i looked at the black box mounted to the car (#1) with a dental mirrow and saw only wiring schematic or something on top. no Hofco markings that i can see. the front panel of the box has a bix "X" shape embossed on it.

i was messing with the remote and it beeped a few times. just kept turing it on 3 times and then finally it beeped and disarmed it...so, im ok for now i hope. i definately damaged the remote though, since it is not working normally at all now. at least i got shut off.

if that black box is the brain, and if i can just pull that white plug out of the bottem and disable the entire system without causing any other starting or running problems, then i will just leave it like that for ever.

thanks for the help guys.

hmmm...i dont see anything like that steve. i will look more. wonder what the black thing is in my car

thanks for your time. maybe my blue box is the brain? ill go out and look again now.

I pulled out the boxes, blue and white one. the blue one, after i lifted off some tape, says HOFCO II on it. so i presume its the brain. the white wire on one end, looks like an antenna..it just hangs off and doesnt connect anywhere outside of the box. the other wires seemed to be harnessed and i think i can pull em out. there are a lot of wires. not sure where they go

is it usually a problem to just pull out the wires? so long as the alarm was unarmed when doing so, i assume that any thing that the alarm did, it will no long do.... disable fuel pump, siren etc...?

thanks

opps, pic below of HOFCO II
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1187234073.jpg

It looks like you have a Hofco 2 instead of our Hofco 3. Thats probably why it is blue. I unplugged my control unit and have been driving without it for months without any difficulty.

i took the box apart. it does NOT look like the wires will just unplug unless i take each wire out, or cut em. not sure what to do at this stage
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1187234817.jpg

That translucent plug should slide off the board connector. That 5 digit code on that masking tape on the box is your alarm code you'll need to have a new remote programmed. Uhhh .... what was your address again?

ok. thanks Steve. tomorrow ill try to gently slide it off by using a knife to get some leverage and i assume i can just forget about the alarm problems for a while?

i feel better now. i cant sleep

Don't use anything metallic. If you short out the connector pins, you might destroy the brain.

Is the red wire the power lead? If so, you might consider disconnecting (or cutting) that lead before you attempt to unplug the rest of the harness.

i dont know. why would i need to cut it if i am disconnecting it anyway? isnt that the same thing?
If you are warning me about something that might happen, please fill me in. im not good with electrical stuff. Thanks

i tried to call Hofco and nobody answers. by now its 10:30 in LA and I assume they would be open. maybe they have gone out of business.

If there's any possibility you will be re-using the alarm once you get the remote situation sorted out, then there's no sense risking damaging the brain by disconnecting it while it has power. If you disconnect or cut the power lead, there's less risk of damaging the brain. Of course, if you're cutting it be careful not to allow the hot lead to touch metal, or for that matter be careful that your cutters are not touching metal at the time you cut the wire.

There is an inline fuse for the control box located near the main fuse panel. Pull the fuse and it will disable the alarm.

Excellent advice.

Sorry to be jumping in late but I missed the start of this post. I have installed HOFCO for over 20 years and wish I had been able to chime in before someone told you to use the hole in the corner of the circut board to pry up on. Fatal move. You can trace the circuit board wiring and make a jumper from one solder point to another thus bridging the broken solder trace. Hofco is currently not answering their phone which means they are out of business or forgot to pay the bill? I am out of parts, waiting for my repairs for too many months so I am currently on no help in repairing Hofco transmitters. The blue or black brains can be safely unplugged without cutting any wires. Just grab the connector by the edges and wiggle it out. Cutting or pulling wires will result in possible shorts. Good advise to look for the in line fuse that powers the system, check to see if you have the original instructions which should tell you where the fuse is and what it looks like. It was part of the system just for such emergencies like this. Pull the fuse, alarm is disabled. Loose white wire is the antenna, keep it away from metal. FYI, batteries should last 4-7+ years. You know when you need batteries because you find yourself having to get closer and closer. If it dies all of a sudden, it is something else like moisture or breakage from dropping. Coding is done only with a special jig, can't be done any other way. All current Hofco owners, please disconnect the fuse before jump starting your car. The surge will erase your code and render your alarm useless. Besides Culver City, I don't know of anyone else currently working on these units. Not too many got outside of CA. Hope some of this helps. I will try to post some sort of notice when I get parts back in stock for regular repair service.
Regards,
Charles

charles thank you. i did crack the circuit board near the hole BUT, with some luck was able to disable my alarm by pushing down on the circuit board in different spots while pressing the off button. the remote is still broken even though i got it to work once

A few tries and it beeped and was turned off...so i have just left it off. i have not totally disconnected the brains yet because i assume that the alarm will not activate itself. this winter i will disconnect the brains and attempt to remove all the wiring from the car. im not going to try to repair it. i dont like the idea of 25 year old add-on electronics in my car at all...although i was surprised how nice the condition of the brains was when i opened the box up. still, i will pull it all out. hopefully it is not hooked up to the fuel pump or ignition or anything complicated. i am no good with electronics

i do not have the instructions. i assume the PO, who purchased my car in Pasadena, had HOFCO put the alarm in shortly after...probably in 1984. the car then came to the east coast where it has been ever since