Hi folks,

Finally succeeded in registering for this forum, and glad to be here! Looks like there's alot of collective knowledge around, so I'm hoping someone can help me out with a couple relatively simple questions...

I'm on my second Nissan here, but my first Max, which pretty much smokes the old '87 Stanza! I got a great deal on this baby, it's in great shape, and I love the ride. The only major issue I'm having is with the security system, which doesn't appear to work. When I test drove the car, the dealer made some reference to the "funky alarm", and mentioned that he kept the battery disconnnected while it was on the lot so it wouldn't drain the battery. Sure enough, since I bought it three weeks ago, the battery goes dead if I don't start it up every day. The light on the dash does blink as if the sytem is engaged, but I haven't been able to trigger the alarm. So far I can jump it and it starts right up, but I can't continue this way, and I'm concerned that eventually the battery will die, or I'll get stranded somewhere, or both. The only other possible clue which might tell you something is that a couple of times while night driving, the interior dome light blinked while applying the brake. Not sure if it's related, but worth mentioning.

Does this sound like a general electrical misfunction, or do you think the alarm system is the culprit? Thanks in advance for any ideas/suggestions anybody may have!

 

To test the alarm you have to press the big button on the key fob and wait like 2 minutes or 30 seconds one of those. Wait that time and kick the damn tire as hard as you can or whatever else to set it off.

 

If you kick the car, it won't set off the alarm because there is no shock sensor. Go to AutoZone and have them check your battery or alternator. Maybe it's not holding full charge

 

The stock alarm only has door/hood triggers. The light coming on while you drive is a sign that one of your door triggers is probably malfunctioning. To check your alarm, have the windows rolled down and arm the alarm. This will make the red LED light up constant/solid. After ~30 sec, the red LED will begin to blink. Your stock alarm is now active. Open your door from the inside door handle. You alarm should now be going off. As to the power drain, I'm not sure. I haven't seen any alarms that can drain a battery overnight when armed more less the stock alarm on a Maxima. Sound like there maybe a short some where. If the car is still under warranty, I would have the dealer fix that problem. Sorry that I can't be of more help than that. Good luck to you.

 

I kicked my car and the alarm went off. Stock alarm and everything.

 

Here's the scoop: the car did not come with a remote of any kind, so I'm not sure how to arm the alarm if it doesn't automatically do so when you lock the car, as the car manual would have you believe. All I know is that the LED does not light up constant/solid at any time, and I tried to set the alarm off as you suggested. Can I even use this thing without a remote? The manual makes no reference anywhere to a remote for the stock alarm.
As for the battery drain, I think I've isolated that to a faulty overhead dome light, which isn't turning off when in the door trigger position...haven't has any problems since I switched it to full off position. Still want to get that fixed though...
Thanks again for the input, and I still love my max!!!

 

I'm gonna have to call the BS flag here (Bologna Sauce)



As for the power drain, how was the dealer (and you) certain the alarm has anything to do with it? I bet it's something else.

 

Your battery may be near death from repeated discharges, and may be so bad that it only holds charge for one day. Test or replace the battery. Or slightly worse scenerio, alternator/voltage regulator may not be working correctly-Test at autozone. Or a massive battery drain-If a dome light was left on, it could lower battery power, especially if the battery was abused to begin with. So good job fixing the dome light. Maybe the Maxima needs a decent battery voltage/charge for the alarm to function correctly with the electronics, etc. I'd first put a new battery, and test the alternator in, before testing the alarm. If the alarm still malfunctions, then test the alarm.

 

The stock alarm can be armed without the remote so long if you have keyless entry (automatic locks). Just lock all doors with driver side lock control and close the doors. The stock alarm should arm within ~30 sec. The dome light not turning off when all of the doors are closed is a key sign that one or more of your door triggers (door pin switch) are malfunctioning. Once you have identified the problem door pin switch replace it. You may be able to ghetto rig the door pin switch by extending the shaft if the door pin registers closed if you press on the spring shaft really hard. Try drilling a small hole in the middle of the shaft then insert a small extension in there and then glue it so the extension will not fall out. For the extension, you can probably use a small piece of wood and dremel it so it fits in the hole you drilled. If you can't get it going, you could take your car to any decent alarm installer in your area and they should be able to get you going again. Keep up that positive attitude and you'll be good 2 go in no time.