lazy hazy hot and humid

At what point did it go off? If it was when you pulled on the handle, that means that the alarm was working properly. If it was before then, that means that the glass sensor was working properly.

It saw your reflection in the glass. :-)

I was standing outside the car, reached inside and opened the door by the handle. How did the security system know the door was being opened by someone outside the car and not while inside?

mark_

No way! The car faces the street. There's nothing out there but a wood retaining wall.

Once the security system is activated, it will set off the alarm any time someone tries to open unlock the car without using the remote or the mechanical key.

Sit in the car, and lock it with the key fob; then try to open it without using the fob.

OK I will get back to you later on this because right now it's pitch black outside and I don't want to stir up the frogs. Their croaking will wake up the dead.

mark_

Check your Owner's Manual. You just completed the procedure for testing that your alarm system works. (Open a window. turn off car, close all doors, lock all doors. then reach in through open window and open door from the inside - alarm will sound.) The alarm will go off if a door or the hood is opened, without using the keyfob or mechanical key to open it.

I think most alarm systems do that. I know I've had my share of noisy surprises!

Mike

Mike, you really need to find some other way to support your habit. :-)

I locked the doors with the fob while I sat inside. Opened the door and the alarm didn't sound. I tried it again but this time I raised myself off a bit from the seat and the alarm still didn't sound. So, for the third time, how does the security system know if the inside handle of the door is being opened by someone in the car or standing outside the car?? Is there pressure sensors near the gas peddle or brake? Can it smell an occupant? ;) mark_

No: it knows how many times the doors have been opened. Toyota knows that lots of people lock the doors while driving. It would be silly to design the alarm to sound the first time the doors are opened after they were locked.

Roll down a window, then shut off the car and get out and lock it the usual way. Then reach in through the window and open the door.

Damn! Now why didn't I think of that?? Wait a minute. I did that already. So, what you're saying is the first time in counts as one and then open the door and lock it counts as two. So the alarm will sound off on the even number?

I smell fish. What if two people enter the rear seating with one door operation but leave separately with two operations of the same door?

You know what? I don't think I'm going to get an answer to my question.

What was the flashing pattern of the alarm indicator light doing? It takes some 30-45 seconds after locking the doors for the alarm to arm, and the red LED to change pattern. (Pattern is listed in the owner's manual.) Did you wait long enough for the alarm to arm, before trying to open the door?

Well, huh: mine isn't working as advertised either. Off to the dealer for diagnosis.

there was no weight on the seat of the door that was opened so the car knew it was being robbed

Are their pressure sensors in the back seat too?