Heys guys, can i use the key to arm / disarm the alarm on the rx-8? In case the battery runs out on the remote. My old car does and was just wondering.

Yes

I discovered that you can lock and arm by pushing the lock button on the door, and then closing the door. This is easier for me than using the remote. So, you only need to use the remote to disarm and unlock, thus halving the use of the battery in the remote.

I dont think there is arming going on.. I think the fob is just to remote open or close your doors.

If you open your door without "disarming" no alarm goes off.. At least from what I recall. Does anyone know what triggers the factory alarm?

I mistakenly pressed the panic button in the parking lot yesterday and caused a ruckus :) so I know that works.

If the car is locked, the alarm seems to be on automatically. Whether you use the key or the fob seems to make no difference. I locked my car from the outside in with the window down once, and later forgot and tried to open the door. Scared the hell out of myself with the alarm.

Originally posted by RX-Nut
I dont think there is arming going on.. I think the fob is just to remote open or close your doors.No matter what method you use to lock the car, the alarm will arm too. The blinker flash indicates that the alarm is armed - if the lights do not flash when you lock the car, then you have a door, hood or trunk ajar; the lights will flash when you close it, indicating the vehicle is now secure.

I think as soon as i pull out the key out of the ignition a flashing red car/key on the instrument panel goes on (the immobolizer)... so i guess the immobolizer is activated even when the car isn't locked?

I believe the immobilizer is keyed off of the chip in the ignition key, independently. I have no way of proving this, short of trying to hotwire the car with the door open, but...

Originally posted by meeh
i guess the immobolizer is activated even when the car isn't locked? That is correct - it's completely independent from the alarm.

I noticed that if you press the unlock button and don't open the door within a relatively short period of time, the 8 automatically re-locks the doors on its own. Anyone else notice that? How's that for thinking man's car?

Yep, it's actually mentioned in the manual somewhere. Cool feature. :)