My Sierra donor is fitted with a Sparkrite alarm. Can't see model no but it looks pretty basic.

Problem is the infra-red widget doesn't disable the alarm any more. I have disconnected the sounder but the turn indicators still flash. The car runs ok so it's only an alarm, not an immobiliser.

Will here be a control unit hidden somewhere, apart from the sounder under the bonnet ?

And can I diss whatever is turning on the indicators ?

Oh yes, I did put a new battery in he widget

I don't know the sparkrite products but would guess its at the lower end of the food chain.

Disconnect the battery, reconnect it then use the key fob. The cheaper alarms reprogram the alarm unit to the first key fob they 'hear' rather than having to have key fobs programmed.

Caused me no end of problems with my first 'self-install' alarm bloody neighbours!!

The battery to disconnect would be the car battery, not the fob battery ?

Don't think this will work as I have been disconnecting the car battery repeatedly to stop it running down.

Also, if the fob were working, I should be able to see the flashing on a digital camera viewfinder - useful tip to check any kind of IR widget - but there's nothing so I guess widget has died

Sorry yeah I meant the car battery. for 30 second or so, they're in programmable mode (from memory)

Robocog is correct most are RF however older renaults (like mine) are IR which is completely shit, and the mobile phone trick works perfectly according to renaultforums.co.uk

have you looked under the dashboard or behind the glove box?
sure they only cut out 2 circuits
used to fit alarms a few years ago
most will only cut starter or fuel or
coil or ignition
find the box unplug it
if it wont start then trace the wires most of them will have 4 thick ish wires (2 circuits)
join them together

the old trick used to be short out an indicator bulb when alarm was going off !
but i would think that it not that old as it should be fuse protected now

[Edited on 6/1/07 by ch1ll1]

[Edited on 6/1/07 by ch1ll1]

Guys, thank you for the tips. It's definitely an IR widget but there's nothing getting to the IR LED, although the red tell-tale does flash.

It is only an alarm, not an immobiliser.

Never mind, the car's going to be stripped as a donor so I guess the first thing to strip out would be the alarm control unit.

Thanks again for the suggestions