Alarm!

[stevestix8]

Hi All,

Been a while since I posted. Alls been good with my Xantia Sx Hdi. Is due its insurance end of month, best quote so far £169.00 for the year. Nice cheap car to insure (with a good driving history).

A problem though that someone might have an idea about. In the last couple of days, when the car was locked and I was only a bit away from the car, the alarm goes off. Lasts for about a minute, goes off by the time i got back to the car. I could see no sign of anyone near the car or any reason why the alarm had sounded. I just unlocked the central locking, on key, then locked it again. Then it seemed fine. Then again tonight, for no apparant reason, the alarm went off again.

Any suggestions on sensor deprevation or something mechanical that could cause this?

I have had the car for a few years now and this is the first time(s) this has happened.

Thanks,

Steve

[Mandrake]

Most likely the ultrasonic transducers that provide the internal volumetric sensing have become intermittent. See the following thread for my successful diagnosis and repair of this problem:

http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... =3&t=41002" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

To summarise though, to confirm it is actually the ultrasonic sensors there are a couple of ways you can check, if you have a Lexia or access to one reading the fault codes from the CPH will tell you exactly which sensor set off the alarm.

If you don't have Lexia access and the problem occurs fairly repeatably, try disabling the ultrasonic sensors every time before you arm the alarm. To do this hold down the alarm button on the dashboard between the steering wheel and the door until the red LED comes on on the door before you get out of the car, this puts the alarm in "pet mode" where it will disable the volumetric protection the next time you arm the alarm, but only that once, so you have to do it every time before you arm the alarm.

If this prevents the alarm going off by itself chances are good its the ultrasonic transducers to blame. If it still goes off it will most likely be one of the door, tailgate or bonnet switches.

[Ben82]

Interesting info Simon, I wonder if the C5 is the same. As mine has started to go off randomly after being left. With the car parked quite far away in a garage, sometimes the only tell for me is that the light is flashing at me after unlocking.

It's not completely consistent yet but has increased in frequency recently from once in a blue moon to at least once a week.

Hopefully the alarm ecu shows what has set it off like the CPH (I've not really delved into it).

[Mandrake]

I'm sure it will Ben, I think its the BSI you check on a C5 ? There should be an option next to reading fault codes to read alarm activations, and clearing fault codes clears the memory of alarm activations. Time to put the Lexia to work

[Ben82]

Now that you mention it Simon, it does sound like something I've seen whilst browsing the BSI, but one of those options I've never really taken in (the BSI does have one of the longer menus so its understandable). Thanks... will check next time I get a chance to take my laptop out to the car

[wheeler]

Hopefully the alarm ecu shows what has set it off like the CPH (I've not really delved into it).

I dont believe the new multiplexed alarms have this memory feature or If it does I've never been able to find it in either the alarms own ECU or the BSI. This is mad as it was a brilliant feature of the CPH alarms & it's a big step backwards if you really can't.

[stevestix8]

Hi,

Nice response Mandrake lol. "Most likely the ultrasonic transducers that provide the internal volumetric sensing have become intermittent."

Will look at this. Has all been quiet today, is still at the 'blue moon' stage if it gets any worse I will fix it.

Many thanks,

Steve

[lankytim]

Who are you insured with? I've been quoted £400 odd for my Hdi with full no claims!

[Rhothgar]

I have this problem with mine. I put it down to spiders in the transducers. The alarm only goes off if they are not in a quiescent period.

I have to switch the internal sensors off.

[Mandrake]

They must be tiny to fit through the gaps in the sensor grills!!

[stevestix8]

Lanky,

Im with Admiral at the moment. Spoke to them today and they re re adjusted their quote, in the end their price for next years insurance was £181.00 with protected no claims. You have to 'tweek' the quote as much as poss. You put your annual milage at 1000 miles and you are a higher risk. You put a sensible number of miles like 4 - 5000 then this makes the poilcy cheaper. Then it is a question of security devices. Mine has a Thatcham device fitted as standard. Where you park the car i.e.secure car park ( a secure car park is an ambiguous term, no car park is completely secure) makes a difference. As does the use (SDP and or commuting?) I have got full no claims (11yrs this year) and I have had my license for 21 years this year, also being a homeowner matters and is a question on these insurance broker browsers.

The trick is to remind them that you have full no claims. Tell them that is 9 years of buying insurance for nothing. Be confident in being a low risk and they do suddenly find a more reasonable quote.

Good luck,

Steve

[lankytim]

Thanks Steve, I'll give them a try and see if I can save some cash. I don't think my Xantia has any sort of alarm fitted however.