one. The old alarm was disabled for a reason.

 

Check and see if you have a Valet switch mounted under the dash and make sure its off. Also you said there is a led light, and is it on?? If not you are not getting power to the alarm. The Viper is a good system and I would get it checked out by one of there dealers. Also this system can be upgraded and thats more then I can say about some others out there. Good luck

 

Car alarms are typically around the age of the car they are installed in. A 15 year old alarm is going to be more headaches than it's worth. And no dealer is still going to stock the remotes for a system that old, nor is any dealer going to have around instruction manuals for such an old system.

But then again, maybe you'll get lucky and the alarm will be just a couple years old. Check the date code stamped on the brain to see for sure.

 

Well, I *think* that the brain is located on the inside of the dash in the area above the radio/climate-controls. Is there any way to get to that without removing the whole dash?

 

They installed it without removing the dash. So I hope you have small hands and reach for it.