Alarming 88 560SL - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

joselu43 · #1 02-04-2006, 02:52 PM

I am in very hot water. It has been raining heavily the last couple of days and the government had to drive home from work with the horn blaring intermitently and lights flashing. It has happened before and I am sure it will happen again. And, unfortunately, she does not want to dive my car, she wants the SL. So I have been doing my homework searching all posts and this is what I found out:
ALARM can be disabled by removing fuse F14. FALSE, I removed both and the alarm still goes off. Makes you wonder what their purpose is.
Benzmac says in an old post that it can be done by disconecting the control unit. Where is that in an 88 SL?. Also, does anybody have any other ideas?

JL

Walrus · #2 02-04-2006, 03:41 PM

The alarm controller is, I believe,in the floor under the right/passenger carpet. There is a panel there that you can remove to gain access...

joselu43 · #3 02-04-2006, 03:51 PM

Thank you Walrus, i'll get to it right away.

JL

joselu43 · #4 02-04-2006, 04:16 PM

I do not think it is there, looks like its the ABS and some VDO stuff. I did not even know there was someting there.

JL

Pili380SL · #5 02-04-2006, 04:57 PM

The anti-theft alarm control unit is behind the glove box.

joselu43 · #6 02-04-2006, 06:27 PM

That's where it was. Thanks. When removing the glove box I found a 10x2 piece of black plastic trim. It is flat and the cross section is like a flat "S", any idea where it goes?

JL

Roncallo · #7 02-04-2006, 09:38 PM

I had this problem twice in the one year I owned the car. It turned out that the drivers door key switch never apparently disarmed it. I think I was just a little too fast with the keys. It hasent happened in about 9 months now but if it does I will replace the door switch assembly.

Your alarm control module is behind the little snap in access port in the back of the glove box. You can just disconnect it.

John Roncallo

joselu43 · #8 02-04-2006, 10:25 PM

I just disconnected the unit's two plugs. From what I read, there are no problems associated with doing that (other than having no alarm). I have no idea why it happens. It seems to be random, but it is more likely when it rains. Since it is my wife using the car I cannot be sure about all the additional circumstances. It might be the switch, but I read somewhere in this forum that you need to replace the whole lock assembly. That seems hardly worth it.

JL

iwrock · #9 02-05-2006, 12:03 AM

I dont know if the R107 has the lock cylinder on both sides, but if it does, switch them. Nobody ever uses the passanger sode lock, so give it a shot. Now, you will have an almost new cylinder on the drivers side.

joselu43 · #10 02-05-2006, 12:52 AM

Yes it does. Are you sure you can switch cylinders? They both open the same way and I don't see how it would work. I am not trying to be argumentative, I have no idea how locks work in this car.

JL

Roncallo · #11 02-05-2006, 11:19 AM

There is a left and right side. You do have to order the hole handel and give them your key number. You will also have to show proof of ownership. Let me know if you get a price on one.

But before you do this, if it happens again check that it goes off by sticking the key in the lock and rotating it all the way in the unlock direction a second time. When this happens to my car that will dissarm it. That is why I suspect the switch in the lock. Make sure you make this test on the door you first unlocked to get into the car. No other door will disarm it on mine.

John Roncallo

joselu43 · #12 02-05-2006, 12:33 PM

When in regular operation, it would disarm from from both doors. When it gets going the behavior is totally unpredictable, it may disarm or not. If disarmed, it may get going again when you are driving. Even if I was sure it was the driver's side lock, I am not sure replacing it would be worth it, I imagine the cost would be very high if not prohibitive. Given the politics of my situation I just chose to disarm it. I do not think that this car is high on the theft priority list and removing the alarm will not significantly increase the risk. If I was driving it, I would keep it and live with it.

JL

iwrock · #13 02-05-2006, 12:34 PM

I am pretty sure that they are the same tumbler assembly. Our indy mechanic said that it was 100% OK to switch the tumbler assemblies on our 400E, 300TE, as well as out W201. They operate just as new, so I think that is does the trick. It operates in the same function as before, just the alarm does not go off.

You should try it as it will save you some big bucks.

joselu43 · #14 02-05-2006, 03:43 PM

It is worth a try. Do you think is it difficult to do? Do you need special tools?. I imagine it requires substantial door panel dissasembly. I have not done that on this car. I will have to look into it and decide. Thanks for the info.

JL

Walrus · #15 02-05-2006, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Walrus

The alarm controller is, I believe,in the floor under the right/passenger carpet. There is a panel there that you can remove to gain access...

Oops, Sorry. My bad!