My daily driver has a dealer installed alarm that has a separate horn. I replaced the car's battery and the alarm reset (as I expected) but now I don't get a horn "chirp" when locking/unlocking and when alarm is triggered there is no horn (lights flash and starter disable still work correctly). I'm going to check for a separate fuse for the horn but other than that I'm afraid I don't know much else about the system (not even the make).

Needc more info to even give a guess :( :( :(



My daily driver
GM, Ford or???


has a dealer installed alarm that has a separate horn.
Factory alarm, or a aftermarket alarm

I'm going to check for a separate fuse for the horn but other than that I'm afraid I don't know much else about the system (not even the make).Does it say anything on the remote?


I replaced the car's battery and the alarm reset (as I expected) but now I don't get a horn "chirp" when locking/unlocking and when alarm is triggered there is no horn (lights flash and starter disable still work correctly).

On my wifes 05 Nissian w/factory alarm, those settings chan be changed through the factory radio. If you have a factory alarm, look in the owners manual.

I use to work at an alarm shop and have never seen a separate fuse for the alarm siren. Many alarms will go into a "valet" mode if you disconnect the battery. In valet mode, the lights usually flash when locked and unlocked but the siren will not chirp. Also the alarm will not be armed so if a door was opened after the car was locked through the remote, nothing will happen (no lights flashing, no siren going off). If you find out the brand of the alarm, you can find out how to get out of the valet mode. This is my best guess.

Thanks for giving it a shot. It's in a '95 Toyota 4Runner. It is an aftermarket alarm the dealer was putting into every car they sold (no idea of the manufacturer). I can put it in and out of "valet" mode with the key on and depressing the valet switch and all the alarm functions (flashing lights, starter disable, etc.) work when the alarm is set off, just no sound from the "siren/horn". All functions work with the remote too except the panic which, of course, is supposed to just blare the alarm, but nothing happens. Could the "siren/horn" have shorted? I guess I need to figure out how to test it.

The siren or the siren output of the alarm may be bad. To test the siren, you have to disconnect or cut the wires leading to it. It should be two wires black and red. If you connect the two wires to the battery (black to the ground and red to the positive), it should go off. If not, it is bad. You can go buy just the siren from an alarm shop and replace it yourself. Just reconnect the two wires. If it does work, you have to test the output of the alarm. You can get a multimeter and see if you get a 12v reading at the siren wires, when the siren is suppose to chirp or go off.

Also make sure that the siren is properly connected. I have seen some sirens grounded to the metal under the hood. The connection can get loose or corroded and the siren will not work.

Thank you very much Shawn, I will try all that tomorrow.

Well, I tested the siren and apparently it had been working the whole time except it's so soft, you have to put your ear to it to hear it! I guess I'll look for a replacement siren.

When you change the siren, make sure that it is installed as high as possible and horn facing down so water splashing will not sit in it. On a 95 4Runner, I would put it on the drivers side firewall if its not already there. I think its rare for a siren to go bad unless it has a lot of water contact.

Replaced the siren today (facing down), works perfectly! Thanks for everybody's help.