Help! Immobilized :(

[PorkchopSandwiches]

Today I got back from shopping, parked my car and pressed the remote to the dealer installed alarm. I heard the doors lock but it did not chirp at all. It is supposed to chirp twice to confirm that it is locked and the alarm is armed.

 

I went to check if it really locked and the doors were locked but the light that shows if the alarm is armed was not blinking at all. The remote would not open the car so I unlocked it with my key. The alarm didn't go off and no lights flashed. The car would not start either. I looked in the alarm manual and it says you can override it by holding the remote programming button under the dash and turning the key to start. This worked but it is now the only way I can get my car to start and the alarm / remote do not function.

 

Is there a fuse that might be blown? If so, where is it? Any other known problem that this may be?

 

I replaced the battery in my remote just to check and that didn't change anything. The alarm system does not enter the remote programming mode like it should when you hold the program button for 15 seconds, so I can't try reprogramming my remote.

[Zues Marine]

ALPINE SYSTEM, new starting in 1999, used through 2004

information is always subject to change and correction Used on:

Legacy, Outback all models 1999-2004

Forester 2001-2004

Impreza 2002-2004

1999 Legacy only: Passive arming of the optional 1999 alarm system.

The dealer could program the alarm to arm automatically whether the doors are locked or not. In this mode the doors must be manually locked or using the power lock button or the remote.

In Passive Mode the system will automatically activate in one minute but will not lock the doors. it will arm the alarm even if the doors are not locked. Lock the doors using the power lock switch with the door open. If you are using the remote to lock the doors, there would be no reason to set Passive Mode because locking with the remote would arm the alarm anyway so I'm not sure why this function exists.... To open the doors use the remote or the key, but then the alarm will go off and you'll need

To set Passive Mode:

Open driver's door and remove the plastic step sill that curves up toward the front.

Connect the single-pole white connectors.

Posted ImagePosted Imagethe plain gray buttons were used 99-01, colored buttons for 2002-04

How To Use The Alpine Alarm

Battery #CR2032.

Range? App 50ft. Battery fade, other cars, buildings, walls etc affect range.

1. Locking. Push the large button. This locks all the doors and will set the alarm (if equipped and in setable mode).

2. Unlocking. Push the small button once to unlock the driver's door and disarm alarm, if set. Push the small button a second time to unlock all the doors.

3. Honking horn?

On 1999-2002 models the horn honks once for lock and twice for unlock, 3 times if a door is not closed. This audible honk feature is optional. To turn it off or to turn it on unlock all the doors and hold *both* buttons down until the horn honks once. The horn will always honk 3 times if a door is not fully closed when you lock it.

This was changed in 2003, models to a 'chirp'. There is no longer an audible honk feature. If a door is ajar the system will chirp 5x and the lights flash.

4. Alarm. (optional)

System chirps when locked with the remote if you have an alarm, and no you can't turn the chirp off.

5. Valet mode or alarm off: alarm light (red dot center dashboard display) rapidly flashing 3 times means the alarm is in "Valet" mode and is not setable. The light will stop flashing when you start the car.

To set valet mode or just to disable the security alarm system: 1. unlock all doors 2. physically open the driver's door 3. hold the UNLOCK button on remote for 2+ seconds or so. The red 'security' light will then flash 2 times a second until the car is turned on.

6. Arming the alarm: to make an alarm in valet model arm-able, unlock all the doors and hold the small button down on the remote until the light stops flashing. Now when you lock the doors the alarm will be set and the light will flash on and off, on and off.

7. Alarm goes off?

Push the small button on the remote

OVERRIDING the alarm when you don't have a Remote to disable it.

If you don't have the remote put the key in the ignition and turn it on and off three times and the car will start on the 4th time

8. Program remotes: works on Alpine system.

Unlock all doors, foot on brake, all doors closed. Cycle key quickly but carefully on-off appr 10 times until the car honks one time.

Do not turn the key far enough to start the car, just to the 'on' position so the dashboard lights up.

When the horn honks, open and close the driver's door, press any remote button and that's it.

Program another remote? Quickly open and close the driver's door again and push a button on the 2nd remote. That's it.

When you're done, remove the key and the horn should honk 3 times. You're all set.

Sometime it takes more than 10 on-offs to set program mode. Open/close the door, lock/unlock etc, wait 10 minutes, then try again.

[PorkchopSandwiches]

Thanks for the info, but I should have mentioned mine is a 1998. They changed it the next year. I got under the dash and started feeling around for the fuse box. I bumped something and the alarm went off on me finally. There must just be a loose connection down there somewhere. I'll go diving for that another day but right now everything seems to be working fine again.

[Scruffy]

It's probably those stupid vampire clips that the factory/dealership uses to install the alarm/keyless entry. also, there's two fuses on the wire harness from the keyless entry box. I'd start there. and you can just pull the three screws from above your knee guard and you'll have nice open access to everything.

[Zues Marine]

there was something referenced to overriding a valet mode by cycling the ignition on and off a certain amount of times but i cant find it at the moment, johnegg?

[pleaidestar]

Get in the car, shut the door place key into the ignition, rotate from on to off four times, horn will sound 3 times..take key out of the ignition and press any button and it will disarm the system. Well here is this thread with links to help you

 

http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php/disarm-security-system-213501.html

[PorkchopSandwiches]

As I said before, those instructions are for a 99+

 

98 and older use a completely different alarms system and cycling the key doesn't do anything. To disable the alarm in a 98 or prior, turn the key to the on position and hold the programming button under the dash for fifteen seconds. After fifteen seconds the doors should lock and unlock three times. If you want to program a new remote, do not release the programming button. Press the lock button on the remote, release the programming button, and turn the key to off.

 

I have copies of all the manuals for the alarm system that I should scan and upload here some day when I've got time.

[pleaidestar]

http://www.cars101.com/subaru/keyless.html

 

Or

 

http://www.cars101.com/subaru/keyless.html#code%20alarm

[johnegg]

it does sound like there is a loose connection under the dash.

i would start with the connectors on the unit it self.

make sure they are fully seated.

 

any time the unit looses power, and then it is reinstated,

it assumes you are trying to steal the car, so it goes in to alarm mode.

you can prevent this by having the key in the ''run'' position before you apply power to the unit.

but if it is a loose connection all bets are off.

even if all you have is remote entry, not alarm, it will go into alarm mode, flashing the lights.

 

my 97 gt (no alarm, remote entry only) did this once,

i was still able to start the car and drive it, but the lights were flashing.

if you have the alarm as well, i think you will be immobilized.

 

the difference between remote entry and an alarm that sounds is the extra wiring harness and the siren / horn under the hood.

the unit, the brain is exactly the same.

and it operates and programs the same.

[twisty]

the difference between remote entry and an alarm that sounds is the extra wiring harness and the siren / horn under the hood.

the unit, the brain is exactly the same.

and it operates and programs the same.

 

there would likely be the starter kill as well, with the alarm system over the keyless entry. code is really finicky with grounding, the one in my dodge has had similar issues. fund a loose ground under the dash. one time it put itself into valet mode and wouldnt release, stayed that way for 2 years until i had it unpowered for a few months.