D8 Alarm/Central Locking/Plip Key

[munkymanmatt]

Hey all.
So when I bought my car I didn't realise at the time but it had a few odd electrical problems, the most bizarre of these seems to be related to the alarm.

When I got it, the relay for the alarm (and other things I can't specifically remember right now) was not plugged in to its slot in the engine bay fuse box.
I noticed this the day after I bought it, but never had any issues with alarm as both the plip keys were dead anyway, central locking works fine when you put the key in either door.

I tested out what happens when I plug it in and it is very strange.
I plug it in and normally nothing happens. Then I turn my key 1 step in the ignition and the lights start flashing and a very loud ticking sound comes from the relay in time with the lights flashing. I can take the key out of the ignition and this carries on for various amounts of time, sometimes it stops after a few seconds, sometimes minutes. It's like the alarm is going off but maybe the siren has been disconnected. If I go near the ignition again I get the same thing.

What I'm wondering is whether this would effect the operation of a plip key if I were to get one repaired. The light next to the handbrake flashes like it should, so I think a plip key would work, but I'm not sure and need some guidance! Does the alarm relay need to be connected for a plip key to work?