I recently purchased an 89 190E 2.6 which has theft alarm (little red light by ignition switch). The car has a manually wired toggle switch near the console which appears to have been put in to try to disable the theft alarm, but its action is only sporadic. Can't ask previous owner as he has died. The alarm has "self activated" a couple of times (horn disabled, but lights flash, relays under passenger set click away). This eventually stops, but is quite annoying. Is there a safe (ie, doesn't affect anything else) way to disable the anti-theft system, preferrably reversible?

Robert,

Sorry, this is not related to your alarm.

You have the exact model/year I have. Here's my question to you - do you have any odd switches on your dash console? I have one button with an arrow pointing downward with tic marks next to it. The dealer didn't even know what is was for! Do you have the same switch?

Thanks

Dave,

This sounds like an after market alarm system? If so, who makes it?

Frank Vusir

Frank,
I think that the alarm (at least the basics) are factory. The master keys (I don't have the others) have the red dots, the owner's manual references the system, the red light that I mentioned is an integral part of the original dash molding next to the ignition switch. When the system activates, it behaves as the manual describes, 150 secs of flashing lights. The relays that control it change at the appropriate intervals for the horn alarm, but the horn does not sound. The switch I mentioned is definitely backyard mechanic. It is a light gauge (perhaps 20 to 22 AWG) twin lead wire that comes out of the drivers side under the shift console cover. It has a small toggle switch attached. Flipping it back and forth MIGHT make the red light by the ignition switch go on and/or off, but appears to have no other effect. There is what appears to be a non-factory horn (made in Taiwan is all I can read) mounted in engine compartment on right wheel well. Nicely installed, but non-functional. As I said, the part the goes on at random appears to be factory. Thanks for any help.

The alarm control unit is located under the passenger (right side) foot. Under the carpet. It has two plugs on it. Just unplug them both It will not affect anything else.

I found this on the 201 CD. We have them in stock in partshop.

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Benzmac:
ASE CERTIFIED MASTER AUTO TECHNICIAN
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Benzmac

Thanks for the info. I've sent a request to partshop for info on the CD.