My '79 starts to "honk" after I turn the key to the lock position. Is there a secret to the setting of the alam? It will shut off after I turn the key partly to the unlock position, but then I don't know if it's still armed. Anyone? Thanx,
Bill

My first 81 started doing that years back I just unplugged the alarm,but that's not a fix, the outside door lock is weird, part mech for the latch part electic switch, it's "suppose" to arm when ign is off and everything is closed and you lock the doors, then if the hood or a door is opened, (I don't recall if 79 also had the option of t-top protection) the alarm sounds,
I would guess the "brain" to the alarm is freaking out and is bad, however it could be the pin switch in the door jamb being right at the point of making it think the door is open when you lock it, these factory alarms are just weird to me,
My 86 will blow the alarm if I hit the power door lock inside the car when on my way getting out and let the door close too much, hitting the pin switch just enough to send a signal.
I have read thru out the years of alot of problems with these alarm brains.
Cheers, T.

The 79 shouldn't have a "brain" as such, at least I know my 80 doesn't. It's just controlled by a relay. Sounds like one of your protection switches is staying closed. Check the hood switch, up on the plenum box towards the passenger side of the wiper motor, and also the two switches in the t-tops, if you have them. They are recessed into the holes that the metal pins slide into - towards the rear of the top. Then that just leaves the door switches - it should be obvious if one of these is staying closed, 'cos the interior lights will be on!
The 80 also has a switch clamped around the lock cylinder inside the door, designed to close if someone tries to drill the lock out - if yours has one of these, then maybe it's shifted and is making contact. Seeing as that requires a trip inside the door panel, I'd be looking at the other possibilities first!

Thanks for clarification,
Being the c-3's alarm system changed many times over the many years I used the term "brain" to name the control head in this case a relay,
Like I mentined before checking all the switches would be the starting point of solving the problem.
Cheers, T.