python 871xp issues in a honda crv

I am a newbie to this site and just started working with cars again recently after a 10 year layoff. I am not that well versed with alarms or remote starters but used to build cars from the ground up so I think I can fix this with a little technical help from you guys (and ladies). Being that the installation and owner's guides offer little DIY info I am at a loss.

My girlfriend has a Python 871XP installed in her 2007 Honda CRV. She primarily uses it for remote start and lock/unlock door features. In reading the info on this unit I believe it has an alarm feature but I do not think that is activated in her vehicle. If it is, she has never used it and I have never seen it used. She has always had issues arming and disarming her vehicle and when she had the issue the horn would start blaring and she would have to step outside the vehicle and use the key to unlock the door to stop the craziness. That hasn't happened in a while but a few days ago her CRV would not remote start or unlock the doors using the transmitter. She figured the problem was the transmitter so she changed the battery...it wasn't. She was able to open the driver's side door and get in using the key but when she tried to start the vehicle it would not start. All lights and accessories worked fine but when she turned the key there was nothing. Since she needed to get to work I just pulled the fuses and diabled the unit all together. At this point she is driving the vehicle but not able to use the remote start or lock/unlock the doors while the car is started.

I am figuring this is a simple issue of the starter being disabled, but why? And how do I correct the issue? I have read through many sites, this one being the most imformative and helpful, but I have not seen anything that will assist me. Obviously I am looking to correct the issue at hand but also looking to understand why it happened and correct it so it doesn't happen in the future.  

I am in desperate need of help! Thanks in advance for any information you are able to provide.

-Damage

Thanks so much for the response.

At this time the system is disabled being that I pulled the fuses. When I put the fuses back in, the LED light blinks at a consistent flashing pace with no sporatic intervals, simply on-off-on-off, etc..  I also cannot lock or unlock the system. There are no features working. With that I am able to use the key to enter the vehicle but once I do I cannot start the vehicle. All lights and accessories come on but the vehicle will not start. It almost seems like the starter is disabled and/or the security feature of the vehicle has been enabled sensing an attempted break in/theft. When I first worked on diagnosing the problem, I pulled the fuses to see if that would at least let me start the vehicle, which it did. Once I put the fuses back in the vehicle started on its own almost like I used the transmitter to start it but I did not. I was able to drive the vehicle at this time but after going through all of the motions again and finally shutting the vehicle down, I was again not able to start, lock, or unlock the vehicle using the transmitter. It went back to the same state it was in before I pulled the fuses. So I pulled the fuses again, checked all connections again, and used the key to open and start the vehicle with no issues. I then put the fuses back in and although the vehicle did not start on its own the time, the result was the same...the unit was not working. So here I am with the fuses pulled and the unit disabled.

Again, thanks for the help. This is driving me nuts.

-Damage

have you tried overiding the system using the valet button? if not please do and then follow your manual's instructions on how to reprogram the remote, and let me know how it turns out! cheers.

It sounds like it is the factory alarm not being dis-armed...It always has set off horn honks, since unit has been installed...?  That key has a chip in it(RFID)...Is there a security light flashing on the dash during the no start problem...? Im guessing she is randomly arming the factory security and when she un-locks the doors and opens ...The car thinks she is stealing it...Putting the key in door and unlocking dis-arms factory security...

Ok...What is causing horn to honk...Stated it was an occaisional problem...said had random problems arming disarming...This is only my first guess to what seems like a poor install. He said unit attempted to start itself when fuses were re-installed...Seems like other problems...But at least horn honks sounds like unit is not dis-arming factory security.I think its time to pull brain down and start following wires...Get install manual...car colors...and start tracing down wires...Anything going to factory dis-arm...How was the unit attached to car(poke and wrap...t-taps...solder)When he pulls the fuses...He would be using the key to enter vehicle...Dis-arming factory security? Did you ever get the horn honks during r/s? or normally w/ un-lock and opening door...?Starter kill installed...? Do what hurley said and see if you can get into/out of Valet Mode. Try to relearn remotes. In no way do i believe the factory alarm is causing all these problems...Just one of them...Horn honks (randomly) while entering car.

Also, I would have to say yes to the starter kill being installed if it wouldn't start with the fuses in and when you pulled them out it would work.  The reason they did that is probably for anti grind.  You guys missed an important thing though, the remote will not program unless they hooked up a door pin wire.  So, best bet is to pull the brain down and see what wires are connected.  You should be looking for the green wire on the 10 pin plug, try tracing it down and see if it is hooked up to anything.  Also if you got the one way remote with that unit try that one and see if that works.  I remember having to replace that antenna many times with the 2 way remote being completely unresponsive.

Thanks to all who responded. I greatly appreciate the effort.

I think there is some confusion to what occurred as I read through all of the posts. When I put the fuses back in after first diagnosing the vehicle DID start on its own without me using the key or transmitter. And actually it happened again today when I put the fuese back in. It started on its own like I used the transmitter but I did not.

And when I mentioned above that the horn would "blare", I meant that it would start honking as if the alarm was going off (consistent honking until she got out of the vehicle and put the key in the driver's door and locked it). This seemed like the alarm was activated although I do not think the alarm feature of the Python was installed and I am pretty sure the vehicle itself does not have an alarm. If it does, it is something she never uses. It could be a standard anti-theft feature of the vehicle but I am not sure about that. Like I said, I am just getting back into working on cars and things have changed a bit.

So, in the end, Hurley's detailed response helped perfectly. t&t gave the same basic concept but in working to override the system puttin it in valet mode using the owner's manual was impossible. I am not sure it ever said to turn the key back "ON" before pressing the valet button. Hurley's specific instructions walked me right through it. I am very grateful.

Last question (for now)...what is that "On/Off" switch next to the LED and valet button?

Thanks again!!!!

t&t tech wrote:

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yes tommy, i think we kinda grasp that fact, but firstly in order to assist him in figuring what tha actual problem is, we have to get the unit that he is currently using, to function hence the reason me and hurleyloser recommended over- riding tha alarm firstly and re-programming the remotes, so we can move on.

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So were not moving on...?

tommy... wrote:

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Ok...What is causing horn to honk...Stated it was an occaisional problem...said had random problems arming disarming...This is only my first guess to what seems like a poor install. He said unit attempted to start itself when fuses were re-installed...Seems like other problems...But at least horn honks sounds like unit is not dis-arming factory security.I think its time to pull brain down and start following wires...Get install manual...car colors...and start tracing down wires...Anything going to factory dis-arm...How was the unit attached to car(poke and wrap...t-taps...solder)When he pulls the fuses...He would be using the key to enter vehicle...Dis-arming factory security? Did you ever get the horn honks during r/s? or normally w/ un-lock and opening door...?Starter kill installed...? Do what hurley said and see if you can get into/out of Valet Mode. Try to relearn remotes. In no way do i believe the factory alarm is causing all these problems...Just one of them...Horn honks (randomly) while entering car.

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Thought that was me agreeing w/ you... ?

i realised u were agreeing with us mr tommy, but damn, u tried to achieve to much in just one post, remember that most of these members have little or no experience in our field, and they come looking for help, not to be confused further by heaps of questions we are suppose to answer, heck the guy didn't even know it had factory security, you think he could have figured that the fad wire wasn't connected, jeez.

cheers tommy