QuestionHi there,
I just had a dumb follow-up about the location of the valet switch. I poked around the dash area and did not find it. Do you have anything more specific on where it would be?
I should also say, in poking around I discovered that the plastic panel that should be down by my feet is missing, with the result that there is all this scary looking stuff just beyond the gas and brake pedals. This includes what looks like it might be a button or switch hanging down on a metal wire. When I accidentally put my hand down there in feeling around, I got a little shock. Do you think this metal thing I'm talking about is the switch, and do you think it's safe to try to switch it? Would it be that far down? This thing I'm talking about is suspended just above where the middle of my shins would be while driving.
Thanks again for all of your help.
-------------------------------------------
The text above is a follow-up to ...
-----Question-----
Hi there,
I just had a really weird thing happen. Here's the background: I have a 1997 Toyota Camry that I bought last year. I do not know what kind of alarm system it has, unfortunately.
This past November when I picked it up from the mechanic after routine maintenance, the alarm setting seemed to have changed. The car now locks itself, and if I try to use the valet key the alarm goes off and the engine won't start--neither of these things used to happen before. The alarm also is occasionally triggered when I'm using the regular key for reasons that I can't figure out. I have to try it a few times before it will recognize the key and allow the car to start.
Now here's what happened today. I parked, turned the car off, and went into a building to get a parking permit. I came out a few minutes later to find my car running--the engine was running, the radio was on, everything. The car doors were locked. I was able to unlock the doors with my key fob. I put the key in the ignition and turned it a few times and nothing happened--the car kept running. Then finally I did it again and the car died. When I turned the ignition again it started up as usual.
I am now really freaked out that my car is going to start itself again. Am I wrong to think that this might have something to do with its already odd alarm behavior?
If you don't think the starter has anything to do with the alarm, I'd still appreciate any info on how to turn the alarm OFF. I really don't care if someone tries to steal my 10-year-old car, I just don't want to be setting off my own alarm all the time.
Thank you so much for any help you can offer!!
-----Answer-----
Odd.
Hmmm, ok let's try to reset the system.
Might be in tamper mode and needs to be
"refreshed". Also from the description, yours
has includes a remote starter in it.
Try the following, and let me know if it worked:
Put the key in the ignition, and turn forward
all the way just before cranking. Then within
5 seconds, locate, press and hold in the
valet/overide button, found under the
dash area, (push button, spring loaded)
until the installed LED (the blinking light)
in your dash area goes on solid,
and the siren chirps once.
(Your valet switch might be the toggle
(on/off) type. in this case, key on,
flip switch in opposite direction,
then turn the key off.)
This should reset the alarm, and reset
the grounded relay on the starter wire,
allowing you to start the engine.
At this point, the only thing working would
be the keyless entry from the alarm,
if it came equipped that way.
Just Repeat these steps to place it
back to usable armed mode.
You may get 2 chirps, confirming it,
and the lights may flash twice as well.
That should do it. You can try to ID the system
at a site called www.REMOTESUNLIMITED.com
as they specialize in that sort of thing.
Then you can try to locate and possibly down
load the user/install manual so you understand
the system and can use it to your benefit.
If you want to remove it at this point,
take it to your neighborhood installer
for this, or buy the wiring chart
(Go to: www.vehiclewires.com)
for the vehicle, and reverse engineer it wire
by wire, until safely removed.
If it does not work out this way,
you will have to replace the system
with one you know how to operate
and what to expect. Don't want to
get stuck in another bad situation.
Let me know what happens.
Robert Martin/CEO-ALARMTEK
DELUXESERVICE.com
AnswerUmm, no shock would have happened with an alarm
system valet switch. You have another issue
that MUST be corrected or you may have an injury or
a short, and possibly a fire if left unattended.
Most valet switched are to the left of
the leg area, drilled into a plastic panel
and have only ground and rested wires.
NO POWER.
Have someone look at that please.
On the valet switch, it can also be part of
an LED on your dash area or part of the antenna.
Do you see an antenna affixed to the windshield
glass? There might be a button in it. But my first
concern here is the wire that shocked you.
No good can come from that one!
Have that cared for then we can work on
the alarm issue.
A.
