My 98 RL has some kind of security system glitch that has caused the horn to go off for no reason. On one occasion the security system did the full flashing lights/intermittent horn dance; at other times the security horn just goes off.

I am 300 miles from the nearest Acura dealer and want to disable this security system. The dealer told me by phone that there should be a hood switch that I can turn upside down or otherwise trick into thinking that the hood is open, so the car will not engage the security system. Has anyone ever heard of this? If so, where is that switch?

Also, is my car's behavior consistent with anything any of you have experienced, and have you found a fix for it? It does seem to have some correlation with rainy weather, though I can't be sure.

Please help either by posting here or emailing me directly at knerburn@paulbunyan.net

 

have you just considered stealing a different car?

sorry for the attack, and you may have a valid reason, but your first post is asking how to disable the security system on an acura...

 

This is a fairly common problem with older RL's and TL's, let me post some suggestions later today.

 

I'd have to be a rather odd dude to post my email address if I were stealing cars. Perhaps more appropriate would be for me to say, "Steal my car, please!" When you're 300 miles from a dealer, your local independents are clueless, and you can't leave your car in a parking lot because it might go off like an air raid siren, you tend to forego niceties and extended explanations.

Obviously I'm not a thief. I'm a man with a problem. To roughly quote the Bob Dylan song, "If you can't lend a hand then just get out of the way." But if you can, please do.

Thanks

 

I'll be waiting anxiously for your assistance. It will be greatly appreciated.

 

you're absolutely right it was meant as a joke, but i can understand if it wasn't taken as such.

but you do have to understand the irony in it all.... but i really do hope you get your problem fixed...

 

Sorry, too. My sense of humor tends to fade when my horn begins to sound. Thanks for responding.

 

If I understand how these forums work, it appears that you are on line.

Regarding my RL, I can tell you also that in the past, the automatic positioning of the steering wheel didn't work for about a week, then it kicked in again. It has worked ever since. Also, there were one or two times when the key did nothing while turned in the ignition. I don't want to make it sound like this is a constant electrical nightmare -- everything works 99 percent of the time. But I'm guessing there are some interlock issues that are far beyond me.

My main concern at this time, however, is just disabling the security system so it works like a normal, unalarmed car.

I'm hoping you have some ideas.

 

I'm still hoping someone out there can help me with this problem. Please write if you can provide any insight into what is happening and how I can alleviate it.

 

I'm still hoping someone will write with sonme specific steps I can take to disable this system or, at least, to trouble shoot it.

 

You COULD try the fusebox and possibly see if there is a fuse that would disable it. I STILL have NOT heard from my contact who has the PDF file with instructions.

 

I've dug around in the fuse box and haven't had any real luck yet. I'll keep hoping your friend gets back to you. I really appreciate you taking time to help me solve this.

Today will be interesting, because it is raining out. This is the kind of weather that has set it off before. We'll see how it does.

Again, my deepest appreciation.

 

One last effort. Is there anyone who can offer me assistance with my problem of a security system on a 96 RL that seems to go off at random? The only seeming correspondence appears to be wet weather. I want to disconnect it or disarm it, but I don't want to do anything that will affect the operation of the vehicle.

Any help anywhere?

 

I have a 1996 Acura RL and and a 1996 TL the alarms also sounds off for no reason. It drove me and my neighbors crazy for a couple of days. I finally figured a workaround by puchasing an Autolock and not locking the drivers door. The alarm does not sound off but your car is not fully secure. With the autolock, the theives will not be able to drive the car off and once they see that you have it attached, they may just skip your car altogether.

** I also noticed that it happens more or rainy days.

Please forward any solution if you get it. I hope this helps.

Email me at johnsos@mail.nih.gov

 

Having this problem, has anyone found a solution?

 

I’m new to the acurazine site. I am having the same problem: it’s 2AM and the security system on my 2004 RL activated tonight for no reason....first time ever.

I de-activated and it went off about 10 mins later.

Now, I can hear all sorts of beeps inside the car, then they stop and a few minutes later they start again for about 3 minutes then stop.

Also, I had to leave the car out in the rain (due to loads of wood in my garage) and that’s when the alarm went off; I just cleared a space of wood and put the car in the garage and it hasn’t gone off in 30 minutes…but it still beeps from the inside and the small security light on the inside driver’s door IS NOT lit. I doubt the system is activated w/o that light on. Now it’s beeping from the inside and not stopping.

Any ideas? Thank you!

 

Last but not least...the car is off, there's no key in the ignition, and all the speedometer and odometer and fuel gauge, etc. lights are on! Go figure.

 

ACURA Service Bulletin 98-028 (Body) "Intermittent Electrical Problems."
1. Vehicle security system sounds intermittentley while vehicle is parked.
2. Door locks "cycle" while driving.
3. The instrument panel lights remain on.

PROBABLE CAUSE:
Water is leaking in the front pillars. Water gets in the connectors for the under- dash fuse/relay box, the drivers multiplex control unit, or the door lock lock actuator causing "intermittent electrical problems."

Hope this helps guys. It is obviously "water/rain" related and it's also obvious that ACURA is aware of it. This Service Bulletin was issued OCT, 2001. It applies to all 1996-2001RL's and some VIN's fro the 2002 model year. This Service Bulletin "superseded" a Service Bulletin issued in SEPT, 1998 (98-028) which addressed just the "intermittent Security System activation."

 

Thanks you so much for your reply...and quick too. I'll contact ACURA. Funny thing is I bought the car used and the former owner never had it garaged...I've had it 9 months and it was always garaged (except for the past 2-3 nights)...and this thing starts. Strange.

 

First off some of you on this thread are not very helpful at all. Obnoxious is more like it. Some one asks for help and gets nonsense. Acura dealers can be very helpfull if you pick up the phone. I came here first looking for the answer to the alarm question and got nowhere. I called the dealer and I was told how they would disable the security system for me.

I may be new here but I am not new to cars. I have a street driven 1970 Cuda that will eat any rice burning Acura you think is fast. Go get your car and get ready for a beating. Come to Watkins Glen and play with me if you think I am kiddiing. My girlfriend drives a mint 98 RL which I take care of, that is why i had to come over here. The alarm would go off when it felt like it.

The override is accomplished by disconnecting the hood switch from the harness and jumpering the harness connector-NOT the switch connector. Everything works as it is supposed to except the alarm does not set because it thinks the hood is open.

Look at the hood latch and you will see the harness running behind the support.

Now if you will excuse me I have to feed my Cuda some rice.

 

One of you so called Moderators deleted my first post because I expressed disappointment that some replies to the originator's request for help were obnoxious answers helping no one. This will be the last time i come here as you people are rude and obviously require further help from experts.

To bypass the security system the hood switch is disconnected from the harness and the harness connector gets a wire jumper. Buy a factory service manual and read.

 

The drivers side multiplex control box can come into contact with moisture, i.e. rain water in the inner door. This unit has a direct tie to the remote fob receiver, and a link to the anti-theft module under the dash. I had a 96 that would try to "re"lock the doors after I had already pressed "lock" on the remote. Discover rusty contacts on the drivers door lock cylinder, and had caused a short in the multiplex module....................

 

I have had a very similar experience with my '01 RL. I also notice the alarm engaging several hours before it rains! I should be a weatherman!! Maybe I could use it to pay for the outrageous prices my local dealership charges me to look at this thing.

The last time I took it in to the dealer, they told me it was a faulty driver's door sensor that would cost $400 to replace. This was right after my daughter broke the back window sitting on it waiting for me to come outside! When it rains it pours.

The alarm had been going off intermittently for several weeks BEFORE the broken back window, but I do believe my wife had the battery replaced right before all this started happening. Humidity...Electric...I dunno. Maybe a barometric pressure switch?

Ok, that is the long story, now...how can I fix the darn thing? I have ticked off everyone from my office building and last weekend, all of my neighbors too! Ha, the thing has a tendency to go off when I am not in town! As well, I believe I had manually locked the door and did not engage the alarm. My mistake - sorry neighbors!

Can I replace the sensor as the dealership suggested (for much less than they quoted)? Or is this an issue only they can resolve - only to have ANOTHER sensor go bad next month -- you KNOW it is going to!!

Love my car, but I am going to have to take it out to the country and put it out of its misery before I get thrown out of my home!!!

Thanks in advance.

 

This happened to my 97 too... the alarm would go off randomly, kept the security guy at my work busy all day lol

Turns out it was just one of the alarm sensors, I think the sensor was at the front of the car behind the bumper.

I can't remember if the sensor was replaced or simply disconnected, but either way it stopped setting off the alarm.

 

I hate to bump an old thread but I believe the same thing is happening to my car. I noticed that after I washed the car last week that I had problems with my alarm, and then the VSA and Airbag lights came on. I have to believe that this is due to the controller getting wet as this only happens after it rains or after I wash the car. Does anyone else have anymore input on this?

 

I ead the manual for my 1999 Acura TL and it says that if you disengage the battery when you hook it up you need to enter a five digit code to rearm the alarm. Why not uphook the battery and not bother rearming the alarm. Seems like a simple solution to me?

 

I am still trying to figure out the problem in my 1999 TL. In the meantime I have disconnected the Alarm horn which is different than the car horn. Now only the lights start flashing for 3 minutes and then they go out. Ha, ha, lots of comments from my neighbors about the flashing lights. My Acura service shop said the that the alarm system could not be disabled. I have done some research and this week I am going to go back to the dealer and quote him the three Service Bulletins that were issued I 1999,2000 and 2001 on this issue. I need to find out what Acura recommends to there mechanics one how to fix this issue? I will let you know what I find out.

 

The security alarm on my 2008 Acura TL (base) intermittently goes off. I have been to two different Acura dealers that cannot fix the problem. The computer security codes suggest a communication problem but they could not figure out how to fix it. I asked about removing fuses, they said this could silence the alarm but would also prevent the car from starting.

Their work around was to 'jumper' the hook switch to indicate the hood is always open. Apparently the computer then thinks you are working on the car and will not set off the alarm, will allow the car to start and still allow the FOBs to operate correctly.

I hope this helps someone else...

 

I have had this problem with my 2002 RL as well as my '93 legend in the past. I found that the alarm connection for the hood gets compromised due to the weather and sets off the alarm. I stopped this by unplugging the connector under the hood (It usually is in front of the radiator). I havent had the problem since.