disabling alarm 2006 NC 1.8

Technical Area Electrics & ICE
2

Having bought my 2006 NC 4 weeks ago, I soon found that the battery needed replacing. Having fitted a new battery, I found that the security indicator light started flashing when I locked the car, presumably the old battery didn’t have enough Oomph to arm the system. Now I cant seem to lock the car without the system arming, even if I just use the door key. The fob I have has 3 buttons. two for lock/unlock and one for the boot.

Strangely, the light starts flashing when I switch the engine off, before I’ve even exited or locked the car.

Any ideas folks? The car will only be used occasionally and I don’t want to end up with a flat new battery. .

3

Sounds like perfectly normal operation to me. The light is an indication to a potential thief that the car is immobilised, not just alarmed hence it flashes once the engine is turned off.

4

Good answer Robbie, in my opinion one of the weakest points on the Mk3 is the volume of the alarm system, it’s a good job the indicators flash in addition to the hamster squeaking.

5

Thanks Guys. I agree with you but would still like to know if I can turn it off while the car is in secure storage. Or is the power consumption so low that I shouldn’t be worrying about it?

6

Locking with the key won’t set the alarm I don’t think. The security light’s power consumption is negligible but over extended storage the battery will go flat.

7

If you turn off the interior sensor, that should minimise any power draw , it’s the other button on the remote iirc it needs to be pressed within 30 secs of alarm activation. No car battery likes being left to drain as it shortens it’s lifespan, a trickle charger ie ctek  is quite safe to leave once your happy full charge has been achieved.

8

Thanks again Guys. Looks like The CTEK is the answer. I’ll have to get some power in the barn :-(. I haven’t got a button on my remote that disables the sensor, and cant find anything in the car.

9

If it’s a UK spec car you should have a lock, unlock, boot release and one other button. The other button is the interior protection cancel button. If your transmitter has only 3 buttons it may not have an alarm.

10

Thanks Robbie. It’s a German import. I’ve found that if I lock it with the fob the indicators flash, but not if I lock it with the key. The dash indicator flashes all the time. Thanks for your replies.

11

This is a 4 button key, bottom right key is the sensor cancel.

 

12

Does the light initially flash quickly then settle down to a steady flash?

13

Once I’ve turned the engine off the light flashes every two seconds and continues to do so no matter what I do, eg locking/unlocking. It never changes its rate of flashing.

14

 

Mine’s in the garage unlocked, the light flashes on the dash, the same as yours.

15

Thanks Mick. Do you have any problem with the battery running down?

16

I’ve always thought that particular light was related to the engine immobiliser

17

 

Mine can sit in the garage 7-10 days at a time in winter and it’s been ok, usually get out at least once a week in winter. But I’ve just changed my battery, last week actually as the one fitted was the original (8 yrs old) it was losing charge through old age rather than being drained by the cars electrics. There will be a small drain on it I guess, so I have a trickle charger if I know it’s going to be stood longer than a week without use.

If you are not using the car much in winter get the battery checked out, if it holds a charge ok get a trickle charger hooked up to it to keep it good.

18

 

Yeah I would have thought that would be too.

 

19

On cars with an anti theft alarm, it flashes quickly initially after arming the alarm during the alarm’s setup period.

I suspect that the OP’s car does not have an anti-theft alarm.

20

Thanks again guys. So it seems that my system is probably operating correctly but I need to check out whether I have an alarm fitted. I might leave it for a couple if weeks to see if the light flashing has much effect on the battery. If so it’s a 60 metre cable run so that I can get the trickle charger to it.