Alarm/power lock/windows problem..PLEASE HELP!!!

[SEinOttawa]

I have a 1997 Nissan Maxima SE, 5 speed. For the past 2 years, I've been having problems that my mechanic can't seem to resolve. Here it is:The problem started one day when I tried to unlock my doors with the key fob. Didn't work, so I used the key. When I opened the door, the alarm started to go off, and the car wouldn't start. The only way to stop it was to take out the horn fuse under the hood. After much fiddling around, removing/replacing fuses and relays, it finally started.Sometimes slamming the door out of frustration did the trick!Sometimes it wouldn't start at all so I just push-started it. This kept happening and I finally brought it to my mechanic. He checked everything and finally told me it was a missing fuse and charged me over $300 for the time it took him to find it!! I asked him if he could just disconnect the factory alarm, but he said it wasn't an easy task. A couple of days later...happened again. I finally decided to keep my doors always unlocked so I wouldn't have to take the chance of it happening again. It's been about 8-9 months now and the problem hasn't reoccured..until today! I manually locked all my doors, unlocked the driver door with the key..and the alarm went off. I removed the horn fuse to stop the beeping and now I can't restart the car. I've tried jiggling and removing/reseating both "alarm/clutch inhibit" relays under the hood, no luck. Please help! Another few things I should mention; 1- once in a while all the doors lock by themselves while I'm driving. 2- Sometimes (only SOMETIMES) the electric locks will work from the inside door switch. 3- The electric windows do the same, sometimes they'll work, sometimes not. (Usually NOT) 4- The key fob never works. Any help would be VERY useful!

Update: I got a used Body Control Module at a scrapyard. I was told that was my problem. Replaced it..still nothing!! I checked at the Nissan dealer that nothing needed reprogramming after the swap. And now I'm stuck with a used BCM, scrapyard won't give me a refund or credit

Does anybody know what it could be???

Thanks,Geoff

[NewfoundlandDude]

I don't know if this is a related problem or not, but my "Smart Entrance Control" located under the steering column in my 01 Maxima SE had a piece burn out on it. Now my trunk and my alarm will not work with the keypad, or the button on the door. I was told that this module also controls the power windows and the locks. The guy said that if I don't replace the module (At $600) I might have some crazy problems in the future. I've only had the car for about a month, and don't know much about it, so I wouldn't take anything that I say here as being set in stone. But if you want to get that looked at, it might be of some help - as a shot in the dark I guess.

[MinisterofDOOM]

It sounds like a problem with the door itself to me. Factory alarms can do some very bizarre things that can be pretty hard to diagnose, but a couple points stand out for me: slamming the door helps, and the problem happens when unlocking with the key in the door (not with the remote).

Also, do your dome light and other "door ajar" lights all work properly?Do your power locks work correctly (aside from the remote not working?)Do you still have the problem if you unlock the passenger side door instead of the driver side before opening any doors?

It sounds like the car isn't "sensing" that the car has been unlocked with the correct key before the door opens, so it sets off the alarm. I'd imagine it's connected with the module NewfoundlandDude mentioned or some electronics in the driver door itself.