1997 Cobra Factory Alarm? How does it work?

Alarm went off and I had to disconnect the battery to turn off the honking.

Putting the key in and turning on the ignition didn't work.

How do I arm & disarm the factory alarm? I bought this car used & never knew how to use it. The key looks like a copy (w/chip). Thanks.

98Bird said:

Alarm went off and I had to disconnect the battery to turn off the honking.

Putting the key in and turning on the ignition didn't work.

How do I arm & disarm the factory alarm? I bought this car used & never knew how to use it. The key looks like a copy (w/chip). Thanks.

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Do you have the key fob?

98 svt said:

Do you have the key fob?

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All I got was the key with chip inside. No buttons on the key. It looks like a copy.

Does the key work to start the car after you reconnected the battery?

Tillerman77 said:

Does the key work to start the car after you reconnected the battery?

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Yea it works after reconnecting the battery. But I'd like to know how to arm & disarm it.

98Bird said:

Yea it works after reconnecting the battery. But I'd like to know how to arm & disarm it.

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Its normally done with the key fob. But also KOEO shoukd do it.

The key fob can be bought on eBay for about $10

Whenever you lock the doors with the door buttons it activates it too. I have another alarm on my car and when I hit the buttons it activates the oem one and I have to disconnect the battery too. I heard using the key in the door disables it but it didn’t work for me

My 97 Cobra also didn't have a key fob when we bought it and the alarm triggered frequently. I found that if you have the car locked, I needed to unlock both doors with the key before opening a door. I learned to watch the alarm light and whether it was solid (armed) or blinking (unarmed) through the driver's window.
Our car also had a nonworking automatic door lock on the driver's door, which meant that unlocking the car from the inside did not disarm the system. Only the key outside would work.
The door actuator has been replaced and a set of key fobs purchased. The PATS works fine now with the remote or with the inside buttons.

Automatic door lock?

Sent from my SM-G892A using the svtperformance.com mobile app

mobile locksmith

jmsa540 said:

Automatic door lock?

Sent from my SM-G892A using the svtperformance.com mobile app

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Not enough coffee when I wrote that - how about power door lock!
Manual = key and automatic/power = remote fob or door switches.

Tillerman77 said:

My 97 Cobra also didn't have a key fob when we bought it and the alarm triggered frequently. I found that if you have the car locked, I needed to unlock both doors with the key before opening a door. I learned to watch the alarm light and whether it was solid (armed) or blinking (unarmed) through the driver's window.

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Interesting. Do you have a picture of this alarm light? My car went off once before in my garage and not sure why it did, and I had to press unlock twice on my FOB for it to stop. But, I do not have a light on my dash for this?

jman37 said:

Interesting. Do you have a picture of this alarm light? My car went off once before in my garage and not sure why it did, and I had to press unlock twice on my FOB for it to stop. But, I do not have a light on my dash for this?

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See this photo caught in mid blink with the ignition off.

Tillerman77 said:

See this photo caught in mid blink with the ignition off.
View attachment 1670220

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Unique! I figured it would have been a small light of some sort, thats why I was thrown off wondering if it was a different light.

Just found this post and I’m having a similar issue but with my aftermarket alarm no longer working but my OEM locks do. Just had my 97 Cobra in for service and no my car won’t start but my theft light is blinking.

02Mineral4.6L said:

Just found this post and I’m having a similar issue but with my aftermarket alarm no longer working but my OEM locks do. Just had my 97 Cobra in for service and no my car won’t start but my theft light is blinking.

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It could be the chip receiver at the ignition switch as gone bad (get one at junkyard or ebay) If it's bad the car will crank but not start.

02Mineral4.6L said:

Just found this post and I’m having a similar issue but with my aftermarket alarm no longer working but my OEM locks do. Just had my 97 Cobra in for service and no my car won’t start but my theft light is blinking.

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Have you tried disconnecting the battery? If not, that might help after you reconnect the cable.

02Mineral4.6L said:

Just found this post and I’m having a similar issue but with my aftermarket alarm no longer working but my OEM locks do. Just had my 97 Cobra in for service and no my car won’t start but my theft light is blinking.

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Is it blinking steadily, or is it blinking in a pattern (code)?

98Bird said:

Alarm went off and I had to disconnect the battery to turn off the honking.

Putting the key in and turning on the ignition didn't work.

How do I arm & disarm the factory alarm? I bought this car used & never knew how to use it. The key looks like a copy (w/chip). Thanks.

Click to expand...

Anti-Theft System, Passive​

The passive anti-theft system uses radio frequency identification technology to deter a driveaway theft. Passive means that it does not require any activity from the user.

• During each vehicle start sequence, the ignition key identification code is requested by the vehicle protection anti-theft electronics.
• If the key's ID code has been programmed into the system, the powertrain control module (PCM) is signaled to enable the vehicle to start.
• If the key's ID code is not programmed into the system, or if no encoded key is detected, then the PCM is signaled to disable the vehicle from starting.

The passive anti-theft system communicates the state of the security system to the PCM via the J1850 communications network. The PCM, based on the communication from the passive vehicle system, will determine if the vehicle's engine is enabled to start.

The passive anti-theft system differs from the active anti-theft alarm system in that the passive anti-theft system enables/disables the vehicle from starting and only operates with the ignition switch in RUN/START position. The active anti-theft alarm system has perimeter protection capabilities and operates only with the ignition switch OFF.

​

​

System Arming​

The system will be armed when one of the following input sequences is followed:

NOTE: Opening the front doors, opening the hood or removing the luggage compartment lock mechanism will activate the alarm.

1. Turn ignition switch OFF.
2. Open a front door. Alarm indicator lamp flashes.
3. Lock the front doors with power door lock switches . Alarm indicator lamp on steady.
4. Close both front doors.
5. Wait approximately 30 seconds for alarm indicator lamp to go out. This indicates system is armed.

The system can be armed by the keyless entry remote transmitter by following this input sequence:

1. Turn ignition switch OFF.
2. Close both front doors. Alarm indicator lamp is off.
3. Press the LOCK button on the keyless entry remote transmitter.
4. Wait approximately 30 seconds for the alarm indicator lamp to turn off. This indicates the system is armed.

Disarming an Untriggered System​

NOTE: Any of the following will disarm an untriggered system.

• Unlock driver or passenger front doors with the key.
• Unlock driver front doors by pressing UNLOCK button of keyless entry remote transmitter .
• If remaining in the vehicle, turn ignition switch to RUN or ACC.

Disarming a Triggered System​

NOTE: Any of the following procedures will disarm a triggered system.

• Unlock driver or passenger front door with the key.
• Unlock driver front door by pressing UNLOCK button of keyless entry remote transmitter.

*Alarm System Does Not Disarm Properly

POSSIBLE ISSUES:

• Open circuit(s).
• Damaged/disconnected door lock cylinder switch.
• Damaged remote/keyless entry module.
• Damaged anti-theft alarm control module.

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Great summary.

Vinnie_B said:

Disarming a Triggered System​

NOTE: Any of the following procedures will disarm a triggered system.

• Unlock driver or passenger front door with the key.
• Unlock driver front door by pressing UNLOCK button of keyless entry remote transmitter.

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