Alarm randomly going off?
 

Hi everyone.

I bought my RX-8 about 5 months ago. I've had a few issues and learned a lot from this forum.

I am now asking for help. Any advice is welcome and very appreciated.

My factory alarm is randomly going off. I cannot find any pattern/reason for it going off. My passenger door lock seems to stick a little, so I have been very careful to push that lock to the lock position with my finger, then get out of the car and lock/set the alarm with my key fob. My alarm goes off while locked and sitting in the parking lot with no one/thing anywhere near it. It seems to be completely random.

I did a search and only really found alarm issues relating to the sensitivity of the alarm shock sensor. So I checked to see if there was an alarm shock sensor installed in my car - there is not.

Mazda wants $90 to diagnose it... my concern is that they'll tell me that they can't find a problem and then I've wasted $90 and it still won't be fixed.

Has anyone had this same issue? Does anyone have any idea where to begin checking things that may have gone bad?

Thanks everyone.
Meghan

They likely won't find anything wrong with it, knowing them.

By "alarm", do you mean the panic alarm? The horn blaring in a pattern? Or is it a sound other than the horn? If it is something else, then it's an aftermarket alarm and it becomes a crapshoot.

If it's the factory panic alarm (that you can also get triggering the red button on the key fob), then it's probably related to that door lock. It could be a faulty key fob, but I doubt it. Something is allowing it to arm that can then slip to an open circuit at a later point. Door locks are part of that network.

We checked to be sure - there is no aftermarket alarm. It is the factory alarm/panic alarm that is going off. If you're correct and there is an issue within the alarm network, then I guess I will have to take it to Mazda. But that sounds expensive.


In a side note, I believe I have the Grand Touring model, but I do not have the 6 disc changer which is supposed to be included in that package... Do you know anything about that? The disc changer is the ONLY accessory in the GT package that I don't have.

ugh - I had the same issues but it was because i got into an accident a little bit ago (i rear-ended someone).

Long story short - a sensor in my seat belt was damaged and triggering the door sensor. Basically it was like someone was opening the door w/out using the fob.

Long shot: Try locking the seat belts on both the passenger seat and driver seat when you get out of your car next time and see if your alarm goes off again.

Couldn't hurt...and if it does work then you'll know what to fix.

It's a long shot but it worked for me. :dunno:

6 disc changer was never "Standard" on any trim. It was dealer installed option only, and available to all trims.

I have the same issue.
 

Same Grand Touring model. Did you ever find the problem?

Posting this in case is helps someone else. My Factory Alarm would go off randomly. Also, only on rare occasions would the lights flash when I locked the doors with the remote. I have an 05 with optional shock sensor. So I lowered the sensitivity of the shock sensor to minimum, but still had the problem. Decided to unplug the shock sensor, however it still kept going off. I read all the posts describing the base factory alarm: 2 door switches, trunk switch and hood switch. I checked at all the switches. They all looked ok but the hood switch. It looked somewhat fragile, a small metal strip and plastic body. I at first disconnected it, checked it and it has 5+ V going to it, so disconnecting it wouldn’t work. So I cut the wires to the switch and spliced them together, bypassing the switch. Eliminated the problem, and my lights always flash correctly; once for locked, twice for unlocked.

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2005 RX8 GT A/T Orginal Engine!