My '97 4runner with factory alarm system and 230k miles has slowly stopped chirping when I lock or unlock the car with the remote. I found this to be a convenience to hear it audibly instead of actually having to watch the lights to make sure the vehicle is locked when I leave. Since it is now silent, there is no way to find it! My service manual is no help. When it started to die, it seemed worse when it was wet outside. Is this common? Could the piezo be clogged with dirt, or is it just dead. If so, can I buy an aftermarket one, or am I stuck with going to the stealership? Any help is appreciated!!!

 

You can get an aftermarket one from Radio Shack for a few bucks, but I don't know how the factory buzzer wires up. I know you can wire the peizo to sound when the lights are left on, that's probably about all you need it for anyway.

 

Thanks. I just want it to function as it was intended - to sound once when you lock and twice when you unlock the vehicle. The chirping came from somewhere under the hood when it worked.

The lights have a separate noise maker which sounds (from inside the vehicle) until you turn the lights off.

 

the chirper is on the passenger side near the firewall. it says buzzer or chirper or something.

 

mine was drivers side, midway down the fender rail, kinda under the fuse box. look for a round red thingy...wrapped in grey foam. i replaced mine with a radio shack $5 piezo chirper...much better now.

 

The '99 and up models do have the piezo on the passenger fender. Easy to find. The previous years are definitely hidden on the drivers fender.