Bound to happen - 1st 'fault' with the Xsara!!

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adrianeaton
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Bound to happen - 1st 'fault' with the Xsara!!

Post by adrianeaton »

Hi folks
Been kept quiet on the new toy for all of 6 days and it's already got me thinking of ripping bits out of it!! I've ready others posting about bizarre alarm activity from Xantia's but not seen anything on Xsara's - but I think ours is a little too 'sensitive' - like a mouse farting would probably set it off!!
We parked it on Sunday in a covered car park and it'd gone off while we were away (alarm light kept flashing when I unlocked it). Last night it decided to start going off at 10pm when parked right outside our ground floor neighbours window! I switched it off and just locked it with the key to stop it happening again. Only thing I can think of is that one of our neighbours had just parked up and that set it off - I'm 99% sure he won't have actually hit it - unlike most round our way he can actually park....
Anyone come across this on other Citroens who can point me in the right direction - and is the sensitivity adjustable? My other thought was to try it with the internal sensors deactivated and see if it goes off again. Bit of a pain to have to hit the button every time you get out of the car, and not that clever if it's knackered after 3 years!!
Thoughts please!
Adrian
Jon

Post by Jon »

ah, another little gem then!
This topic sort of covered a similar subject, its to do with either over sensitive sensors, wind blowing throgh the dash vents, or faulty door sensors, I believe.
http://www.andyspares.org/discussionfor ... PIC_ID=863
Jon Wood
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GSF t/as Andyspares
adrianeaton
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Post by adrianeaton »

Hi Jon
Thanks for that - I figured it was something like that. My BX 16V suffered from this until I realised that leaving the corner vents open would blow a strong gust of wind up at the sensors and set it off. From experience I already do this on the Xsara so it's not that.
Only 3 doors to worry about so shouldn't be as difficult to track down faulty door sensors. My favourite option is the internal sensors still - I guess deactivating them every time the car is parked will at least demonstrate if that's the case. Not clear to me if their sensitivity can be adjusted electronically? I guess if I can determine which one is faulty (but how?) I can get it replaced at its last main dealer service in January. Is there any testing gear at main dealers for alarm systems do you know?
Cheers
Adrian
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Post by alan s »

Adrian,
A bit off topic I suppose but worthy of note for some I'm sure.
When one of my sons got my CX he fitted an expensive ICE to it and decided he really should protect it with an equally expensive alarm system.
This thing had so many bells & whistles that it even chirped if you came too close, it had the lot INCLUDING motion sensors.
First night, locked inside our garage and all hell breaks loose; lights, alarms, horns the works. We race over expecting to find some of the unwashed breaking into it only to find an empty garage. Reset the alarm & went to bed. Next night; repeat performance. To make a long story short, this particular CX had the habit of staying up on the suspension for quite some time & then dopping like a stone.
Remember I said "motion sensors"?
The moral of the story is, with a hydraulic Citroen either keep your hydraulics 100% all the time or don't fit motion sensors; they are totally unsuitable. Eventually he took them out after a few more embarrassing situations whilst out at nightclubs & movies.
"Would the owner of the Silver Citroen sedan please return to your vehicle as the burgler alarm has been activated!!!!" Oh dear!!!<img src=icon_smile_angry.gif border=0 align=middle>
<img src=icon_smile_angry.gif border=0 align=middle>
Alan S
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Post by adrianeaton »

Hi Alan
I can see how that could happen on the hydro Cit's - my BX only suffered from false alarms from wind entering through the vents and setting off the internal sensors.
I don't know what it is about alarms and garages - my parents have a Saab 900 Turbo convertible which lives in the garage. It has a very expensive Cat 1 Meta alarm with microwave internal sensors so you can leave the hood down and the car is still protected. It would go off every night so they now just lock it with the key since the immobiliser will still be active (passive arming!). I do the same with my BX when it's in the garage just to stop the battery going flat since I don't use it more than every 3-4 weeks. With the Saab I suspect the proximity of the central heating boiler in the garage might be providing a source of dirty EMC emmisions.
As for the Xsara - no hydraulics to worry about so the internal sensors are still my favourite culprit. Still bl**dy annoying when you've just spent a lot of cash on a new(ish) car!
Adrian
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Post by JohnD »

Hi Adrian - My Xantia estate suffered from this problem by sounding off with the alarm during the night when I first got it new. I rang the dealer and talked about it. Their first suggestion was that I should close the vents at night, which I did, but it didn't cure it. It went back to the workshop several times with no improvement. Finally, the rear door lock was changed and it's been fine ever since.
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Post by adrianeaton »

Hi folks
Thought it was about time for an update on our poxy alarm!
We've had the car for nearly 2 weeks now - and have been trying various options to find out why it goes off.
The most recent occasion was Wednesday early am - 5am to be precise! The alarm started going off and the Mrs hadn't disabled the ultrasonic sensors so I trudged out and turned it off and just locked it on the keys.
I was working from home in the morning and the Mrs wasn't working so when I popped out in the car I armed the alarm with the ultrasonics knocked out - and it went off an hour later! I went out and took the disklok off it and locked it again, this time with the ultrasonics on and when I'd gone off to my meeting in the afternoon it went off again.
Wierd thing is this hasn't happened when it's parked at Jane's work, despite having lorries driving past it all day. It's not just gone off outside our house though, which rules out funny EMC effects.
I can't get it to go off by fiddling with the doors when its locked - any ideas how to track this down further now the ultrasonics have been excluded would be gratefully received!!
I did open the boot a couple of times on Weds so I wander if it's that?
Cheers all
Adrian
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Post by wheeler »

check the bonnet sensor switch hasent come off the bonnet catch or it isnt stuck
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Post by adrianeaton »

RESULT <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>
Quick update on the alarm - which for the past 2 nights has behaved itself! We booked the car in to Lovekyn's in Kingston on Monday for a diagnostic check which revealed faulty ultrasonics and a blown diode - no idea how they're connected but I'd guess they are.
They didn't have the bits in stock so left the car there till Tuesday. Apparently Xantia ultrasonics are kept to hand they get through so many!
Total cost for the repair was about £85 - we only got charged for labour, the bits were 'free' after we were quoted £95+VAT just for parts, and no charge for the diagnostic check. Our warrenty from the dealer (non-Citroen) will cover the rest. I know Citroen now offer 3 year warranties on all models but ours isn't covered as far as I know - anyone else had similar experience with repairs on sub 3 year old cars?
Oh, and thanks to the blown diode the ultrasonics weren't disabled even when the button was pressed - hence my confusion over what else it could be....
Adrian
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Post by chalkster »

I have a Xsara VTS and the other day the alarm started to play up, using the remote to lock the car would send the dashboard light flashing frantic ! Followed by the alarm going off from anywhere between 5 and 30 mins later, anyone have any ideas ?
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