So a few weeks ago someone tried breaking into my truck. Nothing was stollen they ran as soon as the alarm went off. Only problem is now my horn will randomly go off to the point where at the mall the other day my horn was blowing so long it blew the horn and possibly burnt wiring as I smelt burning wires. Could the clock spring malfunctioning and or a malfunctioning alarm system cause an issue like this?

 

I assume this is the Factory alarm with key fob "horn button"

Owners manual says to close doors and press lock button once to lock doors, then press button again, within 5 seconds, and doors will lock again but horn will sound ONE TIME to confirm alarm is set
If it sounds TWO TIMES it means a door is not closed all the way, so alarm will go off if you leave it that way

Yes, the horn Relay could be activating from shorted clockspring

But since someone was messing with a door I would be more likely to suspect door latch/switch issue

If horn was on that long then you smell the horn wiring, inside the horn, wiring to the horn is fused so wouldn't get that hot

 

Looking for some insight to troubleshoot my alarm activating inexplicably. On occasion my alarm will activate requiring me to insert my key to unlock and manually lock the driver’s side door to disable/reset the alarm. I believe it has to do with my automatic doorlock Perhaps not cycling well enough to enable the alarm. FYI- the key fobs no longer work.

I have noticed I the past the dime light door switch was not turning off the light, resulting in a parasitic battery drain. Is it likely to be the door ajar switch or some combination of sensors in the door?

 

Welcome to the forum

You should start your own thread, its FREE, lol

We need to know the YEAR of the Ranger as there were alot of changes from 1983 to 2011
1995-2003 used a GEM body computer and RAP module for alarm, but again it wasn't the same for every year

And I assume you have a factory alarm?
Or is it a 3rd party or Dealer add-on alarm?

 

I thought my 1999 Ford Ranger XLT 4.0L 4X4 would show up in my profile...guess not. Yes, the XLT had a factory alarm and PATS. I thought it was poor etiquette to start a new thread covering the same/similar topic.

 

No not really, usually you add to a thread to help the original poster, otherwise its called "Highjacking" some one else thread
Granted that this was an old thread, lol, so not a "highjack"

Yes having the door switch show "open door" could certainly set off the alarm

Door switches were a common issue on Rangers, its at the bottom of the latch inside the door, so any dirt will wash down into the switch and make it stick closed(door open)
Spraying WD-40 into the latch and letting it wash down can free up the switch
You need to remove door panel then loosen the latch to get off the old switch, its a twist and lock mounting

If you unplug switches 2 wire connector then door will show CLOSED all the time, this takes the switch out of the loop to set off alarm
If its a 4 door Ranger then all 4 doors have a switch, just FYI

PATS is a "passive" system, no lights or horn, just disables fuel system if key in ignition is not "known" by PATS, not part of any alarm system

1999 will have a RAP Module for keyless entry(fobs) and alarm if so optioned
Its located behind driver seat and behind the plastic panel, should be white
This should be the part number on it: F87F-15K602-

 

It probably does show up in your profile, but people like me are to lazy to look , so it's best to include it in your threads.