Problem w/ Viper Alarm

[pmcv21]

Not sure if this should go here or in electrical but here goes...I bought my '97 Camaro A4 about a year ago and it had a Viper alarm system in it (don't know much about them so I don't know the model of the system, but it's one of the ones that comes with the blue 479V remotes that look like a mini cellphone). The problem is the guy only included one remote and naturally about a week ago, that one remote decided to stop working. So now if I try and get in, my alarm goes off and more importantly I can't start my car. I picked up a new remote from Best Buy (for 170 bucks I might add), but apparently you can't reprogram a remote while the system is armed unless you can find the box for the system which has the Valet/Program switch on it, and I have no idea where to find it. I've heard it's usually located under the dash, so I pried the top piece (the one that meets with the windshield) up a bit and didn't see anything...I'm too scared to take the whole thing off because it seems like it would crack. Does anyone know where (assuming the system was professionally installed) they would put the box in a Camaro??? And can anyone tell me the best way to remove the dash with out the risk of cracking it? Also, if anyone's had a similar problem with the viper systems, or has any advice, please let me know. Thanks so much and I'd REALLY appreciate any help!!!! Thanks, Paul.

[Bonemaro]

Re: Problem w/ Viper Alarm

Do you have an LED for the alarm, siren wires, relay to kill the starter? Try to find something related to the alarm and trace the wires back to the brain.

[pmcv21]

Re: Problem w/ Viper Alarm

Yeah, that's what I was going to try and do next...should I take off the panel under the steering column and try tracing the wire from the ignition and/or the LED (mounted right above my driver's side A/C vent)?

[Bonemaro]

Re: Problem w/ Viper Alarm

That's what I would do.

[Pewter02Camaro]

Re: Problem w/ Viper Alarm

The installer probobly put it right next to the colom underneath by the pedals. My good friend installs those for a living and he said that thats where you have to put them because of all the wires you have to tap into. If worse came to worse disconnect the positive terminal from the batt and see if it disarms the system, at this point you dont have much to lose.

[pmcv21]

Re: Problem w/ Viper Alarm

Yeah, I checked with the Viper guys at Best Buy and they said the same thing...I'll try it tomorrow...thanks a ton for your help!

[StrtRacer98]

Re: Problem w/ Viper Alarm

The brain of the alarm should be mounted under the dash, remove the two bottom covers and it will be right in the middle of the wire harness.

There should have been a valet switch installed, and usually i bring them up to the fuse box area, and let them sit in there for access.

If you bought the new key fob from best buy, they should program it for you while you wait.

I had the same alarm, r u sure the battery didnt just go dead? I had to replace my battery every couple months on that dang thing