Can somebody please send the troubleshoot list for a 1980 alarm. I read another post that mentioned it but I am a new member still trying to figure out how to use the forum. I have checked all 5 switches they are all good!! I have replaced the wiring harness in the drivers door for the alarm didn't help. With the tops on hood close Ttops on when I turn the door key clockwise and counter clockwise nothing happens. But if I open the hood and turn the key counter clockwise the horn alarm sounds and pulses so I know the horn works. If I turn the key clockwise with the hood open nothing happens. I have even tried manually holding all the switches in to make sure they were not out of adjustment. Has anybody else come across this problem. I have read a lot about alarm problems on forums but none that explain this problem. PLEASE HELP!!!! Thank you.

|UPDATED|6/25/2014 1:48:40 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

Thanks, I will try that with all the other switches to see what happens in the am. Let you know the results. Right now if I closed everything up set the alarm then open a door or hood or top nothing happens.

I did that on every switch and I hear the relay click and the alarm horn sounds like it should. So basically that indicates all the switches are good. I even tried a different relay for the heck of it and it did same thing. So what am I missing?? With hood closed. Tops on, I turn the key to left and horn doesn't sound. Turn key right to lock door. The alarm should be set. If I open the hood or tops or reach in to open door the alarm doesn't go off. I tried turning the key right first locking door then left to set alarm and still nothing happens when I open anything. What am I missing???

I think we are all now thoroughly confused!
Turning the key CCW should lock the door(s) AND arm the system...unless the '80 car is different form the other years.
If you have to turn your key Clockwise to lock the door, then you would be disarming the system every time you locked it...but it would also seem that the alarm would go off every time you unlocked, and opened the door.

In your first post, you say this...



The first statement confirms that the system is capable of working.
The second statement is confusing....when you turn the key clockwise, it should dis-arm the system, and turn the horn off. Are you saying that turning the key clockwise does NOT turn the horn off? You must turn the key all the way clockwise to turn the alarm off...which should also be Un-locking the door.

From what I see, the alarm IS functioning....the problem is in HOW to arm AND lock the door at the same time. Your door key cylinder is not upside down by any chance, is it? The key should go in the cylinder cut side down...

Thanks Joel I was hoping is was not just me

Sorry guys! I wasn't typing what I was thinking. Thank you for the lock instructions I actually did get the owners Manual out last night and read it again. Even I was confused. Been screwing with the alarm all day. So let me explain the problem the right way. With the hood closed, tops on and doors closed turn the key CCW to lock and set alarm. When doing this I don't hear the relay click. I can open everything hood doors tops and the horn doesn't sound. Back to square one. If I open the hood with everything else closed. Has soon as I turn the key CCW I hear the relay next to shift click and the horn sounds. I did this with every switch close everything except ttop and when I turn the key CCW Hear the relay click then horn sounds. Etc. Etc. The key is inserted correctly with the flat part up. We had checked that to but The lock can only be installed one way . So we are on the same page I believe I tested everything and it is all operational. But the alarm won't set. I have even tried a new relay, and, all new switches. Even tied a new lock cylinder on off switch and harness. Same exact thing like explained above. In the fuse panel there is a 10 amp fuse for alarm and a 25 amp for courtesy lights and alarm. Is there a circuit I am missing. I believe it consist of 5 switches 1 relay 1 alarm horn 1 flasher to pulsate horn and door switch to set on /off. Stumped !!!

Not that this means anything, but I am the original owner of my 1980 and the alarm system never worked from the day I took delivery.  I can't tell you how many times I took it back to the dealer.  No luck.  It was just one of the many things that were not correct on my car.