Have a Clifford Alam that came with the car when I purchased it in '97.

Have long suspected it's been the root cause for battery drain.

Want to disconnect it without interfering with starting function, etc.

Have been going thru the archives here - reading up on disconnecting the ATA module(anti-theft alarm) and jumpering the 5 pin K38 module behind instrument cluster.

If you don't jumper K38 - starter lockout remains active - car wont' start.

Sounded reasonably simple 'til I found a post in the following thread by MBDoc

Where is the Starter Lock-out relay (K38) on a '92 500SL

K38 not part of U. S. cars 'til 1993. Mine is a '91 W126 300-SEL.

So in my case - what else besides disconnecting ATA cable would I need to disable/jumper in order to deactivate the alarm system altogether without disabling engine startup capability?

Could care less about not having an alarm.

Thanks for your time.

__________________
Mike Murrell
1991 300-SEL - Model 126
M103 - SOHC
"Fräulein"

Because this is an aftermarket alarm it'll be like the wild wild west under the dash. My advice: Look for things that shouldn't be there. Scotch locks will probably be abundant. I would also suspect that the wiring coming from the ignition switch has been cut and a relay spliced in for the ignition cutout. Simply reconnect things as they were from the factory, deposit the alarm and all of its wiring in the bit bucket, and you should be good to go.

-J

__________________
1991 350SDL. 230,000 miles (new motor @ 150,000). Blown head gasket

Tesla Model 3. 205,000 miles. Been to 48 states!
Past: A fleet of VW TDIs.... including a V10,a Dieselgate Passat, and 2 ECOdiesels.
2014 Cadillac ELR
2013 Fiat 500E.

I understand about the after-market challenges that lay ahead.

Am wondering what if anything preceded the K38 relay that may have served as a starter lockout.

Thanks.

__________________
Mike Murrell
1991 300-SEL - Model 126
M103 - SOHC
"Fräulein"

I'd examine the wiring diagrams and see what connection there is with the park neutral position switch.

I bet when you remove the lower dash trim what's done will be obvious. Black tape, zip ties, and scotch locks... rip it out.

-J

__________________
1991 350SDL. 230,000 miles (new motor @ 150,000). Blown head gasket

Tesla Model 3. 205,000 miles. Been to 48 states!
Past: A fleet of VW TDIs.... including a V10,a Dieselgate Passat, and 2 ECOdiesels.
2014 Cadillac ELR
2013 Fiat 500E.