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Stock security system, how to test, is mine broken?
Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 12:03 pm
by spacemonkey
I have the stock security system, or at least I think I do because I have the flashing light on the headunit of my CD player. Does that sound right?I looked at the manual and it said to test it by rolling down the windows, lock the doors, wait until the LED is flashing, then open it from the inside. That should set off the alarm.It does not set off the alarm in mine. Did I test it wrong? Is my alarm not working? Do I not have an alarm?Any help greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 1:16 pm
by L5K
The flashing light on the head unit is just to look like an alarm.If you have an alarm there will be an place to the left of the steering wheel where there's four little plastic panels that has the light on it.
Re: Stock security system, how to test, is mine broken? (spacemonkey)
Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2009 1:49 am
by MotoXdog
You may have tested it wrong. I haven't tried it on my Vibe yet (probably should have BEFORE posting ), but on the truck I had, with the doors locked with the remote and the windows already down, if I reached in, unlocked the door by hand and then opened the door from the outside, the alarm would go off. If, for some reason, I had the windows down and by grabbing the keys, locked the door with the remote and forgot about it, come back to the truck without the keys, I would have to unlock it from inside (manually) & open the door from the inside as well to keep the alarm from going off.There is a sensor that lets the alarm know if the door was unlocked either with the remote, with the key or manually from inside OR from outside without a key! (such as a slim-jim)Give that a shot and let us know!
Re: Stock security system, how to test, is mine broken? (MotoXdog)
Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2009 1:51 am
by spacemonkey
I think that L5K is right, the LED on the headunit is just a decoy. I don't have the light to the left of the steering wheel, so I assume I don't actually have the security system.
Re: Stock security system, how to test, is mine broken? (spacemonkey)
Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2009 2:05 am
by MotoXdog
I have the upgraded stereo with the optional theft device. I do see the alarm light next to the radio (where the airbag ind. is), but the optional theft system does a lot more than the standard system. Heck, it will only take ya a sec to leave the windows down, lock'er up from the outside, reach in, unlock it and pull the handle from the outside.I think an OEM installing a "fake" alarm system would lead to some ethics and legal issues. Haha... just a thought.
Re: Stock security system, how to test, is mine broken? (MotoXdog)
Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2009 2:37 am
by spacemonkey
I tried it by locking, waiting a bit, then unlocking from the inside and opening the door from the outside and still no alarm. That blinking LED on the old headunit must have been a decoy. Huh.
Re: Stock security system, how to test, is mine broken? (spacemonkey)
Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2009 3:13 am
by MotoXdog
Bummer dude! I tried... sorry!
Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2009 3:34 am
by L5K
Yeah, the alarm system will have a different light to the left of the steering wheel by the hatch glass release button. It says so in my owners manual.The "decoy" light wouldn't run into any ethical issues because they never sold it as or told people it was a real alarm system. It is just a light that blinks when the car is off. IF a person thinks it is an alarm system that is an assumption and not based on anything the auto maker said. I'd much rather have the decoy light than nothing at all.
Re: (L5K)
Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2009 3:54 am
by MotoXdog
Are you sure that isn't the "Zero Gravity Armed" light? Hahaha, you just gave me an idea... load up the next car I sell with randomly blinking lights when the vehicle is turned off. "No, I'm not sure what they do, but I never pushed that red button either."
Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2010 6:58 am
by AdmRose
The blinking red light on the headunit shows that the radio's TheftLock system is working. It has nothing to do with the vehicle anti-theft system which as previously stated is on the same panel as the rear hatch release.
Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2010 3:02 am
by cptnsolo77
LOL....thought i had a factory alarm all this time. Dang...I learn something new every day on this site. Time to pickup THE CLUB lol.
Re: Stock security system, how to test, is mine broken? (MotoXdog)
Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2010 3:24 am
by VibeBear
The light to the left of the radio in the '09 Vibes is labeled "security". This doesn't reflect that the car has an alarm, but that it does have a security or theft deterrent system in the form of an immobilizer (chip in the key)I'm assuming the same can be said for the older Vibes with the flashing light in the radio