2005 ssm tc.
here's what i did.

1. unlocked both doors by using the key to unlock the passenger door.
2. put something inside the car
3. locked both doors with the power door lock switch on the passenger door.
4. decided to leave passenger door unlocked, so manually unlocked passenger door at the handle.
5. closed passenger door
6. ~30 minutes passes (was polishing other car)
7. went back to retrieve item put in in step #2 (opened passenger door)
8. horn and lights started blaring
9. put key into ignition and turned to 'ON' position
10. alarm ceased sounding.

is this how the security system is supposed to act? i'm guessing i confused it by power locking the car, then manually unlocking the passenger door. but shouldn't it know that?!?

 

That sounds like normal behavior. The reason is that the alarm system doesn't know the difference from you manually unlocking the door from the inside and someone popping the lock from the outside, so it just assumes that if a door is opened and a key wasn't used (or remote entry used) that its someone breaking in and sounds the alarm.

 

thanks. yeah, that makes sense. one has to wonder, though...if i used the passenger key it would know, so the inside manual lock is therefore not mechanically connected to the outside key? or maybe it is because unlocking the passenger door from the outside also unlocks the driver's door? might have to figure this out if i have enough idle time...sigh.

it was rather...alarming, at least i know what it sounds like now. ;P