My LED doesn't blink when alarm is armed

[Wiggles422]

I tried searching for this in other threads, but I didn't find anything useful. The LED (between the instrument cluster and the steering wheel) doesn't blink when I arm the alarm. I got the car about a month ago and I don't remember it ever blinking. (I just noticed the problem b/c I drove my brother's MSP and his blinks once the alarm is armed) I've installed a Blitz Turbo Timer, but even after it has shut down and I arm the alarm, it doesnt blink. Any help, or suggestions?
-Michael

EDIT: It also doesnt do the extra 2-3 beeps (when you unlock/unarm it) if it got set off while armed. I armed the alarm this afternoon and tried to set off the alarm by bumping it, and the horn honked once. Is that normal? Or is it supposed honk repeately with the lights flashing?

 

[Fai]

Well since you got your car about a month ago take it back to dealer... I am sure that it is under warranty if u didn't do anything to the alarm system.

 

[jersey_emt]

If you bump the car lightly just once, it will honk the horn once as a 'warning'.

 

[Wiggles422]

If you bump the car lightly just once, it will honk the horn once as a 'warning'.

Thanks, now just hafta figure out the LED... (shrug)

 

[Wiggles422]

Well since you got your car about a month ago take it back to dealer... I am sure that it is under warranty if u didn't do anything to the alarm system.

I unscrewed the brain of the alarm in order to switch one of the four switches inside to get the TT to alarm with the car still running (which didn't work by the way) so I know they'd say something about that and refuse to work on it.

 

[CommieSpeed]

My LED has always been wierd! It worked normal for months until I blew a few fuses randomly and since they have been replaced it never shuts off completely, but just glows softly when it is supposed to be off. Your LED not blinking could just be some stupid loose wire if your alarm seems to be functioning fine otherwise. Keep in mind that your alarm wont do the three beep thing when you disarm unless it gets set off full bore with repeated honking and blinking lights and all.

 

[Wiggles422]

My LED has always been wierd! It worked normal for months until I blew a few fuses randomly and since they have been replaced it never shuts off completely, but just glows softly when it is supposed to be off.

I haven't blown any fuses... yet. Knock on wood. Did yours just start randomly blowing fuses, or did you mess with something before that?

Your LED not blinking could just be some stupid loose wire if your alarm seems to be functioning fine otherwise.

Did you figure out what wire was loose? Or is it still being weird?
Thanks for the info!
-Michael

 

[ping]

Sounds simple, but do check the little LED plug under the steering column... good luck. If the alarm brain is screwed up you'll get the dull-dlowing LED effect - that's what mine did when it was leaving the parking lights on all the time. Dealer replaced it under warranty.

 

[slyydrr]

Actually, it does work. The thing is, it arms more passively, so, in your case, you don't see the LED blinking to begin w/ so you wont see the light blinking when it self-arms after the car has been off for 30-60 seconds. I know that it works... we tried it on azian6er's car and it worked like a charm. Get your alarm blinking LED fixed then try it.

I unscrewed the brain of the alarm in order to switch one of the four switches inside to get the TT to alarm with the car still running (which didn't work by the way) so I know they'd say something about that and refuse to work on it.

 

[Newf]

the led is fully plugged into the alarm right? And the shock sensor as well?

 

[Wiggles422]

the led is fully plugged into the alarm right? And the shock sensor as well?

I took off the plastic pieces around the steering column and traced the two wires coming off the led to tiny connector that then got wrapped up in that tape, and the tape led to the brain. Also, I tapped the shock sensor and it lit up.

 

[Wiggles422]

I tested my alarm by locking it, and tapped the car until the alarm went off (lasted about 30-40 seconds) and then unarmed it and it honked letting me know that the alarm had been set off. So at least that part works like it's supposed to.
Does anyone know how to get the LED out to test if it works?

 

[Newf]

sounds like just a simple bad led.

as for testing it......shuldn't be too hard but you'll probably have to tear it apart some. Just tell the dealer, and hopefully they can get just the led ( doubt it though).

Notice if any of the led wires were pinched?

 

[Wiggles422]

Nope, none of the wires seemed pinched, or kinked. I guess I'll add that to the "get the dealer to fix list" lol

 

[ping]

Getting the LED out is easy. First unplug the LED from underneath the dash. Then get ahold of the LED from above and gently wiggle it out - it's only set in there by friction. Make sure the wires are straight and the wiring should come up through the hole where the LED was. That's it.

If you want to remove the instrument surround as well, there are 2 philips head screws at the top of the instrument cluster surround, remove them. Pull down slightly on the top of the instrument surround and it'll come forward. At the bottom of the surround there are 2 pop fasteners, pull straight toward you and they'll pop (picture below should help). You don't have to remove the surround to get the LED out tho.

 

[Wiggles422]

Ok thanks... that makes me feel more comfortable about doing. I hate pulling out plastic peices, because they dont always line back up exactly. Anyways I'm at school right now, I'll try pulling the LED out when I get home.

 

[Wiggles422]

Well I fixed it! I disconnected the connector that connected the LED to the brain (it's located right near the plastic peice under the steering wheel) On the male side of the connector there is two prongs (one neg. one pos.) the positive one had been bent off, or shortened one way or another, so I simply cut the wires, bypassed the whole connector, and crimped the wires together.