[Intrepid175]

Hi Folks,

I've got a problem. I bought the factory Honda alarm system from Handa Accessories. After going over the directions while looking over the car, I dove in and did the installation and had absolutely no problems as far as I could tell. Once things were done, I felt like I had a little trouble programming the remotes. I discovered an error I had made in the process and things seemed to go a bit better. The only thing is, at the end of the process, you push the lock button and the door locks are supposed to cycle and the alarm indicator light is supposed to light for one second for each remote you program. This part didn't happen. All it did was arm the system so I'm not totally sure what's going on.

The alarm system is also not responding completely like the directions state. For instance, it is supposed to unlock the drivers door on the first push of the unlock button. This does not happen. The interior light activates like they're supposed to but the drivers door does not unlock. On the second push of the unlock button, all doors unlock. If this were the worst of it, I could live with it but I'd really like the system to perform as the directions state with the drivers door unlocking on it's own and the rest unlocking only when I punch the button the second time.

The worst of it is that with everything hooked up, my cruise control will not operate. The cruise control on/off switch light on the dash is active indicating there is power to the cruise control but system will not set. It's like the set and resume buttons on the steering wheel are disconnected. I triple and quadruple checked all the connections and could find nothing wrong. Finally, I disconnected the alarm wiring harness from the Odyssey's and plugged all the cars connectors back into their original positions and the cruise control works fine. I reconnected the alarm per the directions and no cruise. Now mind you, there aren't "that" many (7) connectors to play with that interface with the Ody's wiring loom directly and all of them are unique and keyed so that there is no way you can plug into an incorrect connection or connect a plug backwards. It's simply not that complicated.

I gave Handa Accessories a call and explained the symptoms and they were unsure as to the problem. They did, to their credit, agree to send me a new system (wiring loom and alarm brain) in the unlikely event that I got a defective one. I have now removed the first system and installed the new one and, to my disappointment, have the same problem. The second alarm behaves exactly as the first and when it's plugged in, my cruise control is totally unoperable.

Can any of you good folks offer any insight into what's going on here? It's like Honda made some minute change in the 2001 models wiring looms and the alarm isn't compatable any more. I'd greatly appreciate any input you care to offer.

Thanks & Drive Safe,
Steve

 

[lelandstanford]

It sounds like there is some kind of wiring problem. What year is your Ody? Is it LX or EX? My remotes did not work at first until I started the engine and turn off.

 

[Intrepid175]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by lelandstanford:
It sounds like there is some kind of wiring problem. What year is your Ody? Is it LX or EX? My remotes did not work at first until I started the engine and turn off. </font>

Well, um, actually, it was the idiot owner making assumptions while installing the unit.

One of the first connections you make installing the wiring harness at the left side fuse block is a 24 pin blue connector. The directions state that it is "above" the fuse block. It also states that this blue connector is piggybacked with a grey connector. Well, when I crawled under the dash and looked for said 24 pin blue connector "above" the fuse block, I found nothing! There isn't wire one "above" the fuse block that's immediately visible while wedged between the seat and the dashboard. There is, however a very pretty 24 pin blue connector that's piggybacked with a grey connector immediately "under" the fuse block. It's right out in plain sight just screaming

here I am! My "wrong" assumption was that they had made a minor change in the wiring location in my new 2001 Odyssey as apposed to the previous year models. I happily hooked everything up and while the alarm did work, after a fashion, it didn't perform per the instructions and my cruise control was totally non functional.

After much connection checking and instruction rereading and associated frustration, I called H and A and talked to Trevor. Trevor is a very polite and considerate gentlman, a genuine pleasure to do business with. After I described the problem, he didn't hesitate to send me another alarm system complete with return authorization for the first one. On it's arrival, I jumped in and did the installation and low and behold, same problem!!

Did I say I was frustrated before? That's not even close now. I called H and A back, talked to Trevor again and admitted I had to be doing "something" wrong but sure couldn't figure it out. He took my number and went to talk to his technicians and got back to me within an hour. They happened to have a 2001 Odyssey on the lot so they crawled under the dash and took a look. It turns out that that blue 24 pin connector has a twin! As the installation instructions said, it "is" above the fuse block. What the instructions "don't" tell you is that it is also about 8 inches forward toward the firewall and you can't see it easily without a flashlight. You also can't be very far under the dash or it's not within a line of sight.

Well, I reinstalled the alarm system (I'd pulled it out again when the second unit didn't work) with that 24 pin connector plugged where it was supposed to be and guess what? Everything worked precisely as the instruction booklet said it should and my cruise control rocks!

I am now a happy camper!

One sorta good thing about all this is that I can install that alarm system in about 1.5 to 2 hours. Lord knows I've had enough practice. Regardless of what Honda says about "only qualified mechanics" should attempt this installation, it's actually pretty simple and a little more precision in the installation directions would have averted all of this. Of course, if I had taken the instructions a little more literally and not made my "assumption", I wouldn't have had the problem either so I can't blame Honda completely.

Well, that's the story. If anyone needs any help with the factory alarm, let me know. I've got it wired now!

Sorry, couldn't resist!

Drive Safe,
Steve

PS: Everything you folks have read in the forum about H and A Accessories being great to do business with. IT'S ALL TRUE! They will be hearing from me again.

[This message has been edited by Intrepid175 (edited 07-24-2001).]

 

[sdp]

Glad to hear you got it all worked out Steve. We all do the mea culpa thing at times....your willingness to admit it might help someone else in the long run. Enjoy.