Alarms are a waste of money anyway..if someone is going to steal a car and they know what they are doing alarm is just an obstacle. I woulnd't bother installing a new one.

 

From your description I still suspect the actuator. You will soon know - once the actuator starts acting up it soon fails completely. If that is true you are pulling a working alarm. Maybe hold off for a few days before pulling the alarm or check for the door signal.

 

Barneyb you might be right. If the actuator is not sending the signal to the alarm, it obviously won't disarm.

What is the procedure for testing the actuator?

 

Read thru this post first. Notice the contacts in the lid of the actuator covered with grease. This is where the locked and unlocked signal originates.

https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/mi...or-needed.html

 

TBH an alarm set up the way OP's is is kinda worthless anyway. Anyone can pop the door handle with a screwdriver and have access to rod that operates the lock/actuator and disarm the alarm. This is a common method of breaking into an evo as well so its basically killing two birds with one stone for the thief. What you want is a system that is isolated form the factory system (to disarm anyway) so as to provide an additional obstacle.

 

Excellent point!

 

Any suggestions on a common alarm system for our cars or is Viper a good choice?

 

I've installed countless vipers, never had any come back with problems. That being said the remotes use to be pretty fragile, not something you could keep on your keyring and expect it to last forever. I have been out of the game for almost a decade though so things may have changed. If you look though, Directed Electronics makes like 3/4 of the aftermarket alarms, just under different brand names. Unless you live in alaska or something i wouldn't bother with the remote starting stuff, not worth the risks if you ask me. Hack two wires on a remote start system and a criminal has just turned it into a hot wire aiding system.