After 2 months and 4,000 miles, the alarm decided to go off out of the clear blue yesterday.

Odd thing about it, the previous owner said he had disabled the alarm because it was irritating the neighbors too much!

I even pulled the black plastic false footwell on the passenger side and found nothing but what looks like a co-ax cable...attached to nothing.

I assumed this is a factory alarm...but I am not so sure now. In all my searches here, I never saw where anyone mentioned the connections for the alarm at the battery terminals...mine has them. Does the factory alarm?

When I disconnect the alarm at the battery, the car will not turn over. If I leave it connected, the alarm trips whenever I open either front door.

I cut the wire to the alarm horn to stop the racket. I actually wired up a toggle switch in-line so I could disable the system once I have the car running so it won't trip the next time I get in, but it seemed to only work sporadically , so I disconnected it.

If I don't have any guts under the passenger footwell and I still get an alarm, do I have an aftermarket system?

Confused in Houston...

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2009 VW TDI Jetta Sportwagon 172k miles (rear-ended harder than Elton John on 8/4/13. Total loss)

1991 Volvo 240 142k miles (T-boned by a stop sign runner. Total loss)

It's hard to believe that MB produced one of those howling idiot alarms back in '83. And dealerships like to add alot of aftermarket junk to vehicles to pump up their profit margin. Do you know where the car was originally purchased?

Otherwise car audio shops generally double as alarm installers. I will betcha they can indentify the system and even custom tailor it to your specs, say keepin the ignition cut-off but losing the siren. Or else neighbors will start hurling eggs at your car and who can blame em?

Originally from Florida.

I've already taken care of the siren

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2009 VW TDI Jetta Sportwagon 172k miles (rear-ended harder than Elton John on 8/4/13. Total loss)

1991 Volvo 240 142k miles (T-boned by a stop sign runner. Total loss)

As I have been tracing wires, I have to believe this is an aftermarket alarm.

The wires have simple tube type crimp connectors and common electrical tape on them. Does not look factory. Consistent with the lack of any alarm guts under the kick panel in the PS footwell, too.

So, I am starting to trace wires and remove stuff. Not so as I can't put it back together...although I sure don't want to. The analogy I gave my wife is this alarm is like a kidney with cancer...just get it out.

In order to start the car I still have to remove power to the alarm system, open a door, hook power back to the system, then start. If I open a door with power to the alarm, it kills the ignition. At least I have removed the horn and the lights from the equation. No more noise and I won't wear out my headlights as I try to resolve this.

There was some sort of control box with an adjuster nut (for sensitivity?) on the isolator bulkhead just opposite the fuse box. It had a ground wire that was attached to the fiber bulkhead (?), a wire to the horn, a wire to the headlight harness and another through the firewall (no doubt to a controller and eventually the ignition). The box and the aux horn are now watching from the sidelines. Next step is to get behind the dash to follow those wires!

Saga continues tomorrow.

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2009 VW TDI Jetta Sportwagon 172k miles (rear-ended harder than Elton John on 8/4/13. Total loss)

1991 Volvo 240 142k miles (T-boned by a stop sign runner. Total loss)

Anyone familiar with a "Titan" auto alarm? I found the black box under the dash this morning. Here's a pic:

I have been messing with the Becker as well - it mysteriously comes "on", hisses and pops (none of the controls do anything). When the Becker acts up, the car starts. When the Becker is quiet, the alarm is disabling the ignition.

Theses systems are tied together and I am determined to pull this alarm system out and get the car "normal" again. But man-o-man, what a pile of wires and splicings and crap under there! I wonder If I will ever have my ignition switch hot again?

Oh well, back under the dash...

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__________________
2009 VW TDI Jetta Sportwagon 172k miles (rear-ended harder than Elton John on 8/4/13. Total loss)

1991 Volvo 240 142k miles (T-boned by a stop sign runner. Total loss)

The Titan is completely bypassed and my car finally starts again! Yippee!

What a jigsaw puzzle it was. I don't like jigsaw puzzles when I'm sitting at a table, let alone on my back under a dash!

__________________
2009 VW TDI Jetta Sportwagon 172k miles (rear-ended harder than Elton John on 8/4/13. Total loss)

1991 Volvo 240 142k miles (T-boned by a stop sign runner. Total loss)