Is this a kill switch for the car or to activate the old alarm system? Vibra-Alarm VL-7.
Does this type of alarm system affect ignition at all? Still having issues starting in the morning. Almost always starts in the afternoon like nothing's happened. Have replaced coil, distributor cap and rotor. Fuel pump is working fine and is supplying fuel. Frustrating electrical gremlins.
Do you mean what is, was it when it was new, purchased and installed by some third party as a good idea 35 years ago ? Because, in thirty years of following the articles, photos, versions of factory stock e12's, I've never seen such a thing.
Of course, that doesn't mean it's not a very esoteric and unique factory option offered in limited production at one time.
I guess what I might do is turn the car on, then the key in that thing in each direction to see what happens. If nothing, then perhaps just accessories. Keep doing that until something happens.
Then, that's what it does.
Oh, if tracing any wires from it lead to anything else, I'm guessing disconnecting them will eliminate their being variables in any other problems.
T.Hanson wrote:Do you mean what is, was it when it was new, purchased and installed by some third party as a good idea 35 years ago ? Because, in thirty years of following the articles, photos, versions of factory stock e12's, I've never seen such a thing.
Of course, that doesn't mean it's not a very esoteric and unique factory option offered in limited production at one time.
I guess what I might do is turn the car on, then the key in that thing in each direction to see what happens. If nothing, then perhaps just accessories. Keep doing that until something happens.
Then, that's what it does.
Oh, if tracing any wires from it lead to anything else, I'm guessing disconnecting them will eliminate their being variables in any other problems.
I know this wasn't installed by the factory or dealer. Car was broken into in the early days and the original owner added in a car alarm. I took out the alarm horn that was installed under the hood because it was often in my way. Just trying to see if this box is contributing to my starting issue. I found a wiring diagram and it doesn't appear to do anything other than just make noise. I'm hoping it's not wired into the ignition or anything.
Finally got it started this morning. While it was running I tested the questioned switch, nothing happened. Drove it around for a bit, and then when I returned I shut the car off, turned the switch, then started it again. It started fine.
So, not a kill switch. Must just be the alarm switch and the alarm did nothing more than make noise. Just wanted to make sure the alarm box wasn't wired into anything more than that.
As for the lack of starting in the morning, I removed the ignition control module and warmed it up in the toaster oven for a little bit. Reinstalled and it didn't start at first, but then about 5 minutes later it did. Not sure if it's related, but at least that's something. Have a rebuilt module on order. We'll see if switching them out changes anything.
In the '80s there were a few alarms that used a key to arm from outside the car. Even the factory BMW system worked that way. I'd probably pull everything out except for the lock though. Probably not a huge rush since it doesn't seem to be affecting anything, but just be careful when/if you do.
