1999 Ford Ranger XLT V6 3.0, manual trans, with power windows, door locks and factory anti-theft alarm.
Bought it used without any info on the alarm.

MY PROBLEM:
The factory anti-theft alarm resets its self (ignition & doors).
If we go to a carwash, we must tell the attendant to leave it running, so it won’t rearm and start honking.

QUESTION:
Is there a temporary way (without disconnecting wires) to disarm this alarm during routine maintenance or
such times as washing?

 

Hi, welcome to FTE!

I'm a little confused. When does the anti-theft system reset? When you shut the engine off? Or when you lock it? Do you have a key pod with buttons on it?

You can find your Owner's Manual online which has information on how the anti-theft system works in your Ranger:

Ford Owner's Manuals

 

Thanks Rockledge for the quick reply.
The system resets it’s self after turning off the ignition (after about 2 minutes or so). If doors are still open it will only set the ignition with 1st beep of the horn. Then you close the door about 5 seconds later a 2nd beep sets the doors (but does not lock doors). Yes I have a remote transmitter.
I went to the Motorcraftservice.com checked the manual. Yes I learned a little but….. this still does not answer my question.
As it stands if I stop to fill up with fuel, I need to use the remote and lock the doors after getting out. This is to avoid an embarrassing moment of the alarm going off because it has reset itself.

 

The anti-theft system on your truck is controlled a by a Remote Anti-Theft Personality Module (RAP) and the Generic Electronic Module (GEM). It sounds to me that your problem might be with one of these components. The good news is that both the RAP and the GEM set trouble codes that can be retreived in order to help diagnose the problem more effectively. The bad news is that you can't use a basic, off-the-shelf OBD-II code reader to pull these types of codes, you need something more sophisticated. As such, it sounds maybe like a trip to the dealer might be in your future.

As for what you can check for yourself, be sure the hood shuts properly and securely, it can cause alarm problems.

 

i have the same problem with my expy.
to fix it i would disconnect the battery and let the alarm reset it self. Just a temporary fix.Would work for about a month then start going off again

 

Thanks Rockledge & valo.
My problem is not that I think the Anti-Theft is malfunctioning.
From what I understand is, it’s suppose to set it self, incase the driver forgets to set the alarm.
But what I was trying to find out…… is there a way to stop the Anti-Theft self alarming when I don’t want it to………….

 

my 99 expy has two alarms on . One factory one the previous owner put in. don't know why. But when i try to get one disconnected no one will do it. they say there afraid to fry the computer. Do you have a little red light on your dash. If you do try pushing it down. Sometimes that turns off the alarm

 

Thank you, I saw that the light would depress but did not know that it had a funtion.
Thanks I'll give it a try. Got to leave for a while but I'll return to let you know if it works.........

 

HOOOORAY ....Thankyou......Thankyou.....Thankyou...
It works.............

 

glad i could help a fellow ranger owner