alarm wont disarm

Car: Volkswagen, Golf, 1996 - Back to Fix-It - Volkswagen Repair Manuals

Q.I have a 96 VW Golf GL and this morning I set off my alarm! I unlocked the driver''s door and the other doors by turning the key twice as usual, and then when I opened the door, the alarm wernt off.
The key placed in the ignition would not do anything but all the lights on the dash came on.
Turning the key again in the driver''s door usually stops the alarm, but to no avail today. The driver''s door would lock but none of the other doors! Now I am unable to use the car as it won''t start when the alarm has been set off.
My questions are these:
1. Someone told me the battery needs to be replaced if it is old and that should work - will it?
2. Can I just disable the alarm completely (and how do I do that) without affecting any other things about the car, including the ability to lock and unlcok the doors?

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Answer Try unlocking from the trunk as well, it can also disarm the alarm..it is rare for the alarm system to fail, so I too beleive you may just have a bad battery. Take the battery out and to a local parts store where it can be tested..weak batteries will cause the alarm system to go screwy.
I do have some information to bypass the electrical starting portion of the alarm, but it will interfere with your power door locks..there is no good method of disabling this alarm without taking sacrifices to the central locking.

Addition My brother has been a strictly VW mecahnic for over 25 years, and another long time VW mechanic he knows has been helping him this AM, and they both have said the alarm cannot be disabled or the car won't work at all. Is disabling and bypassing the same thing? I don't even care if I can never lock my doors or have the alarm again, I just need my car to start and be driveable! Any thoughts?

Answer First check the battery..below are the procedures to diable the alarm, should be the same system.. by factory procedures it's not possible, but this is information I ran accross and have done successfully on a few different models.
MKIII Central Lock / Alarm Help. - BEEEP BEEEEP BEEEEP BEEEEP
What is it? - Its your factory alarm in your MKIII Golf or Jetta. All US cars came with a central locking system and a factory perimeter alarm.
And for the the most part, it works fine. Arming itself when you lock the car with a key fob or key in the door. Un-arming itself when you unlock a door. The factory central lock system uses a vacuum pump system (in the trunk, or rear of the car..) and makes a "moan" when its running. On Jetta/Vento cars the lock pump is on the drivers side. On Golf cars the pump is located on the passenger side.
In general the system works like this:
When the drivers door is "locked" all doors will also lock. Red LED on drivers door will flash. Car will "arm" with all doors, hood, and trunk closed (and latched down).
One turn from the drivers door to unlock the car opens the drivers door, and cancels the alarm. Two turns to unlock opens all doors.
If a trunk, hood, or door is opened the alarm will go off, the lights (on later cars) will flash, the alarm will go off, and the the starter will be disabled.
The only way to disarm the system is to press unlock on the factory remote, or unlock the drivers door with a key. Putting the key in the ignition will not cancel an alarm.
Inserting a key into the drivers (or passenger door) lock cylinder and turning and holding the key in the lock position will arm the system and then close all windows and the then sunroof. (note, power windows and/or electric sunroof only).
Unlocking the car the same way will - one unlock opens drivers door (mechanically), and turns off alarm. Two turns will unlock ALL doors - and if its "held" in the unlock position - will open all power windows (note, the sunroof will not open)
The factory system only disables the starter. If the car cranks - the alarm is not at fault. The US MKIII system does not have a "Immobilizer" like the MKIV models do. There is NO "chip" in the key.
But problems arise and things go wrong. The alarm "goes" off at all hours of the night, or worse it prevents the car from starting! But lets look at some key facts..
Note: This page does not cover the Cabrio immobilizer system found on MK3.5 (1999.5-2002) cars.

The MKIII model line, as said earlier were all equipped with factory door central lock systems. However, there are a few odd ball cars out there, and of course, alarm systems changed from year to year.. but here goes:
1993-1995 - Central Lock System w/Alarm. System as drivers and passenger door lock cylinders. To lock all doors in the car, the drivers door pin is the "central lock switch" and all other door pins follow suit. Alarm module is Silver. These cars also have a locking fuel door as part of the central lock system. The car must be "unlocked" to gain access to the fuel filler. This added feature may be added to later cars by adding and tapping into the central lock vaccum system and getting an older style fuel door lock.
1996-1997 - Same as above, but added a central lock switch button in center console. Also added flashing lights to arm/disarm/alarm (parking lights). Alarm module is Black.
1998-1999.5 - Same as above, but added *factory keyless*, removed passenger side door lock cylinder. Remotes are Banjo shaped, and Alarm module is White. - Deleted passenger side door lock cylinder. If the car is "disarmed" or "unlocked" AND it does NOT see a door, trunk, or hood open in 30 seconds, it will re-arm itself.
Shown above, the factory remote, if your remote does NOT look like the one above, your car does NOT have a factory keyless system, and this DIY may not fully apply..
Can I add factory keyless? - Yes (external link)
Can I add an aftermarket system? - Yes follow this link.
How do I get to the alarm horn?
How do I program a remote?
Replacing the battery.
Close Ups Of Modules, and inside them
System Component Locations
How do I get to the module?
Bypassing the alarm module - but still getting the car to start.
Behind the fuse box
Wire diagram
Door Switches
Taking off a door panel (rear) w/manual windows (external link)
Taking off a rear door panel (rear) w/power windows (external link)
Typical Problems and solutions;
Car alarm comes on at random after car has been turned off.
Door is locked, and LED flashing showing alarm was armed.
But at some point (30 seconds to hours later) the alarm goes off.
One of the door, trunk, or hood latch switches is defective. Often the rubber boots over the door switches get ripped, and water intrudes into the switch. They can be carefully taken apart, and blown out with air.. but unless you get a new rubber cover - its doomed to repeat the problem once it gets wet again. Get a new door switch. A good way to know if this is the problem is to see if the overhead light is "on" when the alarm goes off, this means its a door switch without a doubt.
The alarm module intermittently lost power. Unplug alarm module and reset the two plugs. Check the wires into the fuse block to make sure they are all seated. Check connectors "D, H, and Y"
Other possible defect, low (main car) battery voltage or bad battery cables. The alarm will sense the drop in voltage and go off, thinking the car is begin stolen.
Car will not start (no crank).
Alarm is going off, and the car will not crank to start.
Unlock drivers door with key (or passenger side if equipped). If the alarm is disarmed the issue may be with the internal relay in the alarm module itself or other base starting problem, see this link.
Alarm is able to be bypassed, however, 1998 and later cars will loose keyless lock/unlock. Pins T/5 and T/6 MUST be jumped to start car. (see below).
Car alarm will not arm.
Door is locked from the outside, LED does comes on, but flashes slowly. No alarm honk is heard.
One of the door, trunk, or hood latch switches is "open". The system will not arm at this time if any item is left open.
Check for broken wires in the body or damaged alarm switches
Car alarm will not arm.
Door is locked from the outside, LED does not come on, and does and does not flash. No alarm honk is heard.
Check for broken door jamb wires or damaged key switch wire in door latch mechanism (on the door) or damaged linkage from door handle lock cylinder to latch mechanism .
Missing alarm system module, or loss of ground, or power to module.
Car alarm comes on at will (at random) as car is driving.
Lights flash and alarm horn sounds - its flat out scary the first time it happens, and its pretty embarrassing.
The alarm module intermittently lost power. Unplug alarm module and reset the two plugs. Check the wires into the fuse block to make sure they are all seated.
Drivers door will not turn off or arm alarm.
Once the door is opened the alarm goes off.
Try the passenger door to see if the same problem happens - if it does NOT happen with the passenger door - Check for broken door jamb wires or damaged key switch wire in door latch mechanism (on the door) or damaged linkage from door handle lock cylinder to latch mechanism .
Remotes do not work or program. Verify a white alarm module is present in car. Verify alarm module has power. Program Remotes. Change Batteries.
If alarm module has power/ground and batteries are new, and all remotes will not program - replace alarm module.
Central lock pump runs for more then 5 seconds when doors are locked or unlocked with remote or key. Door lock will not open/close with remote or central lock button. Break in air-line plumbing. Check for pulled air lines at door gaps. Pull back rubber boot and door panels to view line quality.
Car does not beep when disarmed. Normal, not an option.
Remotes only open all doors, not just drivers door. Normal, not an option.
Central lock button inside car does not open doors when car is armed. Normal, not an option.
Programming new remote controls
Two keys and all the remote controls that are to be programmed will be needed. The maximum number of remote controls that can be programmed, including old and new, is four.
Insert first key into ignition switch, and turn it to "ignition on."
Insert second key into outer door handle, and turn it to unlocked position for 10 seconds. System alarm will emit three beeps.
Take first remote control to be programmed and press button -1-, two beeps will be emitted.
For second remote control, press button -1-, two beeps will be emitted. Use same procedure to program third or fourth remote control. All remote controls must be programmed within one minute, otherwise new programming will cancel and old remote control programming will be valid.
Turn key in outer door handle to unlocked position for 10 seconds, one beep will be emitted.
Switch ignition off.
Replacing remote battery

Insert screwdriver into slot at side of button 3 (Trunk rear/lid button) and lift upper part off (observe polarity).
VW Part number: N103 221 01 = battery
Close up of modules:
"Silver module"
many thanks to Bob D (a3clusters (at) hotmail. Com) for the following beautiful pics..
"Black Module"

Component locations:

Note: Later cars (1998 and later) and all VR6 cars have the hood latch as part of the hood-alarm switch.
#1 shows the vacuum pump air line
#2 shows the door latch micro switch
#3 shows the door pin lock rod

Module Access

the module is orientated like this inside the car.. while sitting in the driver seat.
To gain access to the alarm module:
remove headlight switch;
remove lower cover off fuse box (2 or 3 screws) pull down cover.
remove lower knee bolster cover (under steering column) again, 2-3 screws
unclip and lower down fuse block.
Now you can unbolt the one bolt that holds the alarm module to its bracket.. and then reach up under the dash to grab it and gain access to the alarms wires and plugs.
Bypassing the Alarm

A view of the module from inside the headlight switch.

The Alarm plugs. The 6 pin connector is on the right.

The 6 pin alarm plug close up - note the two heavy gauge wires that are used to power the starter. These are the two wires that need to be "jumped" if you are bypassing the alarm module if you ever want your car to start again.
NOTE: With the alarm bypassed/unhooked - Central lock system will STILL work, HOWEVER, if you have FACTORY keyless (white box), your keyless functions will be LOST!
Rear of fuse panel: Check connectors "D, H, and Y"

Alarm schematic (general Golf/Jetta all years)

Door Pin Switch / Door Switches
(Note rubber boot) remove door pin switches with a small screwdriver. They CAN be taken apart and blown out with air, and then packed with silicone grease. But its critical the the rubber boot be in place. The rubber boot comes with the switch. It cannot be ordered separately.

Addition My brother is replacing both door handles (drivers and passenger). Some sort of unlocking mechanism in the passenger side door handle got broken off and that was telling the alarm that the car was not unlocked even though it was.
By replacing them both, this will not happen to the driver's side too! I will keep the information on bypassing the alarm in case it should happen again (hopefuly not). I miss my 87 VW - never had a problem like this with that one

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alarm wont disarm