alarm question

[jeycat1989]

Greetings!! I just became the new owner of a 1995 Explorer 4.0 XLT :exporange with just over 186k on the odometer. The truck had sat unused for the past couple of years. It needs a few items: rear brakes(the parking brake shoes were rusted to the inside of the rear disc drum, but I freed it up), windshield, wiper arm assemblies, hood latch and a side window(one of the narrow ones). All of the electricals work, with the exception of the front and rear wipers, front washer, and radio.

Not a bad find for the cost of getting it towed home($80).

The biggest problem I have is battery/alarm related. The truck has what appears to be a factory alarm, complete with the little red light on the dash to the left of the steering column, and the black box labeled "Ford Security System" in the driver's side footwell. It also has another small black box with a red blinking light on it, and a twist knob; this box is tie-wrapped to the factory box...so I don't know if this is an aftermarket add-on or not. Under the hood is a horn that seems to be dedicated to the alarm. When I replaced the dead battery, this horn immediately began sounding off. Nothing short of removing a battery cable will make it stop. Nothing a wire cutter couldn't solve!! But...the truck will NOT start via the key with the current alarm setup. The dash alarm light blinks quickly, and the 4-way flashers are on in a slow, 2-3 second pattern. I can get the truck started just fine via the solenoid under the hood. What route do I need to go to track down the root cause of this issue?? BTW, there is NO alarm fob with the keys that I have.

++UPDATE++

Found the switch, located just behind the hood release lever, VERY hard to notice, as it was a small, clear push-button type switch. Turned ignition key to on, held switch for 3 seconds, doors locked-unlocked-locked, and the light went out. Turned the key and the truck started just like it should. The alarm self-activates about 30 seconds after locking the truck. Many thanks to JAD2411 for his reply.

++UPDATE++

 

[jad2411]

That's not a factory system, it's a dealer option, basically an aftermarket unit that is approved and branded Ford, most likely a code alarm, the small box is part of the system and it's a shock sensor, the knob adjust the sensitibity.

Look for a switch around the brake pedal (most likely with a brown wire) then turn the key to on and push that switch, then when you get an FOB (ebay as little as US7) you "should" have no problems.

If the truck didn't have a remote FOB from the start, you'll need to find a users manual and follow the arm-disarm procedure, most likely the arm is tied to the door lock and disarm to the door unlock

 

[jeycat1989]

Thank you for the help. I found the switch(see updated post), and the truck starts with the key now.

 

[jad2411]

Cool! glad it helped

 

[jeycat1989]

Now, after a dead battery, the truck won't start. Tried the overrride procedure(IGN on, unlock 3 times, IGN off, unlock 3 times, IGN on, lock ONLY), doesn't seem to work(should lock-unlock). No smell of gas, normal cranking, relays test fine.