Car alarms

[pfloyd]

So here's the story...

My car, Sally (short for Salamander, since she's red), has an alarm system that was already installed in the car when my parents acquired it back in the mid-90s. It was a leased car and pretty much new back then. For clarity, it's a 1994 Nissan Sentra. They got it when I was still at UMass, so I think back in 1993.

Thing is: the alarm system has a short in it somewhere. It will go off (or make attempts to do so, noted by the very loud clicking it tries to make) at random times. Neither one of the fobs that I have will stop the alarm. It went off again last night, and I just pounded the hood once right above the horn to kill it. However, this is not a fix for the issue.

I need to know of a place where I can take it and have one of two things done:
1. The short located and remedied, and perhaps have the fobs back in working order.
2. The alarm system completely disabled so I won't have to worry about it.

I've already called three places: Worcester Radio and Speedometer on Lincoln Street (they will get back to me and let me know if they can get someone working on Saturday), Rayco and Ziebart (who will only work on systems that they sell and install... rather selective, if you ask me).
I need to get this done ASAP before it really begins to annoy people, and hopefully on the cheap.

Any ideas?

Comments

[sfogliatella.livejournal.com]

Best Buy perhaps?

[lawful-evil.livejournal.com]

Random alarms...

I've found that the 'unlock' button on my fob will set off the panic alarm on one of the cars here at work. Maybe you are having something similar happen to you.

[pfloyd.livejournal.com]

I have one button on the fobs -- usually just to kill the alarm or activate the capability of it going off.
There's a definite short in the system somewhere. You can hear it trying to kick over.

[lawful-evil.livejournal.com]

FYI, one the ladies at work had something similar happen and she claims that it was her car battery. She replaced the battery and her alarm troubles went away. The car was an old 93 minivan.

[pfloyd.livejournal.com]

Since the car has been passed over to me (with the short in existence when I received it from Dad), I've had two or three new batteries in it. That ain't the cause.