Stock Alarm Playing Up

[Commsman]

My wing mirror button looks half arsed anyway, looks pretty agricultural, just a push button with a cheap sticker on it.

Easy to fix - just get an expensive looking sticker for it . Or you could replace it entirely with a more expensive push button. I must admit, it doesn't look to be the right quality compared to the rest of the interior.

[bigkevracer]

I figured it must have been an after market mod, but doesn't bother me too much. I mean, who spends that much time looking that far down their dash?!

As for alarm, got a few options, thanks for all the feedback. See if I can get something rigged up temporarily.

[Chris Rogers]

Hey Chris, my point was that I have heard your views (on the alarms etc that come installed on our cars) a few times before & I knew you would be of the opinion to rip it out. To be honest, if mine started playing up & I couldn't easily fix it, I'd replace it as well. But I would have a go first - that's just me .

this is why I remove them :

given most of these cars are 8-10 yrs old now those things work loose and create a LOT of headaches. of the units I have pulled out there was no adjustment on them and on at least two of hte variants I have pulled out one of them cuts the CAN lines with scotch locks!!

take that how you will but given the amount of crap I see on a daily basis the last thing I want is scotch locks (the blue things in that imgae for those of you not paying attention) cutting the main comms network in my car.

the image in question was a V35.

[Daleo]

Freakin' scotch locks!

That's the problem with the "Factory" alarm being a "Dealer Fit" option. Some dealers might have a contientious installer, but I'd wager most don't...

[Sage222]

ive got the same one.. far too sensitive.. ended up just putting some black electrical tape over the sensors.. worked a treat.

[bigkevracer]

I'm just going to tear it out, Brad and I will clean it up and fit a new one, couple of different options for replacements.

[Sage222]

i thought about it.. tho alarms can be tricky.. didnt want to risk f**king up the remote central locking as well as i like having the buttons on the key.

[bigkevracer]

I'm going to investigate a Mongoose MAP80G, which is supposed to be a 'factory alarm upgrade'. Fingers crossed I can get it working through the factory key, like it's supposed to. See how we go.

[impul535w]

I'm going to investigate a Mongoose MAP80G, which is supposed to be a 'factory alarm upgrade'. Fingers crossed I can get it working through the factory key, like it's supposed to. See how we go.

The problem i found when trying to find a 'Factory Upgrade' alarm was that you get an alarm but no immobilization. If you want an alarm with an immobilizer you will have to go full after market and loose the functionality of the buttons on the standard key.

[bigkevracer]

Weird, isn't it?

MAP80G has 2 point immobilisation, M80G has 3. I don't get it.

Still Aus standard though. If I can keep the original buttons I will.

[impul535w]

Weird, isn't it?

MAP80G has 2 point immobilisation, M80G has 3. I don't get it.

Still Aus standard though. If I can keep the original buttons I will.

You going to install it your self? Its probably the only thing I have never done my self, will more than likely get GT Autosound to do the install.

[bigkevracer]

I'm looking at getting Brad (ducati02) to do it. Did a great job on everything else wiring related, I can trust him to do a decent job.

If he decides he doesn't want to do it, I'll probably get GT Autosound to do it. They're second on the list, heard some great reports.

[Chris Rogers]

Weird, isn't it?

MAP80G has 2 point immobilisation, M80G has 3. I don't get it.

Still Aus standard though. If I can keep the original buttons I will.

why bother?? if you have ONE working key you are really screwing yourself. when that key fails how are you going to start the car?

if its done correctly with a proper standalone alarm you CAN still use both. the keyless side of things will still work BUT the alarm remote will also control the locks.

think about it before you waste the money.

I had a kid ages ago drop one of htese on to a R34 onlu to get it pulled when the keys failed. he HAD a decent alarm on it originally but hated fobs. that is what got him in to trouble.

stock key failed car no go , installer gets a phone call..

[bigkevracer]

Hmm good point, didn't think of that. Guess the size of the alarm remote isn't really an issue. Thanks Chris.

[Chris Rogers]

common mistake

think laterally when you do things - it will save headaches later.

[bigkevracer]

Ok so I got back from Melbourne, and after a week with the car battery disconnected, it seemed fine when I reconnected the battery, parked it out the front, and left it there for 2.5 hours.

Then I went for a drive, around 20 minutes, parked for half an hour or so, then drove back, another 20 minutes or so.

Parked it in my drive way, was fine for another hour or so, then it went off.

So I disarmed it (although the buttons on the remote seemed to have bugger all effect, i.e. pushing unlock didn't stop it from going off), then rearmed it. It went off again.

So I disarmed/unlocked it, and left it. Within 5 minutes it went off again. Despite being unlocked/disarmed.

In the end the only way to get it to stop going off permanently was to disconnect the battery. Even then it gave a pathetic chirp once, which could have been death throws as the capacitors drained.

So if its going off regardless of whether it's armed or disarmed, is there any fix besides battery disconnect?

Leon: I haven't tested the battery yet, but I will on the weekend. I find it hard to believe it could be the battery if there are no other issues though. Cranks and fires fine, no obvious issues whatsoever. Will test regardless though.

[Chris Rogers]

rip it out..... it is a LOT easier than wasting time on it.

[lilcrash]

Ive got a m20 mongoose in mine, it's just an immibiliser with a vercinity sensor fob that disarms when my keys go near the ignition. It works really well except my spare fob wasn't programed so it doesn't work . Just an option if you want to keep your stock buttons.

Edited June 23, 2011 by lilcrash

[bigkevracer]

I know, I know. I've booked it in to be removed and replaced with Auto Perfection, a SAUSA sponsor. Sounds like they've got a decent rep in the SA section, should be fine.

I called another recommended place, and they wanted to leave the stock alarm in and fix it before installing an aftermarket system, and as a result couldn't give me a firm price. Didn't like the sound of that.

The only problem is the earliest I could get in was next weekend, so that still leaves me looking for a temporary solution.

What issues would I cause disconnecting the siren? Be a hell of a lot easier than dealing with disconnecting the battery constantly... Another suggestion I got was change the horn fuse, since that was where it was suggested it drew its power from.

Any thoughts would be great, so I can stop locking it with the bonnet open, then disconnecting the battery...

[Chris Rogers]

siren is behind the glovebox. pull that out and it will be on a 10mm bolt. unplug and remove then smash with a hammer for best effect.