Is there a factory alarm on the 96 Sebring? This morning when I was getting the paper I noticed a blinking red light on the dash in the car. Any way of testing?

 

Blinking red light = alarm, yes.

Try this: Leave a window open, close the car and lock with the remote. Observe the blinking light. After it changes from a fast rate to a slow rate, reach inside and open the door. That should set off the alarm.

You should be able to turn off the honking with the remote. If you don't want to set the alarm when you lock the car, lock it with the mechanical buttons on the window ledge, not the electric buttons.