Topic: Question on Alarm System
in Forum: C3 Electrical
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Mint Hill, NC - USA
Joined: 10/25/2007
Posts: 123
Vette(s): 1982 White Corvette, dark blue leather interior, 70,000 miles
How is the alarm suppose to work on a 82. I don't have power locks. When I manually lock the doors I have to unlock the passengers side first. If I open the drivers door first the alarm goes off. Is this normal? Also how do I disarm it once it goes off? I know once it has activated the relay will keep the car from starting for about 10 mins.
Thanks,
Jon
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Duncanville, TX - USA
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The alarm is activated/de-activated by a switch on the door lock cylinder. The system is armed when you lock the door with the key, and dis-armed the same way.
Sounds like the switch on your driver door is bad/disconnected, or something in the wiring has failed. You will need to remove the door panel to get to the switch/lock cylinder. If nothing else, you could swap the cylinders from side to side, and then your door lock would dis-arm the system. You should be able to dis-arm it, once it does go off, by locking/unlocking the door with the key.
hth
Sounds like the switch on your driver door is bad/disconnected, or something in the wiring has failed. You will need to remove the door panel to get to the switch/lock cylinder. If nothing else, you could swap the cylinders from side to side, and then your door lock would dis-arm the system. You should be able to dis-arm it, once it does go off, by locking/unlocking the door with the key.
hth
Joel Adams
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Former Member
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Mint Hill, NC - USA
Joined: 10/25/2007
Posts: 123
Vette(s): 1982 White Corvette, dark blue leather interior, 70,000 miles
Thanks Joel. I had a thought it may be the drivers door switch. When I bought the car the guy told me I needed to unlock from the passenger side. I thought that was a little odd. I'll remove the panel and check the switch. 
Former Member
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Mint Hill, NC - USA
Joined: 10/25/2007
Posts: 123
Vette(s): 1982 White Corvette, dark blue leather interior, 70,000 miles
Thanks Mike!
Former Member
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Mint Hill, NC - USA
Joined: 10/25/2007
Posts: 123
Vette(s): 1982 White Corvette, dark blue leather interior, 70,000 miles
As I look at the door lock there is a arm/disarm switch on the lock itself and a anti-tamper switch on the side of the lock. I take it that if the lock won't disable the alarm it is more likely the arm/disarm switch.
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Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20214
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/
Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight"
#2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto
Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
That's a good possibility, but it could also be a break in the wiring...
Test the switch(unplugged) with an ohm-meter, and see if you have continuity with it in the "lock" position. If you do, then there is a break in the wiring from the switch to the alarm relay. The wiring harness that runs from the door to the hinge pillar is a good place to find crimped/broken wiring...
Test the switch(unplugged) with an ohm-meter, and see if you have continuity with it in the "lock" position. If you do, then there is a break in the wiring from the switch to the alarm relay. The wiring harness that runs from the door to the hinge pillar is a good place to find crimped/broken wiring...
Joel Adams
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Former Member
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Mint Hill, NC - USA
Joined: 10/25/2007
Posts: 123
Vette(s): 1982 White Corvette, dark blue leather interior, 70,000 miles
Thanks! Will do.
Starting in '81 they added a switch to the passenger side. Like mentioned before the T-tops are rigged to the alarm and there is a switch under the hood, near the distributor.
The door lock switches have a contact that disengages when you unlock it with the key. Now if the window is open and you lock the door with the key the system is armed. So if someone reaches in and unlocks the door it will go off. Also if someone tries to pop the lock cylinder out of the door the tamperproof switch you see in there will set it off to.
The system will also lock the ignition switch. So if someone decides to pop the ignition tumbler out they won't be able to start the vehicle.
I know "lectric limited" carries the door harnesses for the alarm system for about $33.00 a side, last I looked. This reminds me that I have to get my alarm up and running. It quit after the car was painted. 
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I didn't know mine had an alarm until I locked it with the power lock switch and then reached in, unlocked the door manually and opened the door.
When the horn started honking it scared the bejesus out of me.
And of course it was 6AM on a Saturday morning.
Woke up the whole neighborhood before I could disconnect the battery.
Finally figured out I needed to unlock the door using the key.
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