Car Alarms: Alarm on a 1997 Acura 2.5TL, alarmtek, circuit city

Question
QUESTION: I was in an accident about 6 months ago.  The body shop had to remove the whole front of my car to repair it.  Now when I lock my door, my alarm does not come on.  The shop does not know why it will not activate. They suspect the alarm box (?) is burnt out.  Any idea why my alarm no longer works? What would I have to do to get it repaired?

THank you,
Heather

ANSWER: Please tell me what you are experiencing.

I need to determine whether it's a factory alarm
issue or, if it's an aftermarket system you are
dealing with.

Is it: Headlights flashing, car horn honking
and a worded SECURITY" light in the dash flashing?
(doubtfull since none of the notes show this
car as having a factory alarm system)=FACTORY
Or,
is it: flashing parking lights,
an LED in the dash area, and a siren
going off?= AFTER MARKET

Let me know more on this to better
advise you on a course of action
to take, to help you to fix this
situation you're in quickly.

Best Regards,

Robert Martin
CEO/ALARMTEK
CARALARMMAN.com

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I am not experiencing any alarm activity at all.  The system has not been changed since I bought the car (1998)so I presume it came with the alarm.  My understanding is the alarm is standard factory installed. I try to activate the alarm by locking my car, and the alarm does not come on. The radio alarm (also factory installed), however, is still working fine.

Thanks, Heather

Answer
That's a problem. The door locks control
the factory alarm system.
Meaning, they control the arm and disarm
when you lock and unlock.

If malfunctioning, have it inspected by Acura
to see if the security module is damaged.

If it's after market, anything from the siren to
the remotes could be suspect. Or it could be in
an over ride state.

Hard to say from my vantage point.
If you have a local car alarm shop, like
circuit city, best buys or a local shop,
have them do an inspection to see if it's
something minor, and fixable, before you
go to Acura, but if that fails, you need
to be prepared to pay Acura to restore it.

I hope it's something easy.
Let me know what happens.

A.