jamesmarkof

Hey guys,

Every once in a while, again - not every time, when I hit the open key on my remote to get in the car, the car starts honking, - as in anti theft system goes off. Putting the key in the ignition and turning it does not stop it. The car won't start. The honking is not continuous, it honks with intervals. It goes on honking for about 15 seconds, then shuts off. From that point anything you do, like put the key back in the ignition or open/close a door or trunk, the alarm goes off again and won't stop no matter what you do. It shuts off on its own after about 15 seconds. The only way to stop it and start the car is to disconnect the battery, put the key in the ignition and turn it, then reconnect the battery. That fixes the problem. But again, it happens again at some random future point. It has happened to me 3 times and has caused enough embarrassment in parking lots.

I just have a factory anti-theft system.

Does anyone have any clues?

Thanks.

jamesmarkof

What's peculiar to me is, let's say the anti theft system is set off by some fluke, how come I cannot disarm it by either of my two programmed/factory keys?

JimC

Check the sensor under your hood - about $35 to replace it. That one gets exposed to more weather and is usually the one that fails and sets off the alarm.

jamesmarkof

But shouldn't I be able to shut it off by sticking the key in the ignition and turning it to ON?

JimC

That should work, but maybe a false signal is interrupting the recognition of the key? That sensor seems to be a problem one. My 2006 used to go off randomly just sitting in the parking lot. The dealer checked and thought it was the interior sensor but it kept going off. Finally traced it to the hood sensor.

2cokeman

Hood switch?

jamesmarkof

Why would it be causing the setoff? Is it a common problem or something?