Kia Spectra Alarm system
December 5, 2009 7:25 AM Subscribe
2005 Kia Spectra Alarm mysteriously going on and off.
I have a 2005 Kia Spectra EX. A year ago I was involved in a minor fender bender, and after that whenever I would lock the doors, it would no longer honk & flash the lights. (maybe 1 out of 100 locks, it honks once.) It still does when I unlock it.
About 6 months later the alarm problem started - not sure if it's related.
The car will randomly start going off. It seems like if it's going to start for the day, it starts about 3 minutes after I lock it and walk away. I can come back and turn it off with the remote, or if I wait 10 minutes it stops. It will start again in a few minutes. It does this until it drains the battery and I have to jump start it.
I tried taking it somewhere to disconnect the alarm, and they couldn't because it's factory. I called Kia and it's going to be at least $90 just to diagnose it, and it's out of warranty.
What is the best option? I am broke, but I can't keep relying on someone to be able to help jump start the car. Would a new battery help? The current one is 2 years old.
I have a 2005 Kia Spectra EX. A year ago I was involved in a minor fender bender, and after that whenever I would lock the doors, it would no longer honk & flash the lights. (maybe 1 out of 100 locks, it honks once.) It still does when I unlock it.
About 6 months later the alarm problem started - not sure if it's related.
The car will randomly start going off. It seems like if it's going to start for the day, it starts about 3 minutes after I lock it and walk away. I can come back and turn it off with the remote, or if I wait 10 minutes it stops. It will start again in a few minutes. It does this until it drains the battery and I have to jump start it.
I tried taking it somewhere to disconnect the alarm, and they couldn't because it's factory. I called Kia and it's going to be at least $90 just to diagnose it, and it's out of warranty.
What is the best option? I am broke, but I can't keep relying on someone to be able to help jump start the car. Would a new battery help? The current one is 2 years old.
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The problem was not with the battery, it was with the alarm system itself. YMMV, of course, but if you have limited resources I would not replace the battery.
Although if your battery is only two years old, it might still be under warranty.
posted by mmmbacon at 7:58 AM on December 5, 2009