radio switch disconnect help

[z123]

Hi my alarm chirps 3 times and im thinking its the switch behind the radio thats causing the trouble. i tried to disconnect the switch under the hood but that didnt fix it.


i disconnected my radio and thats how it looks like


i saw this piece in there, but it looks like its disconnected... was this the switch?? where does that plug in to?


This is what it looks like on the inside, can anyone point out where the switch for the alarm is so i can disconnect it.

thanks

[Vinci]

That switch in the back of the radio area is pushed in by the nub on the back of the stock radio. If you have an aftermarket radio, it will need to have that nub or have the switch disabled.

[z123]

how do i disable the switch?
i dont think my aftermarket deck has that knob

[way2fast9999]

i just disconnected the switch completely from the car and no problems with the alarm now

[seabird]

from what i recall when i disconnected the switch. there is pole that is attached to to the back of the stock head unit goes through the switch when it is installed. the switch is a plastic square shape with an opening or hole in the middle that the pole goes through. the switch is attached to some wires and via a clip connector and you basically disconnect it altogether.

[z123]

from what i recall when i disconnected the switch. there is pole that is attached to to the back of the stock head unit goes through the switch when it is installed. the switch is a plastic square shape with an opening or hole in the middle that the pole goes through. the switch is attached to some wires and via a clip connector and you basically disconnect it altogether.

is this wat u were referring to? cuz it looks liek its already disconnected

[seabird]

yes i think thats the one. if it's disconnected you may want to try to hood sensor which i believe is also common.

[CosmosBlack98M]

Hi my alarm chirps 3 times and im thinking its the switch behind the radio thats causing the trouble. i tried to disconnect the switch under the hood but that didnt fix it.



i saw this piece in there, but it looks like its disconnected... was this the switch?? where does that plug in to?

That is the switch....the little metal tab inside is does the switching. When the post on the back of the radio is in proper position the switch is "open" and things are fine. If the post is not there or not in the correct position, then the switch contact is closed and you get the 3 alarms chirps and the keyless entry will not function.

Make sure that the switch (the square piece you are holding) is disconnected from any wires. Remove it from the vehicle. Your problem should be solved....that is unless you have another faulty switch somewhere.

[z123]

oh that square piece wasnt attached to anything so i thoguht it was already disconnected. I will remove that small wire connected to that square piece and see wat happens. *crosses fingers*

THANKS COSMO!!!!

[R1lee]

take a look on the back of your radio, you can unscrew the knob and put it in there and tape it all together. That's basically what i did, and tucked it away back into the back there.

No problems ever since.

If you don't have the radio anymore, then just stick something in there so it pushes the trigger, then tape it up!

[JoshS]

Yes, your problem is that the switch (that you are holding) is no longer mounted where it is supposed to be. It appears to be just dangling there. It is supposed to be mounted to the center of the dash support (the big steel tube running from side to side).

You have three choices:
1) Remount that switch, and make sure that your radio has a protrusion on it that will activate the remounted switch; or
2) Stick something into that switch that will activate it permanently (you could probably just strap a zip-tie through it), and leave it dangling; or
3) just disconnect the switch from its wires. I can't remember if you have to short the wires together, or leave them disconnected (normally open or normally closed). I'm sure you can figure it out.

[ZeeCubed]

Hey Z123! Did this solve your problem?

[Ratbike1]

Hey Z123! Did this solve your problem?

It solved mine, this week!

[insider]

Yeah this also solved my problem, I put a zip tie in the hole to keep the switch deactivated. Or as everyone's advice was to unplug the switch.

[Beach Bimmer]

...or you can skip the zip-tie and just unplug the wires from that square part. I tried it and now my lock/unlock works perfectly!

[z3m.casey]

Yeah this also solved my problem, I put a zip tie in the hole to keep the switch deactivated. Or as everyone's advice was to unplug the switch.

Just cause I don't want to create another thread.......THREAD REVIVAL!


Here's MY situation. I'm tired of using the key to unlock/lock the car when it has an alarm for me to use, so I went out to check the system to see if I can make it work.


Above is a picture of what it looks like and where its suppose to be... Below is what mine looks like. I tried looking everywhere underneath, even recorded with my phone with a flash to see if I can see the missing portion, but I cannot seem to find it.



I know have to look and I should be able to find it, but anything or anywhere else I should be looking?

There's also this (below) that has the 2 wires and it is a button, so I'm hoping that its what I'm looking for and I can simply unplug it or tape in pushed in for now.



Or maybe this? idk


I unplugged the hood switch to see if it’ll work, but still didn’t so I left it unplugged. I haven’t seen the trunk either, but I’ll do that later today and see how it looks. The passenger side door is the only one that is worn out, the "tube" looking thing and the plastic is worn out pretty badly. so maybe that has something to do with it? or thee problem.

As far interior lights? they SOMETIMES go on as I turn the car off and sometimes it does not. The interior lights do not turn on or off as one opens ANY doors whatspever.

[khammack]

As far interior lights? they SOMETIMES go on as I turn the car off and sometimes it does not. The interior lights do not turn on or off as one opens ANY doors whatspever.

I don't think the interior lights should come on when you turn your car off. BUT, if they don't come on when you open the door, then I think you have found the reason your alarm doesn't work. You didn't say, but I'm guessing you are getting the three chirps when you try to lock your car and set the alarm with the key fob.

[z3m.casey]

I don't think the interior lights should come on when you turn your car off. BUT, if they don't come on when you open the door, then I think you have found the reason your alarm doesn't work. You didn't say, but I'm guessing you are getting the three chirps when you try to lock your car and set the alarm with the key fob.

Yep! That’s why I’m on the search for an answer!

do you think if I “fix” the issue withone of the DIY’s that are out there it’ll work?
Theres a few out there saying it works with getting the window up or whatever issue there was.
I’ll try it anyways and see if it does.

[khammack]

Yep! That’s why I’m on the search for an answer!

do you think if I “fix” the issue withone of the DIY’s that are out there it’ll work?
Theres a few out there saying it works with getting the window up or whatever issue there was.
I’ll try it anyways and see if it does.

You may need to replace the door striker. That is where the button is.

[z3m.casey]

Yep. Per different BMW dealerships they are no longer making the striker.......

gotta find used then.

[khammack]

If you do a search for "BMW 51218399245" you will find several places which don't list them as out of stock (including Amazon and Pelican). Not sure if they really have them or not. You may need to call them to find out for sure.

[z3m.casey]

Replaced the striker, tore apart the center console to search for the radio switch, and got it to work!
hell yeah!

buuuuuut I broke some tabs/plastic pieces along the way. I know it’s known on these to do so, but it’s such a bummer.
broke in these circled pieces.



Now on to a search for a replacement...