New problem, but definitely an annoying one.

Four times over the past 48 hours, the alarm has just gone off. All in my driveway, keys on the wall in the house (outside range of working, so a stuck button shouldn't be an issue).

Twice I was outside and no one was near the car. No animals. I did try opening/closing all the doors, trunk and hood to cycle the sensors not knowing if that may help or not.

Didn't find a thread on the forum.

Any suggestions?

 

I'm going to guess that the door switch and hood switch contacts might need cleaning.

Is the problem worse after some rain, or in moist conditions?

I'm thinking that some corrosion in a switch can create a temporary contact . This makes the alarm think a door or hood has been opened without a key.

 

Good thought. It has been raining off and on since yesterday morning.

Five times today and I couldn't stand it anymore.

Oddly, it only alarmed when it wasn't raining. And not when I was in the grocery store for a half hour.

Not having time today to dig into the door, I disconnected the hood switch. The contacts look clean, but we all know that looks can be deceiving. Thought about removing the relay.

There isn't any sign of water in the trunk lid or by the antenna.

I also cycled the lock cylinder a bunch since it's been a good three years since I last did. Turns out the truck lock won't turn. I've never actually used it. My dad might have replaced that cylinder or the driver's door/ignition, but I don't know.

I guess I'll have to tear into the door.

Weird thing is, it may go ten minutes from set before alarm. It may go three hours.

 

I'm not talking about the door locks.

I mean the dome light switches. They are located on the door pillars , between the front and rear doors.

 

OH.

Thank you for catching that. I'll check those.

 

Keep in mind, I'm just doing guess work.

If the problem still persists after cleaning the switch contacts, we will know that the switches are not the cause.

I have not dug into out door switches. On other cars I've worked on, I try to find the actual contacts inside the switch it's self. Then I sand with fine sandpaper.

 

+1 on the door switches.

My driver's door doesn't seem to close as tightly as it once did. With the rubber cover worn off the driver's door switch the dome light would flicker while driving and occasionally the alarm would go off in the driveway. I replaced switch with a passenger rear door switch from a junk yard. I think I still have a piece of cardboard held onto the door over the switch area with a piece of Gorilla tape. Now the switch stays firmly pressed with the door closed.

 

Now that makes perfect sense.

There is are two electrical contacts which touch if the door switch has sprung out a certain distance. The rubber switch rubber is within that distance. If the rubber is missing, the contacts would touch much sooner. They might not touch when the door is shut, but might if there is some wind. I suppose that strong vibration could set that off as well.

 

The rubber switch covers should still be available at Nissan. I keep spares for the occasion when one wears out.

 

ha, my rubber contacts on the front doors have been partially missing for years. i notice that the front passenger door switch doesn't release all the way, so the lights don't come on. can i grease the switch with something? ( sorry dude, figured this might help you too, 95 and stayin alive !!! )

 

Dont know till you try. You have little to lose. Be careful to keep grease away from the contacts.

I imagine that some corrosion crud is restricting movement. I would try to clean out any crud, then add a wee bit of light oil. Like 3 in 1 oil.

 

yeah, i just ordered 2 of them from nissan. 18.00 cause i get a discount from the parts guy. here's what the part # is and one listed on ebay
https://www.ebay.com/itm/GENUINE-NIS...dYoRQr&vxp=mtr

 

That's it.