Alarm Issues

[Auntie]

Hi everyone

Am hoping like mad that someone can help out with this one before the Bloke inflicts some serious damage on the new van, like maybe a hammer through the window.

It's a LWB 2L TDCi 350, 54 reg and the problem is that the alarm keeps going off apparently for no reason. It's a Ford alarm, and all was fine until last night when it decided to go off. It seems to do it at roughly 1/2 hour intervals and it doesn't seem to matter whether the van is locked via the remote or with the key in the door.

The only way to get some shut eye last night was to leave the van unlocked which very obviously is not an ideal solution. Even so, there were some funny 'blipping' sounds being emitted this morning.

Bloke in desperation has disconnected some wires from the horns he eventually found on either side of the van.

Questions:

a. Does anyone know what is wrong with it/what we are doing wrong?
b. If not, are there any other horns that we should find for a quiet life and an interim measure?

Ta muchly!!

[crazyscoot]

It could be any number of things unfortunately. Check all the door switches for loose/corroded connections. Check that the sliding door is making good contact when closed. Does it have any ultrasonic sensors in the front cabin? Is it doing it when it windy? Wind could be buffeting the van about and causing the contacts to 'open' or drafts getting into the cabin and setting the ultrasonics off. Or it could just be simply a faulty alarm module. Another thing to try is disconnecting your battery for 30 seconds then reconnecting it, this can shift any 'bugs' that may have gotten into the alarm electronics......bit like when your computer crashes and you switch it off then back on and all is ok again.

DONT FORGET your radio will need a code to get it to work after disconnecting the battery

[MrMPuk]

Try closing the cabin vents if it has internal sensors.

[Auntie's Bloke]

Thanks crazyscoot, I'll have a go with those. Sometimes it goes off two or three times an hour, sometimes once in three or four hours Don't think it has ultrasonic sensors, but a shower of rain set if off a while back. It went off last night while I was watching it - no particuler reason, a little light breeze maybe. I think the door contacts are OK as the lights go out (does it work off of those?) but seems the most likely thing, I'll go check those out now. Cheers mate

[Auntie]

Cheers for the tips, they're a good starting point. I don't think (and Bloke will correct me if I'm wrong) that there are any internal sensors...? However, the alarm did keep going off when it was windy last night. But then, it went off about an hour ago when it rained too - surely it's not that sensitive?

Disconnecting the battery might be a good one, but we weren't given a radio code Sounds like we might be on the blower to the dealer tomorrow.

[Auntie]

Sorry 'bout that, I should've refreshed the page before replying... Didn't mean to repeat everything!

[crazyscoot]

I think most factory fitted alarms just use the door contacts. After market ones usually have ultrasonics/shock sensors or microwave sensors. I would hazzard a guess that its going to be either the sliding door connection isnt a good one or it has a 'bug in the program' Does it have a bonnet switch? bonnet switches are prone to corrosion or misalignment. Make sure that all the door/bonnet switches are earthed well!

[Auntie]

Thanks MrMPuk, the vents are now closed and after a good look round Bloke can't find any internal sensors.

Crazyscoot; I've just relayed the message to Bloke to check the bonnet switch and the proverbial light bulb just came on as the bonnet was opened yesterday and closed rather gently. Perhaps a good slam is in order? I'll keep you posted

[Nighthawk]

Standard alarm doesn't have interior sensing, it's perimiter only.

Is the bonnet stiff to open?

I've seen a fair few of them with tight bonnet hinges which have deformed slightly causing a poor contact on the bonnet switch.

Try putting the alarm in selftest mode open the bonnet.
press the bonnet switch about 6 or 8 times in rapid succession

you'll hear the alarm sounders "beep"

now open each door in turn etc and if the operation is Ok you'll hear another "beep" to confirm

it's usually the bonnet though tbh

[Auntie's Bloke]

Thanks Nighthawk, yes the bonnet is stiff but I can't find any switches on it - gave it a good slam tho' to be sure.

[Nighthawk]

the switch is quite difficult to spot m8.

it looks like a copper coloured strip, it is pressed by the passenger side bonnet hinge, so look round that area of the engine bay.

i would have a look at it and apply some packing on the hinge to see if the problem is relived, if so.....you'll have to either leave the packing in place, or change the hinge.

[Rolo]

Once you have tried everything else try this if your alarm is the voltage or current sensing type.

Locate and remove the fuse that feeds all the courtesy lights (make sure it doesn't feed anything else if you intend to drive the vehicle) and once you have determined for certain that doing that fixed the false alarming check for corrosion and weak contacts on all the globe connectors before reconnecting that fuse.

Although the courtesy lights may not necessarily come on on their own unless the doors are open if you have that problem it's possible that a false connection like that sends an intermittent signal to the alarm module through the unpowered light globe/s which is interpreted as a door being opened.

Alarms don't always need the courtesy lights to be even there to operate but if they are they are everything needs to be in good condition.

If this alarm has a shock sensor (try whacking the vehicle to find out if it has) adjust the sensitive to minimum.

[Auntie]

Thanks guys for all your help. After following your advice we haven't heard the alarm go off since which is pretty good news. Just to be sure though, Bloke has asked the garage to look at it next month while the van is having its 30k service.

Loadsa thanks again!

[Nighthawk]

Good news

with luck it'll be ok now.

[Rolo]

Thanks guys for all your help. After following your advice we haven't heard the alarm go off since

What advice?

If you are a bit more specific that feedback could help the next person with a similar problem in the same type of vehicle because then we'll be able to tell that next person that Auntie had that problem and he did this or that to fix it.