98/R ford escort 1.8 gti - locking/unlocking and alarm trouble.

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Mon 19 Jul 2010 18:01
98/R ford escort 1.8 gti - locking/unlocking and alarm trouble. - jimmy81

hi all, ive just bought an escort and i am having trouble with the alarm. i unlock it via the passenger door (as the drivers door wont unlock) and the alarm will go off, i shut the door and lock it again to turn the alarm off then try again. it usually works on the second attempt but today it went off for ages. ive tried using only the passenger door to lock/unlock the car which seemed to work for a little while but im now back to the alram going off.

it only has 1 key so im wondering if getting a new key cut would be the answer, i know fords have a tendancy for their keys getting worn out which i think is why the drivers door wont open? but would this affect the alarm?

also im wondering if there is a way of telling if the car had a remote at any time?

thanks for reading

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Tue 20 Jul 2010 00:05
98/R ford escort 1.8 gti - locking/unlocking and alarm trouble. - elekie&a/c doctor

Looks like you have the usual Ford worn locks/key syndrome.Certainly worth trying a new key to try and improve door lock situation as the alarm is switched from the key barrel mechanism.As an alternative,I would just disconnect the alarm module which is situated behind plastic panel ,to the right of accelerator pedal.hth

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Tue 20 Jul 2010 15:17
98/R ford escort 1.8 gti - locking/unlocking and alarm trouble. - jimmy81

cheeers for reply, ive been quoted 75 +vat for a key so not going to bother with that. i founf the panel you mentioned and took it off. how do i turn the alarm off? the module has what looks like a red button in it, do i just press this? a bit worried the alarm might go off or something?

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Wed 21 Jul 2010 18:43
98/R ford escort 1.8 gti - locking/unlocking and alarm trouble. - freman

I have a 98 Finesse , you can re programme youir own key via the ignition lock.

I did this a few years ago by buying a cut key from your friendly Ford dealer for about £20 & following the instructions in the drivers manual . You need to know the key code of course & I think you can do it about 10 or 15 times.

If you want to know any more get back to me & I will try to dig out the info. Hope this is useful to you.

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Wed 21 Jul 2010 19:02
98/R ford escort 1.8 gti - locking/unlocking and alarm trouble. - elekie&a/c doctor

There is no red button on the unit.It is a black plastic box with 2 multiplugs attached.It may have a label on it marked central lock /alarm control.Just pull out the plug with the fatter wires and this should disable the alarm system.As for programming your own key,you need at least 2 working keys to do this.I guess you only have one (not red key).hth

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Wed 21 Jul 2010 21:44
98/R ford escort 1.8 gti - locking/unlocking and alarm trouble. - jimmy81
cheers for replys.
i have a key with a red chip in the corner which i believe is the master key. ford switched from the 3 key system (1 red master, 2 black keys) to this red chip kind. ive red that if you get a blank key there is a method to programme it to your car.

as for the module, it doesnt have a sticker on it so im not 100% its the alarm module. its black with 2 wires going into a white plastic thing thats plugged into the bottom of it. the wires are both orange and purple. they look like they go into the same hole. i think i might be able to pull the white thing out which would dissconnect it.

many thanks

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Thu 22 Jul 2010 16:23
98/R ford escort 1.8 gti - locking/unlocking and alarm trouble. - freman

Re programming your own key. It Is detailed on P. 28 of the owners manual & entails using the master key only. It is a bit long winded but if it interests you forward your E Mail address and I will pass the gen on without cluttering up these pages.

The friendly Ford dealer from who I bought my replacement key supplied me with another method but it did not work so I binned it

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