405 plip key help?

[carlo14]

Afternoon all.

Could anyone enlighten me as to how my 405 plip key operates?

I have a 1995 405 Executive saloon with just the one plip key, and a keypad immobiliser. If I use the plip key remotely to lock the car, and then open it with the key manually, the dashboard light flashes red and the headlights flash and continue to do so even after starting the engine. This despite me having turned off the alarm off under the bonnet. Seeing as the car is immobilised with an operating keypad, and I've turned the alarm off, what is using the remote actually doing to the car then?

Trouble is I've ordered a spare key (without a plip) which I want to be able to use as a backup, but if I've already locked the car remotely it looks like I have to use the plip again to stop this flashing going on?? Have even gone to the expense of having an 'immobiliser chip' installed in the key (which I'm sure I didn't need) as the locksmith said the car wouldn't start without it.

[spider]

There's a few things here.

1. You have either a transponder in the key or a keypad, not both. You have a keypad and do not need a key chip. You may have one in the copied key due to that key type being shared with some 306's and 106's. Nothing to worry about.

2. The dash light flashing indicates the alarm is armed. Using the key to unlock if you used the plip to lock will cause this. The headlights flashing indicates this too, they sometimes have a siren but that can be disabled (yours has otherwise it would be going off with the headlights!)

3. Regarding the keypad etc again, its possible on some to program it so when you use the plip to unlock the keypad goes green straight away this only lasts around 30 seconds so its quite safe and saves time with not having to enter the code.

4. The remote's / receiver are matched, to get another plip you need to take the roof console / interior light out and get the number off the chip (usually a sticker) and order a remote with this code, they are no re-programmable (same as early 106's) to other codes, they come coded.

5. Either lock the car with the key or lock / unlock with the plip, using a combination will set it off , if it does go off: Sit in the car, shut the door (important) turn the ignition to position 2 and press / hold the ((( button on the column (near the ignition lock or sometimes on the dash) this should cause it to flash a couple of times then go off. This is the method for disarming it if its got a problem. Note you need to be very quick when you unlock the car to do all this.

Say if you need clarification please.

[carlo14]

Many thanks Andy, I appreciate your time.

I'll make a note of your last point, but it would appear from your answer that I haven't disabled my alarm even though I thought I had. Perhaps I'll switch the button the other way under the bonnet.

Basically what I want to do is to be able to lock the car with the remote plip and be able to unlock it manually without any problems, I don't need the alarm anyway.

[carlo14]

Just re-read your reply; does the key switch under the bonnet just de-activate the siren or turn off the complete alarm/flashing lights etc?

Perhaps you can't turn the alarm off?!

[spider]

You're welcome.

The keyswitch under the bonnet is for the siren only (at least it is on the 106 and 306 so I guess the same) nothing more, the lights etc are still active.

You cannot really lock with plip and unlock with key, unless you have the system disabled. I know how to do this on a 306 but its slightly different on a 405 and I'm not sure where the component locations are. It requires removal of *something* and two or four wires joining. I used to do loads of 306's...