I had to replace my alternator and when i reconnected the battery the car alarm wouldn't allow me to start the car. where is the relay switch so i can reset or disable it? for a 1996 chev cavalier.

Make sure alternator is charging. If remove all relays and check how high is battery draw. It shouldn't be significant and shouldn't discharge battery overnight. If you have a draw then car computer or transmission control module or alarm may cause that. If you dont have draw. Start reinstalling relays one by one and check for the draw. Faulty stereo may be a reason for draw too.

Any issues with the ignition switch itself? They are mostly made of plastic pieces. With the exception of the actual cylinder. Also depending on how long you had the battery issue,it may have damaged the alternator. They tend to go hand in hand,unless caught early enough. The alternator gets overworked due to the weak battery.

switch in question should be under dash comming out of alarm. could be a flip switch.in order to start vehicle, disconnect battery. turn key to on position. reconnect battery. then start vehicle. this will allow you to by pass alarm until battery dies of key pod is used to reset alarm.

Does the engine crank at all?
Did you replace the battery because it wouldn't start?
It could be the alternator
Check the cable tightness on the battery and where the cables connect to.

it may be your alternator that is draining your battery and causing problems. I have replaced my alternator two years in a row on my 2003 Corolla...also having other electrical problems with the radio and cd player. I have been reading where this is a common problem :(

You could have a bad switch somewhere, like in the glove compartment, which wouldn't allow the light to turn off, or it could be a relay not allowing your interior lights to shut off when you close the door, or your headlight switch might be faulty, or anything like that. Start with checking all your lights in the car to see if something does not go out when the car is shut off and write back..

Hi
Before Battery Change

• When was/or when did you notice alarm green light illuminated?


• When after alarm was disarmed, did green light shine?

First thing to check would be electrical connections starting from the battery.

1. Follow positive wire lead from battery to fuse box connections. (Should be along driver side frame rail, or near battery.)
2. Follow wrie harness to Relay Center. (Find Alarm Relay/Fuse)
3. Also to Power Distribution Center. (upper driver corner engine bay)
Relay Switch and Fuse to Alarm should be okay, given the alarm green light illumination.

The Cars Brain, ECM Engine Control Module, manages messeges between power BattV and Alarm, also other modules and various sensors throughout the vehicle.

When Battery Supply was disconnected, something happened, that stunned the memory in the ECM.

Yes, the alarm does need resetting, its actually the memory messages saved in ECM need to be Refreshed.

(saying "alarm needs resetting") sounds like alarm is broken, when that is not the case. Similar scenario is, when smart phone screen webpage freezes(alarm memory info in ECU). No buttons work, not even power button (Key Fob control). Only way to gain access is to remove battery.

Lets try an experiment, this will be to loose still/saved frozen information, stuck in computer memory.

How to Reset Vehicle Computer.


1. Remove Neggative Post connection.
2. Remove Positive Post connection.
3. Let vehicle sit over Two Minutes, this time allows capacitors in vehicle Modules (ECM/PCM, TCM), to release any/all stored voltage, also any voltage in Vehicles ground circuit will be released.
   • (I would typically wait 15 minutes) Capacitors with out constant Voltage input, will disipate rather quickly, depending on capacity size.
4. With Battery Still Disconnected. Open Driver Car door, and turn Ignition to RUN Position.
5. Reconnect Positive Post.
6. Reconnect Negative Post.
   • IGNITION is in RUN Position, when reconnecting Battery. Driver Door Is Open.

7. Turn Ignition to Off.
• Notice if alarm green light is illuminated.

8. Hit LOCK Button On Driver Door Switch to Reinitialize Alarm.
• Be SURE Key Fob not locked in car.

Are you sure you have the battery connected right, Red to + Black to -? The connections are tight? Are sure the new batery is good? I've seen that happen before where the battery is new but dead. Try jumping it from another car or put that battery in another car and see if it starts that car. If you have a voltmeter check the battery, it should be about 12.8 volts, then check while trying to start the car the voltage shoudn't drop below 10 volts.

you can try switching the key to the "on" position then open the hood and disconnect the negative terminal of the battery and reconnect after 2minutes. this will allow the alarm to be '"reset" and will recognize that you have the key for the vehicle.