crazy car alarm

[KarenM in NC]

I have a '97 Camry LE with a factory alarm. The alarm has gone absolutely haywire: it goes off when I'm driving (I feel like I'm in a clown car!)and when it's in the garage with the ignition off. The sounds are varied: it might chirp multiple times or emit the regular alarm sounds. There is no rhyme or reason, it seems.

My husband is a mechanic (aviation, though) and we'd like to disconnect the system. At this point, I doubt anyone in my small town would steal a 14 year old car!

We have the Camry shop manual with the wiring diagrams. So far, we've been able to locate the alarm ECU in the diagram.

Our questions: can he take out the alarm ECU and will my Camry work without it? Is there a simpler option?

Thanks for any help on this loud problem.

[LynchburgCSI]

Well, if you just want to disable the system, unplug the ECU. Unless this car somehow has a starter kill (XLE models, and some after market systems) it should just disable the system. Take a look at your key fob clicker. Anything about a brand on there?

[KarenM in NC]

Here is a photo of the manual along with the key fobs. There is no identifying name on either.

I guess this doesn't help, does it?!

[87phantom]

You can pull out your horns / siren as a temporary solution until you find out how to deactivate it.

[LynchburgCSI]

Per the TN archives:

Keep in mind that TDS is not by Toyota. This is an aftermarket system
installed by The Southeast Distributors, owned by Jim Moran's family.
They're known to be faulty. Everyone should beware to insist on
Toyota's factory alarm system, know as VIP (Vehicle Intrusion
Protection).

This lead me to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Moran_(automotive)
Then here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southea...a_Distributors
Then: http://www.jmfamily.com/Business/SoutheastToyota.aspx
I hit a dead end there, so I found this:

TDS is really an aftermarket system from South east Toyota distributors it's more a Port installed option Not from the Factory.

My advice would be to FIND that brain (alarm ECU) and disconnect it. See what happens. Or maybe get in touch with someone in the south-east (Florida) that is familiar with the port-installed TDS systems.

Originally Posted by 87phantom

You can pull out your horns / siren as a temporary solution until you find out how to deactivate it.

I don't advise removing that at all. It's a warning device.

[fenixus]

Toyota VIP (made by Fujitsu-Ten Corp.) is also a dealer/port installed option, not a factory alarm.

to answer OP, the alarm ECU seems faulty. if there is no immobilizer wired with it, then unplugging horns, sirens may temporarily help. but eventually you need someone to remove the kick and knee panels on both driver and passenger sides (possibly including the plastics around ignition cylinder) and tracking all alarm wiring to the ECU.

best if you/someone could actually remove all splices and secure the wires with tape and remove all alarm components from car. it's junk.

[KarenM in NC]

Thought I better update on what we've done because it seems we've solved the problem!

When I was looking at the inside of the clicker for any identifying info to post, I noticed that when I put mine together the LED light continued to blink rapidly. When I put my husband's together, it blinked once and stopped.

I took my clicker near the car and simply shook it (did not push any of the three buttons) and the car alarm went nuts. When I took his clicker near it, it was fine. It's been two days that I've used his clicker and the alarm works perfectly.

Apparently, my remote needs to be replaced!

I've stopped in at Toyota and they will charge $35 per remote along with $50 to program it. They say I can't program it! I need to investigate more on whether that is true or not...

I also stopped in at Freeman's to see if they could hook me up with a remote and they aren't able to. They said the current Audiovox models are not compatible with my system and I'm going to have to get it at the dealership.

I'm rather slow to act since money is tight and I still have one remote working, but will need to do something shortly.

The help on this board was invaluable and I thank all of you.