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Another Mike Carrol (trbomike@pipeline.com)
special...
Justification
The factory alarm in 95-96 cars will disable the starter when the alarm
is armed or triggered. However, if the Key Reminder Switch (this
is what causes the "you forgot to take your key out" chime) in the ignition
cylinder is triggered (you put the key in the ignition) the starter kill
is overridden. This was designed to prevent the alarm from getting
you stranded in the event the alarm malfunctions. If you have the
key to insert into the ignition you can disable the alarm by using the
key in the
door to disarm the alarm, and in the event the alarm totally malfunctions
you can pull the Alarm Starter Kill Relay which is under the dash behind
the driver's knee kick panel (5 bolts to remove). Meanwhile, if anyone
is trying to steal your car they will either punch out the ignition cylinder
and shove a screwdriver or similar tool to turn the ignition or they'll
have an ignition cylinder with them that has a key in it and unplug yours
and plug that one in. Either way the Key Reminder Switch will then
be triggered, the starter kill will be disabled, and they can drive away
with your car even with the alarm going off.
Tools/Equipment Required
 |
Knife |
 |
Screwdriver |
 |
Electrical tape |
 |
Splice connectors |
Procedure
To disconnect the Key Reminder Switch signal to the alarm:
-
If you raise the tilt steering to full up position and look under the steering
column into the dash you might be able to see the connector we need.
There's two ways to get to it: (a) Open the steering column. 4 or
5 screws under the steering column, then the top and bottom sections are
held with plastic connectors and pop open at the seam by the ignition/turn&wiper
stalks. Once you get the seam open the bottom should come down free.
OR (b) Take off the kick panel. Two bolts to the left and right
of steering column (under panels) and a few in the corners.
-
Find the connector that goes from the Key Reminder Switch to the ETACS-ECU
(alarm). Its the only connector with 7 pins. Mine was white
and had a strip of gray foam taped around it. It looks like this:
| 1 |
|
2 |
| 3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
Key Reminder Switch Connector
-
All the wires probably wont be in all the pins of the connectors.
On my car there was 2 yellow and 2 black wires going toward the ignition
cylinder. You want the wires on the other side of the connector:
pin 7 (red wire with yellow stripe) and pin 3 (black wire with blue stripe).
Cut and splice these two wires together, or better use a splice connector
to connect them.