I also have a '96M and had exactly the same problem - replaced the
battery after winter & fried the remote/alarm. Even the Mazda rep I
spoke with said the security system is quite fragile (electrically).
I had the dealership replace the system (~$250) but they were close to
useless setting the sensitivity of the impact monitor or even just
connecting the sensors properly. My impression is that the '96
security system was just a badly engineered thing. If you really want
to keep the remote/security I would recommend a 3rd party system.
Just my 2c.
Pete

On Wed, 30 Nov 2005 22:56:41 -0500, Keith Monteith
> wrote:

>My '96 M's OEM alarm is now inop (no keyless entry, alarm, headlights) with
>a rapidly flashing LED on the steering column switchbox. I've read on other
>sites that this is probably due to frying the control box when I installed a
>new battery, but none of them tell me where to find the controller. Has
>anyone on the list has this problem, and what did you do to fix it?
>
>Keith Monteith
>'96 Mica M Ed