Factory fit alarm?

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Johnwindwood
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Factory fit alarm?

Post by Johnwindwood »

Guys
Before I start tearing the car apart, would our 1985 MY car have had a factory alarm? If so, where would it be located?

We've had the car two years. Never knew it had an alarm. It got very wet inside during the storm and now whenever we touch the ignition, it goes off-definitely an alarm as it sounds the car's horns at regular intervals.
Naturally, we have no way of deactivating it other than disconnection. Nothing in the engine bay so I'm assuming under the dash.....


Cheers.
Kind regards

John

John Windwood

1984 Lotus Excel (1985 MY wide body)
1952 Austin Sheerline A125 Harold Radford Shooting Brake
1949 Austin Sheerline saloon (Parts car)
1997 BMW Z3 1.9
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Hawaiis0
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Re: Factory fit alarm?

Post by Hawaiis0 »

Try adjacent to the radio
Nothing is fool proof. Fools are clever!

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Alan_M
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Re: Factory fit alarm?

Post by Alan_M »

My understanding is there was never a factory alarm, but often dealer fitted or aftermarket - cobra etc.

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bash
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Re: Factory fit alarm?

Post by bash »

Good luck if its owt like mine, I was surprised that it didnt catch fire. Check down this post for a picture.

Bash
viewtopic.php?f=27&t=11298
Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.

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rbgosling
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Re: Factory fit alarm?

Post by rbgosling »

My '90 had an alarm, but I'd say almost certainly aftermarket, and fortunately disconnected before I bought the car (although the gubbins was still lying around, now removed!).

I also have an immobiliser, controlled by a sort of chip key inserted in a slot to the right of the steering wheel. No idea if that was factory or aftermarket, but I dread the day it decides to stop working...
"Farmer" Richard

1990 Lotus Excel SE (Lilith)
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barker_001
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Re: Factory fit alarm?

Post by barker_001 »

rbgosling wrote:I also have an immobiliser, controlled by a sort of chip key inserted in a slot to the right of the steering wheel. No idea if that was factory or aftermarket, but I dread the day it decides to stop working...
My '90 has one of these too, perhaps it was a dealer fit or something - the car was originally from Storm of Leicester. Mine had decals in the window declaring it was fitted with a "Minder" vehicle security device, and giving a phone number. I tried ringing it once and ended up speaking to a very bemused householder with no clue who her phone number used to belong to!

I too would certainly like to get some details of this system for the day when it packs up, but couldn't find anything on the web.
Bryan

1990 Excel SE

"Look, there's a Ferrari..."

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Phantasm
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Re: Factory fit alarm?

Post by Phantasm »

Mine (91) has a Sigma system, very similar to that fitted to Subarus.
The brain for mine is in the drivers kick so you might want to start looking there. the siren was mounted in the engine bay when it was connected, doesn't work now. The immobilizer portion still works and acts as a keyless entry too and the marker/turn lights still blink to indicate use/Alarming etc.
-Bill
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RED BARON
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Re: Factory fit alarm?

Post by RED BARON »

Sigma in mine (90) is on a key fob, and if fob is lost or battery low there is a key pad in the glove box, and you have a pin number to turn it off. In the manual you can program it to turn parts off like Central Locking, Engine Bay, Boot, and Interior Censers, but you can't turn the Immobiliser off just by unplugging it from the power supply that is plugged into the Phone Socket in the passenger footwell. I have to use the fob to turn the immobiliser off every time I start the car. I contacted Sigma to get a spare fob they said it had to be programed to my system that would be £85 and for them to come and turn the whole thing off would be £120/180. So I just turned the Central Locking off and leave the alarm off as it is always in the garage which is part of the house alarm.

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Phantasm
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Re: Factory fit alarm?

Post by Phantasm »

hijacking the thread, Red Baron, I actually got my hands on the sigma programmer. curious interface that pulses light to communicate with the brain. I wanted to reprogram the number pad with it since I don't know the code, but it doesn't seem to be able too! smh.
I can program new fobs though if needed. if you ever get hung up, let me know. it's in the states tho, so shipping won't be free!
-Bill
1991-92ish Lotus Excel SE Silk Red
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Previous: 2005 Toyota Prius, 2002 Nissan Maxima SE 6 speed, 1988 Toyota 4Runner, 1989 Toyota 4Runner, 1995 Dodge Neon, 1986 Ford Mustang

Johnwindwood
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Re: Factory fit alarm?

Post by Johnwindwood »

Phantasm wrote:Mine (91) has a Sigma system, very similar to that fitted to Subarus.
The brain for mine is in the drivers kick so you might want to start looking there. the siren was mounted in the engine bay when it was connected, doesn't work now. The immobilizer portion still works and acts as a keyless entry too and the marker/turn lights still blink to indicate use/Alarming etc.
This one must be very basic. It has no sounder-just connected to the horns. No stickers on the windows, nothing externally visible at all. I only know its there because of the repetitive interval of the horn sounding. Got to have an explore tomorrow......
Kind regards

John

John Windwood

1984 Lotus Excel (1985 MY wide body)
1952 Austin Sheerline A125 Harold Radford Shooting Brake
1949 Austin Sheerline saloon (Parts car)
1997 BMW Z3 1.9
2002 Volvo V70XC Cross Country AWD

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alanmoss
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Re: Factory fit alarm?

Post by alanmoss »

My 1991 Celebration was 2.5 years old when I got it. Like all Excels the factory hadn't fitted immobiliser or alarm.
I had an immobiliser installed. Unfortunately this was pre Thatcham classification so I had a replacement installed later with Thatcham certification to satisfy my insurers at the time. This has a "key".
Never bothered with an alarm as car is garaged, and people don't seem to take a lot of notice if they go off. No insurer has ever asked to fit an alarm,
Alan
Excel Celebration, 1999 Mini Cooper S, Dacia Duster 4x4

Johnwindwood
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Re: Factory fit alarm?

Post by Johnwindwood »

Found it! A Linwood "Keyless" alarm cleverly disguised behind the fuse box. Easily disconnected and removed.
I would post a picture, but its far too hard to do it in this forum.
Kind regards

John

John Windwood

1984 Lotus Excel (1985 MY wide body)
1952 Austin Sheerline A125 Harold Radford Shooting Brake
1949 Austin Sheerline saloon (Parts car)
1997 BMW Z3 1.9
2002 Volvo V70XC Cross Country AWD

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Hawaiis0
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Re: Factory fit alarm?

Post by Hawaiis0 »

Johnwindwood wrote:....
I would post a picture, but its far too hard to do it in this forum.
Image
Nothing is fool proof. Fools are clever!

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Hawaiis0
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Re: Factory fit alarm?

Post by Hawaiis0 »

Not that hard :D :D
Nothing is fool proof. Fools are clever!

Johnwindwood
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Model: 1984 Excel
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Re: Factory fit alarm?

Post by Johnwindwood »

bag wrote:Not that hard :D :D
And how did you find that??
Kind regards

John

John Windwood

1984 Lotus Excel (1985 MY wide body)
1952 Austin Sheerline A125 Harold Radford Shooting Brake
1949 Austin Sheerline saloon (Parts car)
1997 BMW Z3 1.9
2002 Volvo V70XC Cross Country AWD

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