Problem with alarm?

[KungFuJoe]

I got an alarm installed at the Chevy dealer where I purchased my 07 Tahoe. I don't know if it's a "factory" alarm because you can't configure it using the DIN. For instance, it used to give a little horn beep whenever I armed/disarmed it. I tried to turn it off using the DIN, but couldn't get it to work. I called the service dept and he said it could only be turned off by his alarm guy. Does that sound "shady" to anyone...or is it pretty common? I think I paid 400 for the alarm...I want to make sure I got what is considered an OEM or factory alarm and not some knock off.

Anyways...the problem I'm having now is that every so often, I will disarm the alarm...then I'll proceed with putting my 2 girls into their child seats in the rear, maybe load something into the back, and then when I go to open my driver's side door (which is unlocked), the alarm will go off and I have to press the disarm button. This probably happens a good 3 to 4 times a week...enough to know that I can't be accidentally hitting the "arm" button. Plus, since my driver side door is unlocked when I go to open it, that pretty much tells me I didn't accidentally press it. Is there some kind of "timeout" where you have open your driver's side door after disarming or it will "turn on" again on it's own? I called the dealer, and once again, he wants me to bring it in...but his alarm guy is only there 2 days out of the week...both days being very inconvenient for me.

 

[JKmotorsports]

Most alarm systems installed at the dealerships are aftermarket products. Is your alarm set to passive arming? In other words, does it arm by itself? Try this: Open the window to one of the rear doors. Close all the doors and arm the system. Wait a couple seconds, then without disarming, reach in and open the rear door. See if that sets the alarm off or not. If not, then the door trigger for the alarm was only tied into the driver door ajar circuit. Since the driver door is closed, the alarm will arm if it is set to passive arm, which would cause the same thing that is going on with yours. And $400 seems high for an alarm install, especially if you have an arm/disarm function. Let us know what you find out.

 

[KungFuJoe]

Most alarm systems installed at the dealerships are aftermarket products. Is your alarm set to passive arming? In other words, does it arm by itself? Try this: Open the window to one of the rear doors. Close all the doors and arm the system. Wait a couple seconds, then without disarming, reach in and open the rear door. See if that sets the alarm off or not. If not, then the door trigger for the alarm was only tied into the driver door ajar circuit. Since the driver door is closed, the alarm will arm if it is set to passive arm, which would cause the same thing that is going on with yours. And $400 seems high for an alarm install, especially if you have an arm/disarm function. Let us know what you find out.

I will definitely test that out when I get home. Now that you mention it, I remember the sales rep saying something about "passive arming" when I was trying to see if it was worth the extra money. He actually mimicked sticking his hand through an open window to demonstrate. Although I think he was demonstrating that it has some kind of motion sensor trigger...I forgot. It also supposedly has a kill switch where it will kill the engine if the alarm goes off. So $400 sounds pricey? I actually thought it wasn't that bad because my bmw alarm cost $600 (which I didn't purchase). Guess the dealer has to stick it to you somehow.

So if it does have passive arming, then what? Is that something I'm just going to have to adjust to...either by opening the driver's side door first, or remember to disarm it an additional time after I'm done loading the kids in?

 

[JKmotorsports]

I will definitely test that out when I get home. Now that you mention it, I remember the sales rep saying something about "passive arming" when I was trying to see if it was worth the extra money. He actually mimicked sticking his hand through an open window to demonstrate. Although I think he was demonstrating that it has some kind of motion sensor trigger...I forgot. It also supposedly has a kill switch where it will kill the engine if the alarm goes off. So $400 sounds pricey? I actually thought it wasn't that bad because my bmw alarm cost $600 (which I didn't purchase). Guess the dealer has to stick it to you somehow.

So if it does have passive arming, then what? Is that something I'm just going to have to adjust to...either by opening the driver's side door first, or remember to disarm it an additional time after I'm done loading the kids in?

Even with passive arming, if it is installed properly, the alarm will not arm automatically if any doors are open. Most alarm systems can be optioned to be either passive or active arming.

 

[KungFuJoe]

I tried what you said about rolling down the window, arming it, and opening it...the alarm did go off.

But, just today I disarmed my alarm, and walked straight to my driver's side door, opened it, and the alarm went off. Something is definitely wrong or I'm crazy.