alarm malfunction can’t drive car

Hi all,

I just purchased a 2001 GMC Jimmy. The guy I bought it from had bought it used from the original owner. This original owner had installed an aftermarket alarm system but gave no information with the sale. The guy I bought from (newpaper ad), told me about the alarm, said he never used it and did'nt know anything about it. Well, I had planned on taking the Jimmy to an alarm installer and have him check it out for me. The Jimmy came with the factory key fob controller (to lock and unlock doors, etc.). When I got my new car home last night, I used the key fob to lock the doors (which took a couple of pushes of the lock button). When I returned to the vehicle 15 min. later, I pushed the unlock button on the key fob but it wouldn't work. I then unlocked the door with the key and the alarm went off! I started pushing all the buttons on the key fob and after a minute or so, the alarm stopped. Now there is a flashing red light to the left of my steering wheel and I'm afraid if I open the door the alarm will go off again and I won't be able to shut it off this time.

I'm just a girl who knows nothing about cars and am so upset I can't drive my new car! I called the seller and asked about it and he said all he knows is there's suppose to be some kind of box with a cut off button under the dash but he could never find it. He said the alarm went off on him one time and he just kept pushing the unlock button on the key fob and eventually it stopped. What a jerk for not warning me about this! Now I have no car to drive and don't know how to even get it to a fix-it shop without driving down the road, blarring the alarm. Any advise would be very much appreciated!

Thanks in advance

The siren shouldn't be too hard to find under the hood . . . just follow the sound. The siren is about the size of your two fists together and has a bell shape usually with wires coming out. Simply cut the wires then take your SUV to an install shop.

Siren looks like this:

Thanks JWorm. Unfortunately it didn't stop snowing until it got dark so I have decided to wait till tomorrow to mess with it. I am so paronoid that I won't be able to turn it off and my neighbors will be kept up all night! The red light flashing on the dash is a push button. I tried pushing it when the alarm went off yesterday but nothing happened. I didn't put the key in the ignition though. Maybe I will try that one. The thing that bothers me is when I called the guy that sold me the car he said he had heard there was a box somewhere under the dash or hood that had a button or toggle switch that you could use to disarm the alarm but he was never able to find it. If he couldn't find it I don't know how I'm going to find it! Maybe the red light on the dash is the button. I will try that. You guys don't know what a big help you have been. I was just lost as to what to do. Wish I could bake you some cookies or something...lol! Thanks again. I will let you know tomorrow how it turned out.

Hey guys,

I ended up cutting the siren wire. The button on the dash didn't do anything. I think the key fob is defective. I put a brand new battery in it and it still won't work. I even resyncronized it according to my owners manual and got nothing. I ordered another one from the dealer and it should be here Tues. Also looked under dash after I cut the siren wire for the valet button. I couldn't see anything with a button on it. I will take it to Goho Audio tomorrow and let them figure it out. Thanks again for all your help and the pic of the siren, Big Dog. Mine looked just like the pic! At least I can drive my new car now even though the lights still flash when the alarm is going off-no blarring siren! You guys are gems, thanks again!