I have the factory alarm on my 87GN, and I have never messed with it. A few months ago I noticed that my alarm would just go off for no apparent reason. since it only happened about once every 2-3 weeks i just dealt with it and turned it off with the key whenever it would go off. the problem went away for about two months and i had no trouble with the alarm. Last friday (3 days ago) the problem reoccured, my alarm went off three times that day. saturday and sunday it went off about 4-5 times total, and today it has gone off twice. I just noticed today that when i lock the door the security light will constantly stay lit(not flashing),it stays on all day long and does not go out after a few seconds like it should. if i leave the car unlocked the security light will just continue to flash all day long and not go out. I have tried unhooking the hood and trunk curtousy lights (thinking that the switches were bad and somehow causing the alarm to go off) but it did not change anything. Is there any way that i can fix this??? If not, is there any way that i can just disable the alarm without effecting anything else? I looked at the fuse panel diagram and the alarm is on a circuit with a few other things that i need, so i cant just pull the fuse.
Thanks, Bill
Bill, it's your door switch/pin that turns the lights off when you close the doors. Sometimes they just lose ground. You maybe able to just loosen it a bit and retighten it. The pin is not the same as a non factory alarm swicth/pin. It has two wires going to it versus one (non factory alarm). One more thing, if u find a new one or two let me know I need one as well. I'm not having any problems, but I wouldn't mine having a spare.
Mario
Thanks for the info. Mario! I re-adjusted both switches (both doors)I will see what happens tomorrow.
Also check your engine grounds. There is a main ground location behind your coilpack on the firewall with a braided-steel line going to it along with some other one's. Sitting still, it usually looks fine, but I noticed mine would pull loose after tightening it because the lines are short and when the engine twists a few inches on launch, it actually would loosen my ground and cause all sorts of goofy problems including detonation. Kirban sells an engine ground upgrade Kit that gets rid of this problem, but im surprised how many GN's i see at the track with the same loose ground fittings at this location on the firewall.
Funny thing is..i had NO idea the motor twisted that much until I saw a pretty big dent in my Terry Houston 3" downpipe ...it's gotta be about 2.5 inches away from the control arm, and it STILL put a big-ole dent in the downpipe! Yeehaw! These are some twisty beasts we're drivin..time for a torque-strap, too.
just my 2¢..which means no charge for you ;)..so have a look behind the coilpack and make sure things are tight, and well grounded there.
Jay
87GN
Bill, I have a very similar problem. My alarm went off a few times by itself, but then the problem seemed to have gone away. Later, somebody tried to steal my GN and messed with the passenger door lock (although it still works fine). Since then, I get the same steady security light that you do. I checked the factory service manual a while ago (so don't take this as a direct quote), but it mentions something like re-adjusting the "tamper sensors" on the key locks. Evidently, there is a sensor on each key lock that will either trip the alarm when tampered with, or will give the steady security light when it is misaligned. I haven't done it yet, but if I ever figure it out I'll try to remember to post it.
Fred
Most likely it is one of your Key Locks. Put your key in each one of the locks one at a time(drivers door,passenger door, trunk)and slowly move it back and forth. You will probably find one of them turns the security light off or makes it blink.You will have to replace the whole assembly most likely.I had the one on the trunk go about 10 years ago, and now the one on the drivers door is acting up.HTH,Curt.
Update: I readjusted the door switches last night, they were a little loose but it didnt help my problem. The alarm went off again today, several times. I checked all of the engine grounds that i could find and they were all tight and free of corrosion. I will try wiggling the key in the locks tomorrow and see what happens. Thanks for all of the advice guys! I really appreciate all of your help!
Bill Ritter
I wiggled the key in the locks today and the trunk lock made the security light turn on. So based upon what Curt said, i am guessing that this is the problem. I will call GM tomorrow to see if the lock assembly is still available. Thanks Guys!
Bill
The anti theft switch is only serviced with the trunk lock cylinder. The GM parts listing shows one for 85-86 part number 20497702. The 85-86 uses a "B" grove key blank. There is no listing for the trunk cylinder for 1987 with anti theft and the 87 uses a "D" grove key. GM did univeralize lock cylinders on SOME replacement kits so all grove keys would work. This is not listed in the parts book. The 87 key may work with # 20497702 and the only way to tell will be to try it. If it won't work using only the switch from the kit is a possibly.
I have a very similar problem with my '87 GN. My problem is that once the alarm is armed, I cannot disarm it. I assume my driver's door lock is faulty or needs an adjustment?? It always worked until I had the car painted some years ago, so, it's a possibility the lock was damaged when removed or re-installed improperly. Any ideas on the fix for this problem??
Assuming your problem is with the arm/disarm switches on the lock cylinders in the door here are the correct numbers. They are not part of the lock cylinders. Left arm/disarm(on the back of the lock cylinders) 9632782. Right arm/disarm 9632781. There are switches built into to lock cylinder retainers(they open when a cylinder is poped out), but these are really in there and its very unlikely they need to be replaced, left 20351245 and right 20351244 and trunk 9632753. I have found the arm/disarm switches usually wear out due to age and that they are made out of plastic and sometimes the little finger gets broken off. Usally characterized when you try to disarm and you have to work the key several times before it disarms. The trunk switch is grounded to the deck lid and I've never seen one go bad. The bad part is GM discontinued the right side switch years ago. The good part is that the basic components were also used on other Buicks and Cadillacs of the same vintage(82-87) and I have found there is an abundance of UA6 equipped Caddy's at my local U-Pull-Its.
Thanks, guess I'll have to take a look at the switch to determine if it IS bad. Then, I get to try to find a new one, if I can. Thanks again!!