I have a 96 850glt with factory theft system. My hood is displaced about one inch on the driver side rear corner. Infrequently the theft horn will sound briefly. Once the flashers have activated. Both events spread over a three year period. About two months ago I disconnected the theft horn under the hood. Shortly thereafter the car was parked a week and the battery was dead. It was a five month old battery and it was replaced under warranty without any testing. A few days ago the same event repeated itself. Car sits a week and the battery is dead. Yesterday I figured out the only difference in the car sitting in my garage and at the airport is that the doors are locked and the consequently the theft alarm system is armed whilst it sits at the airport as opposed to in my garage.
Question is this: how much "dark current" would the alarm system use if the theft horn is diconnected and causes the diagnostic system to troubleshoot itself? I think this is the cause of the dead batteries. The horn being disconnected is causing the system to troubleshoot and consume the battery. I have reconnected the theft alarm horn and will park the car again on tuesday for a week with the doors locked which sets the theft system. Due to the security of the area it is parked in I can leave the doors unlocked and see if the battery dies but I am hoping reconnecting the theft horm will complete the circuit and prevent a diagonstic program from depleting the battery.
Anybody got any different ideas or suggestions or prior experience with this type of problem.
thanks