2000 Sienna Alarm Keeps Going Off

[ratrodbikesdotcom]

We have a 2000 Sienna and for the past several months the factory alarm starts going off for no reason. If we park somewhere and lock the doors with the remotes the alarm usually starts honking the horn and flashing the lights after about 10-20 minutes. We then have to unlock the doors with the remote to get it to stop.

Wondering if someone has the sequence of actions that you need to take to completely disarm the alarm system. I could care less about having an alarm on the van, but I do want to have the remote unlocking feature.

Thanks!

[topspy]

Welcome!   
Sorry about the trouble.   

Check your car battery.  IME, sometimes when the battery starts to go, it will affect the alarm system and cause it's behavior to be erratic.

Also, you might have a bad door/lock sensor or trigger for the security system.

Sorry....not sure if pulling which if any of the fuses might help you out.  Perhaps someone more familiar with a 1stGen Sienna will drop-by soon...

Let us know.

YMMV.
Good Luck!! 

[mr.tt]

Yes You should check the battery as I had the same problem happen to. Replaced the battrey and the problem was GONE

[ratrodbikesdotcom]

Interesting....I installed a new heavy duty battery a little over a year ago.

Maybe the positive cable has corrosion or something....I'll check this evening.

[topspy]

more on the possible bad door/lock cause....

Try here:
rs3200 plus security problems
http://siennachat.com/forum/index.php/topic,1410.0.html

[robo5]

I think in 2000 they had several systems. XLE was factory and lower trim lines were "port" or "dealer" installed. Do you have a owners manual for the alarm system separtate from the one that came with the sienna. It would be marked V.I.P.

Not sure if this will help but I found an on-line manual for an rs3000. If you want to disable the alarm you have to put it in valet mode.

http://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=10&ved=0CB0QFjAJ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.parksoffroad.com%2Ftacomamods%2Falarminfo%2Falarminfo.htm&rct=j&q=vip+security+system+owners+manual&ei=NdOaS7-XG4H-8Aa1iJWuDg&usg=AFQjCNG9DYZVemcRqpdEmcTA_5NZBZtcBA

[irlandes]

My 2002 Sienna LE had a cheap TRW alarm installed due to Texas requirement for a car alarm.  It fires off when it gets hot. Sometimes it locks up the ignition and I can't start it, until I cycle the remote door locks with the remote.

I talked to the dealer, and was essentially told go to the installer, which legally was Toyota IMO. They put it on; why should I go to TRW?  This is the one bad thing of my Sienna.

But, it took them a while to decide it was not a Toyota alarm. They kept giving me nonsense, first that it was a Toyota alarm, then it wasn't, until a smart guy checked the VIN and found in the records it was installed later.  So, be very sure it is a Toyota alarm, don't just assume it is.

[ratrodbikesdotcom]

My 2000 Sienna is the XLE model.

There are no signs that it's an aftermarket unit...seems to have come from the factory installed.

My horn honks and the lights flash when it goes off...no cheesy siren or valet switch to be found.

Thanks for the above info guys!

[mr.tt]

I noticed that you said that there was no corrosion on the positive terminal. You shhould ckeck to see if your positive terminal is loose. I had to replace the positive terminal clamp on my 99 xle as it was always coming loose. It cost me 25.00 for the positive terminal clamp. Just a thought..Let us know if youfind the problem....

[irlandes]

My 2000 Sienna is the XLE model.

There are no signs that it's an aftermarket unit...seems to have come from the factory installed.

My horn honks and the lights flash when it goes off...no cheesy siren or valet switch to be found.

Thanks for the above info guys!

My 2002 also does not have a valet switch nor cheesy siren, and it also honks the horn and flashes the light.  The fact your car is XLE may mean something, but not the light flashing and horn beeping. The only way we found out for sure is a smarter than average dude in the dealer pulled the VIN record and it plainly said installed by TRW at port, which is strange because I think my Sienna was built in the US, unless they shipped it by boat to Houston or some such place.

[topspy]

By "port" it just simply means where the regional distributor "accepts" delivery before local dealership allocations.  It is also the location where many "port-installed" (and sometimes "dealer-installed".....depending on logistics and contractual agreements) options are put on the vehicle.  This is common practice for Gulf States & Southeast Toyota distribution/franchise regions....and might apply to Canada too.  Years ago it would have simply referred to the Port of Los Angeles/Long Beach or some other west coast harbor for Toyotas arriving from Japan.

YMMV.
Good Luck!! 

[irlandes]

By "port" it just simply means where the regional distributor "accepts" delivery before local dealership allocations.  It is also the location where many "port-installed" (and sometimes "dealer-installed".....depending on logistics and contractual agreements) options are put on the vehicle.  This is common practice for Gulf States & Southeast Toyota distribution/franchise regions....and might apply to Canada too.  Years ago it would have simply referred to the Port of Los Angeles/Long Beach or some other west coast harbor for Toyotas arriving from Japan.

YMMV.
Good Luck!! 

Cool! Thanks for explaining it.