Hi all —

Last night my alarm started randomly going off every 10 minutes or so, driving me and neighbors crazy. I also noticed a blinking red 'anti theft' light and red light on dashboard that I don't remember seeing when my car is locked.

I googled around and found a ton of stuff on this and other forums/reddit about disconnecting the hood latch sensor. I popped the hood and left it that way overnight and the alarm stopped.

I just spent the last hour — not a car guy — using the manual (and some FaceTiming from my car guy BIL) to figure out how to remove the grill cover and pull apart two pieces, hidden behind the latch switch apparatus, that were connected. It had yellow and black wires, which various images online had labeled the hood sensor; however, in the manual, it looks like this is labeled "hood latch switch connector,"; I was worried that would mean that it was not the sensor, but the thing that opens my hood, but my hood still opens fine. I made sure it wasn't the airbags (yellow) or horn.

However, this did nothing to solve the problem — the red lights are still blinking and my alarm goes off if the hood is shut and the car is locked.

What is going on and what do I do?

edit: also, I think I got something wrong, but I am testing it now. I think the alarm still goes off with the hood popped. It’d just that popping the hood means the automatic lock doesn’t engage. Meaning I can’t have my car locked and need to keep it from automatically locking. Testing that now though.

 

Update: I took it to a local shop and they diagnosed the right front door actuator as being the problem. They've disabled that and the alarm stops; now I just can't electronically lock that door. Apparently the part is $600+ which is crazy, so looks like I'll be looking for some junkyards, etc.

 

If it's the actuator, you can find this way cheaper online. Probably half that price for OE, even cheaper for aftermarket.

Here is one for 94$ CAD.

 

I put one of these in my 2009 base Fit, working well so far except it doesn't have the attachment for the manual locking cable. I left the lock in the door to cover the hole and just rely on the remote or internal arm rest switch. Not bad for $25, at least so far.
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If indeed it is the actuator, I found the video helpful for replacing it:
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Another option: