[Neko-]

Due to insurance regulations the car alarm standard provided with my 2003 Mustang is not sanctified under the SCM3 guidelines, and as such I need to have a different alarm in the car in order to provide for the insurance.

The alarm fitted is a Cobra 8188 alarm system, and according to the VIN history report it was fitted with the alarm in New Jersey prior to being shipped over to the Netherlands. Since I've started driving with the car the alarm has behaved as it should have.

However I've noted that the 'Service Engine Soon' light on the dashboard has lit up quite often lately. The dealer has checked the computer, but reports there are no faultcodes available, and as such I deduce that the computer doesn't detect any errors, and hence the light shouldn't be on.

The dealer did inform me of the likely cause of the light switching on, namely the start-prevention that is included with the alarm. When trying to start the car when the system is active (which can conceivably happen when filling the car with gas or something, they state that the computer doesn't see all the components properly, thinks there is an error, and subsequenly illuminates the 'Service Engine Soon' light on the dashboard.

Since this light normally indicates problems with the engine, or the need for a service run of the car, I'm a bit concerned here that the light may illuminate as a result of the issue indicated above, and my assumption that nothing is wrong due to the fact that the light is probably illuminated due to a user-error on my part.

As such I asked if the light could be reset if the situation with the start-prevention circuit would ever happen by accident, and the notification was that 'yes, it can be cleared, but not by the driver'. Appearantly this needs to be done through the use of a computer.

What I would like to know is if the above issue is conceivably true (can the 'Service Engine Soon' light lighting up be a direct result of the alarm acting up), aswell as any thoughts on how to possibly correct this behaviour, or even allow for a reset on the side of the driver (the latter mostly since the dealer is about 100 miles away from where I'm at).

The original alarm system is also still in the car and still functional, although it's not being used at all anymore. Since the Cobra 8188 alarm has worked as it should have, I assume this shouldn't interfere with matters.

Any thoughts on this are appreciated.

[xscash]

ok, i own a audio store. so here goes
NO! the alarm can not turn on the check engine light. most likely the alarm cuts the starter wire when armed ...this will not cause that effect. even if the alarm went above and beyond and killed the coil.....NO this will not cause this. the vehicle has a sophisticated computer to not throw a code unless it needs to. extra fuel in the motor will cause fouled plugs over time...the computer can not throw a code for fouled plugs. nor any other situation for which it was not programed to do.
so what your dealer is basicly saying is....if your starter broke ....the check engine light will come on, because you are turning the key and its not turning over. bogus. get a scanner yourself or take it somwhere else.
good luck

[Neko-]

Scanner been ordered already and delivered to a friends house in the US (blasted shop wouldn't ship to EU, and the one in the UK that did asked me about twice the total costs for the thing). The light did come on back then, but the car started fine, and ran smoothly. So the cause of the light was (and is) a bit of a mystery.

At the moment the light's off, but the fact that the shop gave me that as an explanation kinda weirded me out aswell. Never had it with any other car I've owned (Mondeo with a self installed alarm, or the Cougar wit it's factory alarm). Evenso I've heard people say that they have expirienced this behaviour and as such was curious about findings in the US with this combination.

My guess is that there was something wrong with the car that the shop just didn't wanna confess to or something so they decided on something that may sound plausible at first, but after you start to think about it come to believe that it's bull****. End result is the same tho: the light is off.

After the fact tho I recalled the light has come on during a drive as the car was barreling down the highway at 75 MPH, so the starter and the alarm having issues with one another sounded kind of bogus to me. Never got to tell the shop that tho. Doubt that I will with how they're treating me. Possibly due to the fact that when warrenty is over, they'll never see the car again (driving 100 miles one-way to get to the place is kinda overkill).

Thanks for the reply. It's appreciated. If anyone else has any thoughts to add, feel free.

[tracey]

my ingion light came on . did not have a good seal to gas cap. disconnect battery, wait a few mins, reprogram alarm.