GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

for the cost of a $2 switch and a few minutes to drill a hole in remote back plastic cover. (You don't even have to mess with buying a Matrix remote & programming it.)You can check it out for yourself by popping the remote open with a screwdriver at the slot on the end. The circuit board pads for the Panic switch are there, there's just no switch.You can test activating it by connected the two metal traces circled below with a screwdriver tip or something else conductive. Press "unlock" to shut the horn off!When I get some time, I'll try to find a PC-mount switch that'll mount directly to the pads & post it.

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Nice find

Has anybody ever really needed this feature?I have a 98 Intrigue with a panic button on the remote. Since I got the Intrigue in late 97, neither I nor my wife nor my son have ever needed or used this feature.

Would that work with a Vibe that has keyless entry but w/o alarm?I've heard of this being done before but never knew if that would work or not on mine....

Quote, originally posted by ColonelPanic »Would that work with a Vibe that has keyless entry but w/o alarm?I've heard of this being done before but never knew if that would work or not on mine.... This is just with the basic power package - no alarm or anti-theft pakage or anything.I can't say I really miss it - I've found it to be more of a pain than something useful on our Camry (especially when the todler gets ahold of the keys ). However, I thought it was an interested piece of Vibe trivia worth sharing, and some people may like having it. Helps you find it in a parking lot, anyway......

The only time I would need that is when I forget where I parked, which does happen on occasion. Does it make noise or does it just flash the lights constantly?

Quote, originally posted by Mr. Poopypants »The only time I would need that is when I forget where I parked, which does happen on occasion. Does it make noise or does it just flash the lights constantly?Quote, originally posted by GMJAP »You can test activating it by connected the two metal traces circled below with a screwdriver tip or something else conductive. Press "unlock" to shut the horn off!It makes quite a racket with the horn.

Quote, originally posted by GMJAP »This is just with the basic power package - no alarm or anti-theft pakage or anything.Woo hoo, I have 3 remotes programmed for mine... So, I'm gonna make one of them a guinea pig and try this out. I'll just stick a small jumper wire between the contacts and see what blows up. Crazy that the feature is already there, and some may find it useful, yet they don't put the switch in there to make it work.

Yeah, I'm happier without a panic mode.For the first week or so, my 'rents kept accidentally triggering the alarm in the G6. We finally realized the alarm was set to "passive" mode: the alarm engaged even if they didn't lock the car. One quick setting change, all was fixed.

Panic is good for finding the car, and for spooking kids away. Though it does less of a job of it recently.There are people with good reasons for panic, so don't bash the find...

Quote, originally posted by Jahntassa »Panic is good for finding the car, and for spooking kids away.Remote start scares kids away too!MAN it's fun to scare the crap outta them with that!!!

Hey, sure enough that really, really works. Took a piece of wire and jumpered the contacts, and the vibe speaks up. Now I just need to figure out how the heck to solder in that switch. Viola, instant means of annoying people. Thanks for sharing that with us... I had a pretty crappy day/night so this was cool and good amusement.

Quote, originally posted by ColonelPanic »Hey, sure enough that really, really works. Took a piece of wire and jumpered the contacts, and the vibe speaks up. Now I just need to figure out how the heck to solder in that switch. Viola, instant means of annoying people. Thanks for sharing that with us... I had a pretty crappy day/night so this was cool and good amusement. Really does work? Pictures would be nice to show how to solder switch and what kind switch you plan to install...

So all vibes has this feature, even if they don't have alarm? Great find....I think I'll buy some keychains from ebay so that I can mod some of them. Although annoying, my sister and my wife occasionally take the car out and it would be good to catch people's attention should someone put a scare on them.

I was thinking of swapping out the hatch switch for the panic switch. It would just involve some rewiring but shouldn't be too difficult. I may have to try this when I can find a free minute.

My panic button has been useful before.Once time when I was enjoying my lobster burrito at Rubio's, I noticed a team of ad monkey's littering the cars in the lot with their flyers. When I saw one get close to my car, I hit the panic button and my quad air horns started blaring. I almost blew lobster bits outta my nose because it was funny to see how high the boy jumped.BTW, this is what my Toyota fob look like...WITH the panic button

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Quote, originally posted by GMJAP »When I get some time, I'll try to find a PC-mount switch that'll mount directly to the pads & post it.I think this switch will fit nicely, with the button post just long enough that you can just drill a hole in the plastic case and it should be about flush....http://www.mouser.com/index.cf...61122

WOW!!! That thing really does go nuts! I scared myself when I activated it while walking towards the front of my car.

I used a dime to pry open the remote case. Touched it to the contacts shown and voila, BEEEEP BEEEEP BEEEEP!

holy cow thats sweet time to get inventive and design a button mad scientist time lol

I prefer the remote without the panic button. I have the panic on my Alero remote and it's a real pain when you hit it accidently. I never found a use for it. I don't see how it could help in finding your car when the factory remotes only work a few feet from the car.

if anyone tries that button let us know if it works

What's your asking price for the fob?

Thanks for the info...'ppreciate it.

Quote, originally posted by Raivis »if anyone tries that button let us know if it worksI think he was asking about the switch part I posted, not if the panic function works. (In regards to silverawd26's post.) I'll probably try it myself next week; if so I'll post.

Just a thought that came to me...if a remote is already programmed, can you reprogram it with the info silverawd26 provided? I saw on ebay someone selling a remote, but i don't think it's new. So I'm just wondering if it can be reprogrammed.

The remote is not what gets programmed, it's the car. You can buy a remote off ebay, and program the car to recognize it...but that remote will still be tied to the original car, unless that owner had followed the steps to deactivate that remote from the car's KE system.

Quote, originally posted by CyBeRjUnKiE »Just a thought that came to me...if a remote is already programmed, can you reprogram it with the info silverawd26 provided? I saw on ebay someone selling a remote, but i don't think it's new. So I'm just wondering if it can be reprogrammed.This doesn't actually program the remote itself. When you "program" a remote to a car, nothing changes in the remote.Instead, it programs the receiver in the car to accept the remote's unique code. Bascially, programming tells your car to accept commands from that particular remote.Thus, you could theoretically use one remote with multiple cars, though I haven't tried it.

Great post GMJAP

Quote, originally posted by GMJAP »This doesn't actually program the remote itself. When you "program" a remote to a car, nothing changes in the remote.Instead, it programs the receiver in the car to accept the remote's unique code. Bascially, programming tells your car to accept commands from that particular remote.Thus, you could theoretically use one remote with multiple cars, though I haven't tried it.Thanks for the info...so ideally, you can unlock a whole street of vibes or matrices if the car was programmed to accept your remote?

Quote, originally posted by CyBeRjUnKiE »Thanks for the info...so ideally, you can unlock a whole street of vibes or matrices if the car was programmed to accept your remote?If they were all programmed for the same remote...... yep. Think what you could do with a whole street of Vibes, one remote, and the panic button......

Quote, originally posted by silverawd26 »If you purchased a used Fob, programmed it to a different vehicle, it would delete out the old car and store the newest car?Eh, only a guess. Not exactly sure though... Once again, nothing changes in the remote (fob). Programming does nothing to the fob, it makes the car's receiver recognize the new fobSo if you bought a used fob, and programmed your car to accept it, it would still also open the original owner's vehicle, unless they wipe their car's receiver memory.EDIT Think of it this way: Every remote (fob) is a key, and each one has different key teeth. No two keys are the same. If you buy a key off Ebay, it doesn't get re-grinded to work in your lock. You get your lock cylinder re-pinned to accept this new key in addition to the keys you already have. If someone else repins their lock to accept one of your keys, it doesn't change the key. It still works in your lock.

I decided to give this the ol' college try and see if I could add a panic button to my remote. I actuallytried a couple of different switches/configurations before coming up with this one.I purchased a tactile surface mount momentary switch ($0.50; like the one that GMJAP showed in the link)and a vinyl toggle switch cover ($0.25; red) that I would cut down to act as a soft cover for the momentary switch.First, I removed the keychain loop and opened the cover with a flat-blade screwdriver. I removed the circuit board and the battery (to keep from setting off the panic alarm while working).I used a .8mm low-temp soldering tip to attach the switch. After soldering the switch (which wasn't easy, mind you, since its leads are underneath the switch housing), I cut the vinyl cover to barely clear the switch on the inside.Then I hand-drilled a hole on the back of the housing with an Exacto knife and a 7/16" drill bit.Here's the end result:Does it work? You bet! I triggered mine from about 40 yards away and with those Hellas, you could hear it fine. I know that next time my car is surrounded by a bunch of SUVs in a parking lot, the button's gettin' pushed!

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Here's a picture of the tactile switch installed. It uses "J" style leads, meaning that the contacts are along the sides and bottom of the switch housing (IOW, they don't stick out).It's 6mm x 6.4mm x 3.1mm (WxLxH). It is a SPST momentary switch and cost $0.50 at Electronic Parts Outlet in Houston.

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And lastly, here's a picture of the vinyl toggle switch cover on the switch. It cost $0.25. The vinyl cover is about 10mm in outside diameter and was originally 22mm long. It was cut down to 3.8mm in length to cover the switch.

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Looks good! Clever use of the switch cover

Quote, originally posted by GMJAP »Looks good! Clever use of the switch cover I thought so! I bought enough for extra sets, so hopefully my next one will be a bit more professional. Not bad, though, for a 75-cent mod!

Quote, originally posted by Jahntassa »Panic is good for finding the car, and for spooking kids away. Though it does less of a job of it recently.There are people with good reasons for panic, so don't bash the find... It also works nicely if you have an outdoor cat and you find them on top of your car; especially on the hood.

Is it possible to buy a matrix FOB and just put the back on-or would you have to put a small jumper wire between the contacts?

This mod is also only wise after you have upgraded the horn...

how did i miss this?......mwhahhahahh mwhahhahahh..... added to the to do list...

I talked to this guy, he said this one had a panic button...http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...:1123

nice find!......bought!

Quote, originally posted by VforVIBE »I talked to this guy, he said this one had a panic button...http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...:1123ohh he had another one flagged Camry (same part) so I bought it.I had bought one last June off ebay, but things were sort of crazy around the house and I think I threw it out, because I never saw it after opening the package it came in.

I curious, could you program any car remote and have it work with the vibe?Ive been wanting to get one of those switchblade style remotes for a long while. I know that audi and another maker has a 4 button remote (open, lock, hatch, panic).Or do these only work with the remotes made for the car?

Quote, originally posted by elrodvoss »I am curious, could you program any car remote and have it work with the vibe? I don't know about ANY remote but definitely a Toyota Matrix remote will work. My car NEVER had a remote when I bought it used. Two years ago I asked the mechanic inspecting it if it was wired for remote and he said no and that's expensive to add. I just now learned that if you need to know if your used Vibe is wired for remote they can check the VIN so after reading this forum I just bought a Toyota Matrix remote for 2003-2004 models and it worked on my 2004 Vibe. I only paid 16.99 + shipping. I got it from http://www.CarandTruckRemotes.com and it came with clear instructions but I had to repeat them three times for the program to work. It has the red panic button on the back already cause I'm not as clever as some of you that can make your own ( but I admire you). So it has 4 buttons total: lock, unlock, hatch glass, and panic on the back. I'm so delighted GMJap brought up this topic cause it really helped me out! Last time I was this happy was when I found my cabin air filter for the first time. You are Member of the Month in my book.