Alarm and battery questions... 94 Corolla Seca AE101R

[Sheloveshertoyota]

Hi Y'all,

I've given my 94 Corolla to my son whose getting the courage to take his learner's test. They keep showing them scary car crash videos at school, now he's terrified to get behind the wheel.

I went to take it for a spin on the weekend to keep battery charged, but too late, it was flat and the alarm went off, nearly taking my head off and what little sanity I have with it. Not to mention my neighbours. Early Sunday morning.

So I disconnected battery. Picture this, stressed woman, trying to hold her fingers in her ears while popping the bonnet. Not easy, and I looked like an unshowered idiot. Eventually, after a bit of swearing, I disconnected the battery, found some tools, and took the stupid thing out. Bah.

Then I bought a new battery, put it in, but there was still a quiet little residual alarm going off. Did some googling. Went and found the alarm toggle/key thingo that I never used. Then found out the alarm toggle/key thingo was flat. Then I couldn't get the back off to put new battery in. Screws rusty. Dammit. Nearly crying by now. Then after WD40'ing it, like magic, it worked. Went out, pressed it, the residual alarm of car turned off. Yay. It was too early for a wine, but I went for it anyway.

Questions...is there any easy way to disconnect the alarm system? I don't want to have to drive it to keep the battery charged. I would rather just disconnect the negative connection on the battery.

And..if I take the neg connection off, will it set the alarm off?

And will it definitely NOT suck power from the battery?

Ie, in my ideal world, I disconnect the neg connection, the battery won't go flat. Then I can sit back, and wait til my son's ready to drive and the $155 for the new battery will be worth it.

Is this possible/good idea, or does one of you awesome, smart, friendly, fellas have a cleverer idea?

With gratitude,

Amber

[Hiro]

Are we talking factory alarm system (basic or top spec) here or an aftermarket one? An actual siren or just the horn going off?

I know when I take my battery out that the alarm would not go off (there is no battery backup), but I've only got the factory remote central locking and immobiliser (and just the basic security system which sounds the horn)

If it's an aftermarket system then often there is a little key to disable the alarm (I know there is on the Mongoose system in the Soarer, for instance), there should be a module somewhere where you can deactivate it (handy if you're working for long periods with the bonnet open or need to take the battery out)

[Sheloveshertoyota]

Hi Hiro - thanks for your reply. I bought the car second hand, so not sure if it's top spec, or after market alarm. It's definitely not the horn that goes off, it's a serious piercing alarm. When I checked the alarm under the bonnet, there's a tiny cover you can lift, and it looks like a key fits on - there's an arrow on it. But no key came with the car. If I could find a key somehow, and turn it off, that'd be my answer, I reckon?

Also, I don't want to try it, but do you reckon the alarm would go nuts if I took the negative cable off the battery? That way at least I can stop the battery going flat...

Are we talking factory alarm system (basic or top spec) here or an aftermarket one? An actual siren or just the horn going off?

I know when I take my battery out that the alarm would not go off (there is no battery backup), but I've only got the factory remote central locking and immobiliser (and just the basic security system which sounds the horn)

If it's an aftermarket system then often there is a little key to disable the alarm (I know there is on the Mongoose system in the Soarer, for instance), there should be a module somewhere where you can deactivate it (handy if you're working for long periods with the bonnet open or need to take the battery out)

[Hiro]

Hi Hiro - thanks for your reply. I bought the car second hand, so not sure if it's top spec, or after market alarm. It's definitely not the horn that goes off, it's a serious piercing alarm. When I checked the alarm under the bonnet, there's a tiny cover you can lift, and it looks like a key fits on - there's an arrow on it. But no key came with the car. If I could find a key somehow, and turn it off, that'd be my answer, I reckon?

Also, I don't want to try it, but do you reckon the alarm would go nuts if I took the negative cable off the battery? That way at least I can stop the battery going flat...

Your user details say it's an '94 AE101 CSi (ie pre-facelift, base model), in which case it definitely wouldn't be the top-spec factory security system.

Do you have any photos of the alarm unit under the bonnet? Same with the remote (I know my factory central-locking remote doesn't have any screws to remove the back casing, it is a sealed unit that you basically either have to break open or take back to Toyota to get the battery changed)

[Sheloveshertoyota]

I took some pics but have tried numerous ways but can't upload them...

There is definitely a little key option hiding under a little cover on the alarm system.

The remote has screws, they're rusty/super tight and I just can't budge them, and couldn't prise the back off the front either.

My gut feeling is that's it's after market (my neighbour has a similar but newer model, and hers doesn't have immobiliser/central remote locking etc.

Do you reckon the alarm is likely to go off if I take off the negative lead to the battery?

Edited July 15, 2013 by Sheloveshertoyota

[(mr2)]

The battery will only go off if there is a back up battery but I doubt that your car would. The remote you have, does it have the Toyota logo on it or does it say anything?

If you don't want the siren you have a couple of options.

1. go to a locksmith and get the over ride switch on the siren turned off.

2. go to a company that installs alarms and see if they can help out with a key or deactivate the siren, or ideally get your alarm fixed.

[Sheloveshertoyota]

I think there must be a back up battery, as when the initial screaming alarm sound stopped (once I removed the old battery) a residual quieter alarm send kept going after the new battery was connected and prior to me using the remote to reset the alarm.

So I figure this means the alarm may well sound if I disconnect the neg lead to the battery.

Thanks for your advice - much appreciated.