Lechto

So I went out to work on my car today, I was fixing a few leaks and what not, but mainly trying to chase down a drain that has been bothering me for a while. I had left the alarm on and open the door and hear the alarm go off, but the battery is really low so it makes a dull thumping noise. I realize the alarm is still on and go to turn it off but it keeps going. I even disconnected the two wires at the alarm in the door and try connecting them and disconnecting them and the alarm still stays on. Any ideas?

Cyrus951

I'm assuming this is an aftermarket alarm. If you think it is, pull the 12V and switched powers going into the alarm brain, recharge the battery, and see if it drains again. If you can't shut it off, simply pull the fuse for whatever power line its tapped into.
If it does drain again, take an amprage meter to the battery, and start pulling fuses until what ever is sucking the current stops.

If all fails, I'd check the TPS and DME relay

Lechto

it is the factory alarm and I am at a loss as how to work on it.

Jakerx

the factory alarm is the worst thing invented! it's horrible! because of the previous owner's aftermarket alarm, i can't start the car with the door closed, because then if i open the door while the car is running, the alarm will go off. also, it's a big pain in the a$$ when i DO use the key to unlock the door manually, and still the porsche alarm goes off. makes me sooo mad. can someone post directions again as to how to get rid of that stupid thing? when i take my car to the shop to install a new alarm i just bought i would like to not have to worry about that pos.

Cyrus951

Wow, had no idea that the 83 had a factory alarm.
Pull the fuse for it in the fusebox, it should be labeled under the box cover.
I bypassed my factory alarm by jumping the switched igntion wire to the DME relay wire.
Do a search..

Jakerx

no luck with the search. i guess i'm using the wrong terms. anyone have a link to a good thread on it?

Cyrus951

Jake,
To bypass it on your 89, behind the DME there should be a blue/black alarm brain.
There are two wire bundles going into it.
Pull both bundles out of the brain.

IIRC, in the larger bundle, there is a black/red wire. THIS IS YOUR SWITCHED 12V
Test with voltmeter, put key in second position and check for 12V in that wire.

There is also a green wire in that same larger bundle, this is power to the DME relay.

Jump these two wires together, and the alarm is bypassed.
Car should start as normal.

Jakerx

thanks so much cyrus.

Lechto

I don't have the wiring diagrams, but would clark's garage have them. I am not sure what the web site address is.

Jakerx

www.clarks-garage.com

Lechto

could it be the alarm module, the little box located behind the radio

NZ951

Jumping 1 and 4, and 7 and 8 IIRC on the box disables the alarm. I deleted mine some time ago, so if you need the black box with blue text, I have a spare.

Cyrus951

1:4 and 7:8 don't apply to 89 cars, the harness is different.

Lechto

do you mean jump from the plug that goes into the box or the box itself?

Cyrus951

Lechto, this does not apply to your 83.
Your alarm system is a whole different thing.

To test for a shortage in your alarm wiring, simply remove the battery from the car, charge it with a tricklecharger, pull the fusebox cover, lookup the fuse for the alarm in the diagram, and pull it out.
Reinstall the battery, and if the battery drains again, than it is not your alarm thats sucking up the current.