oem security system question(security light)
 

i just have a quick question. one evening on my 10AE i observed the security light flashing about every 5 or 10 seconds while the car was locked and parked. since then i haven't seen the light flashing. it only flashes when i unlock the car form the outside with the key. i would assume the security light flashes when the system is armed. because i haven't observed the light flashing since the night i first observed it flashing, does this mean when i lock my car form the inside as i exit it, that i am not arming the system? any thoughts?

i think it is if you lock the car from the inside you're arming the system

I never see my security light flash. I replaced the bulb a few weeks ago and still nothing. When I lock the car from the inside, I hear the CPU beep. Sometimes it's just one beep, and others its repetitive beeping until i close the door with the handle half pulled.

I have the same question as mazdaverx713b. Does this mean that the system isn't armed even though I hear the beep(s)?

I do know that the light is supposed to come on for 10 seconds as soon as it is armed and then flash every 3 seconds.

it flashes when all the doors are locked and the system is ready

when you close the doors (holding up the handle so they remain locked) it will go solid on, that means its armed

after a few minutes the light goes off to save battery power, but alarm remains armed

so what you're saying is that when the doors are locked from the inside, one should wait to close the door until the light flashes?

about the beeping, i have never heard any beeping. i wonder if that part of the security system is dead...

On my '88 it beeps and lights solid when armed locking the last door, then flashes every 5 seconds or so. The flashing never stops until you unlock a door with the key.

+1. Lock the driver door last from inside with handle pulled. It beeps. Lift the outer handle while closing the door. Light is solid for a few seconds, then flashes every 5 seconds once armed.

So is the system armed when I hear the beep even if the security light doesn't flash?

EDIT: I'm guessing that multiple beeps indicate that the system isn't armed? I don't see anything about that by searching the forums, FSM, or the owner's manual.

This final helped me figure out how to activate the alarm. I read the owners manual and even spoke to another vert owner but still did not get it to work. I can't wait to test it. I also read or heard something about the alarm taking 5 minutes before it would be set off if tripped. Time to do some test with the windows down. :)

Does the alarm even work well if its functioning? what does it protect against?

once functioning, it enables a starter kill and will flash the lights and the horn will sound if the alarm is tripped. i'm just not sure if my alarm is setting properly....

On my 88, once the door shuts, the light stays solid for about 10 seconds, then starts flashing fast for about 5 seconds, then gives one last solid flash with a beep. It is then armed. So basically, for those first 10-15 seconds, it isn't armed.

Also, if you are having alarm arming problems, check your door switches. I couldnt figure out why I couldnt arm my alarm with the drivers side lock (Had to use the passenger door), and it turned out to be a bad door switch. If you lock both doors with one of them open and you dont hear a beep or see the light turn on, wiggle the switch to the door that is open, and see if the light goes on and the buzzer chirps.

good, thinking!! i'll pull my door switches today and sand and clean the contacts. i have to do it on my FB's every couple of years so that something i'm definatly used to.

So you think this would explain why I'm getting multiple beeps instead of one when I lock the driver's door with the door open?

Also, what do you mean you had to use the passenger door to arm the system? I thought the driver's door had to be the last one to be locked.

just leave the window open. unlock it without the key and you will know if ur alarm is set..the strange mysterious sound you will here is your horn honking.. that is ur alarm working.. if it doesnt trigger the alarm you dont have one, or you dont have good wiring

i don't lock my car doors at night, because if i park it on the slightest hill it is stupid and goes off.

You can arm the system in three differerent ways:

1. With the hatch closed and the hood shut, lock both doors from the inside and close either door while holding the handle up;

2. With the hood closed, both doors closed and locked, and the hatch open, close the hatch; or

3. With the hatch closed, both doors closed and locked, and the hood open, close the hood.

If your factory alarm system is working correctly, any of the above will arm it.

If the alarm isn't arming properly, the problem may be in the door switches or it may be in the hood or hatch latch sensors.

^ I'm gonna try that.

So a bad door or lock switch would explain the CPU beeping at me multiple times? I get no beep at all if the hood, hatch, or passenger's side door is open. Multiple beeps occur when everything is closed except the driver's door and I press the lock switch.

well, i looked at my door switches today and they look like hell. my dome light doesnt work(bad solder joints) so this will be interesting. i'll pull them tomorrow and sand and clean the contacts and reinstall. i know m alarm works, i'm just pretty sure that its not being set and i believe that the door switches are the culprit.

Should just be your switches.

Oh and I had to use my passenger door to arm it, simply because I didnt know why my drivers door wouldnt arm it at the time (being the bad switch, the cpu allways thought it was shut). You can arm the alarm with either door though, doesn't have to be drivers.

Also may want to note that you cannot arm the alarm by locking the doors from the outside, has to be locked with the interior door locks.. At least on my 88 anyways, but I assume Mazda used the same system from at least 86-89?

You are correct. The system will only arm by locking from the inside, not outside with a key. And don't overlook the possibility of bad solder joints at the cpu. Check the door switches first.

well, i cleaned the door switches. i now get a beeping with the engine off and the key in the ignition as well as the red lights on the doors when a door is opened. however, to no avail, i still dont't have a working security system. it was working just fine and then randomly stopped working...

Check your rear hatch switches, as well as the hood switch. A faulty connection at one of those would prevent the system from arming as well.

I had someone break into my car once. The alarm did not activate because the door switches were corroded! Doh! It was the original 10AE glass that was broken too :(