aznpoopy
09-15-2003, 07:35 AM
A bit of backstory... 1995 240sx base btw. Also I know very very very little about the ignition system.
On Saturday my friends wanted to go to Log-On (PC Cafe). So I and two passengers (2 girls) go to my car. I get in, turn the key, and voila... nothing. Strange. I've had the car for only 4 months but it hasn't given me any trouble yet. I pop the hood and I hear a long buzzing sound punctuated by short clicks. Buzzzzzz clik buzzzzz clik buzzzzzz clik. The sound is coming from the upper right side of the engine bay (close to the driver's side view mirror). Anyway, that sound freaks me out. The car won't start and the key is out of the ignition, and something is still trying to do something? So I get back in the car and tried to start it again, with the hood still open. Suddenly I hear a beeping noise I've never heard before, and 5 seconds later an alarm goes off. Interesting, considering I didn't even know I had an alarm. We couldn't figure out how to turn it off so we let it die, annoying all the local residents. At this point, I assume I must've armed the alarm system by accident before, and the car won't start unless I disarm it. We call up my friend who's godly knowledgeble about cars; he tells me to first disc the battery (since the alarm is going off whenever we pop the hood or open the door). After that, he says look for a toggle switch by the foot rest. Found it. Reconnect battery, alarm goes off. We let it die again. I get in the car, turn to 'on' position, hit toggle, turn it off. Aftermarket alarm disarmed! Car starts up great. Later that night, park, go home. The next day I drive it down to Old Bridge and back up, no problems (an hour trip each way). Park and go home.
Now this morning, I'm doing my daily crap, getting ready to go to work. I walk to my car, get in, turn the key and... nothing again! wtf. So I'm thinking its the alarm again... But the alarm light by the dash isn't flashing like it was on Saturday. Strange. I pop the hood, and there's a buzzz click buzzz click sound again. I think it's the alarm. Ok, I get in the car and disarm the alarm like I learned. Interestingly enough, I notice that the alarm light was on sort of, but it's very weak and intermittent. I try the headlights (which worked while alarm was going off on sat), and only the parking lights will come on. Power windows and radio are dead too. Automatic door locks and cabin light work. The dash board indicators are pretty much dead.
I figure the battery is shot, which wouldn't be unusual as I have no idea how old it is. I just got the car four months ago. On my previous car the battery would die in a similar method. One day it works, another day it doesn't; so I'm not worried about that. What I AM worried about... is it possible the battery is being drained somehow while the car is off? The alarm seems a bit quirky. And wtf is that buzzing noise!? Or is the alarm totally haywire and keeping me from starting my car? It's an aftermarket alarm I think... The toggle switch is mounted through a cut in the plasic interior, and wires are wrapped in electrical tape.
Any help would be greatly appreciated :bow: ...for now I'm going to get a new battery, and disconnect it every night when I park it. eRgHz... this weekend me and my aforementioned friend are going to try to yank the alarm out of the car. I apologize for any nooBness in advance.
On Saturday my friends wanted to go to Log-On (PC Cafe). So I and two passengers (2 girls) go to my car. I get in, turn the key, and voila... nothing. Strange. I've had the car for only 4 months but it hasn't given me any trouble yet. I pop the hood and I hear a long buzzing sound punctuated by short clicks. Buzzzzzz clik buzzzzz clik buzzzzzz clik. The sound is coming from the upper right side of the engine bay (close to the driver's side view mirror). Anyway, that sound freaks me out. The car won't start and the key is out of the ignition, and something is still trying to do something? So I get back in the car and tried to start it again, with the hood still open. Suddenly I hear a beeping noise I've never heard before, and 5 seconds later an alarm goes off. Interesting, considering I didn't even know I had an alarm. We couldn't figure out how to turn it off so we let it die, annoying all the local residents. At this point, I assume I must've armed the alarm system by accident before, and the car won't start unless I disarm it. We call up my friend who's godly knowledgeble about cars; he tells me to first disc the battery (since the alarm is going off whenever we pop the hood or open the door). After that, he says look for a toggle switch by the foot rest. Found it. Reconnect battery, alarm goes off. We let it die again. I get in the car, turn to 'on' position, hit toggle, turn it off. Aftermarket alarm disarmed! Car starts up great. Later that night, park, go home. The next day I drive it down to Old Bridge and back up, no problems (an hour trip each way). Park and go home.
Now this morning, I'm doing my daily crap, getting ready to go to work. I walk to my car, get in, turn the key and... nothing again! wtf. So I'm thinking its the alarm again... But the alarm light by the dash isn't flashing like it was on Saturday. Strange. I pop the hood, and there's a buzzz click buzzz click sound again. I think it's the alarm. Ok, I get in the car and disarm the alarm like I learned. Interestingly enough, I notice that the alarm light was on sort of, but it's very weak and intermittent. I try the headlights (which worked while alarm was going off on sat), and only the parking lights will come on. Power windows and radio are dead too. Automatic door locks and cabin light work. The dash board indicators are pretty much dead.
I figure the battery is shot, which wouldn't be unusual as I have no idea how old it is. I just got the car four months ago. On my previous car the battery would die in a similar method. One day it works, another day it doesn't; so I'm not worried about that. What I AM worried about... is it possible the battery is being drained somehow while the car is off? The alarm seems a bit quirky. And wtf is that buzzing noise!? Or is the alarm totally haywire and keeping me from starting my car? It's an aftermarket alarm I think... The toggle switch is mounted through a cut in the plasic interior, and wires are wrapped in electrical tape.
Any help would be greatly appreciated :bow: ...for now I'm going to get a new battery, and disconnect it every night when I park it. eRgHz... this weekend me and my aforementioned friend are going to try to yank the alarm out of the car. I apologize for any nooBness in advance.