Technical Factory fit Alarm problems

[DublinAbarth]

Re: Alarm Failure - Return to Dealer

Oh how I'm beginning to fear that chilling 'BING' sound...

When I lock my Stilo ('03 Abarth with factory alarm), there is a BEEP as the doors lock, then the dreaded second BEEP about three seconds later which I believe indicates a failure in the alarm system.

Then when I next get in and start the engine, I usually (but not always) get the Alarm Failure message (just like how I usually, but not always, get the 'Service Overdue 0 days' message, which I presume means that the service is in fact overdue? it still has more than 15,000km to go, by the way)

Anyway, where do I start with finding fault with the alarm system? I was thinking that if a door or the boot was not properly closed, that would show as warning messages with the ignition on?

Cheers,
-Alex

Hi Alex,

I get the exact same sequence of faults with mine.

I had it in with the Fiat dealer and nothing shows up on the examiner for the alarm faults. This led them to believe that there was an aftermarket alarm in the car, (and there isn't) which is the best answer they could come up with.

I still have the fault. I will have to get an auto electrician to check it out at some stage.:bang:

 

[Rich]

Re: Alarm Failure - Return to Dealer

Afterfit alarms won't have the Anti-Jacking deactivation option on the header console, or the ultrasonic sensors there either!

Alex, this fault is now called "Alarm Unavailable" in new Stilos - my dash used to come up with this as I was messing around with the car . If the dash is not listing a door, the tailgate or the bonnet open (check these manually to make sure the switch is working), then the only two components left are the header console and the alarm itself.

Before doing anything, I would personally reset the Body Computer, by unplugging the grey connector with 2 red cables for 2 mins then plugging back in. If the error message keeps coming on . . .

So what to do? I'd remove the header console, activate the alarm (i.e. lock the car), unlock it, switch ignition on (get error message) then switch off. Refit header console, checking all wiring (both the 4-pin feed and return wire and the internal wiring). This may then force a reset.

Either that, or take the windscreen scuttle plate off (Argonaught can help with this ), check wiring, refit and dry, then refit.

Failing that . . . dealer?

 

[alexGS]

Re: Alarm Failure - Return to Dealer

rroope (Rich) - Thanks for the excellent sequence of things to try!

I haven't tried anything yet as my Stilo is locked away safely for the week, and also I don't want to annoy the neighbours with the alarm sounding

I'm ashamed to admit that I don't know where the 'body computer' is, even after a quick search

It may just be related to the way my 'header console' (rear view mirror console trim?) hangs down a little on the driver's side and simply will not clip into place properly. Maybe the ultrasonics are thus not pointing in the right direction? I shall try deactivating the ultrasonics, but I use the Stilo so infrequently (couple of times a month) that it's really a case of a long-term test to know whether such an intermittent failure has truly gone. Or I could just refit the console with hot glue.

Failing that . . . dealer?

Hahahaha... 280km round trip and a week's wages to possibly cure an intermittent fault (or possibly not)... ummm...

-Alex

 

[Rich]

Re: Alarm Failure - Return to Dealer

Hey Alex

The body computer is located behind the fusebox cover; correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't you RHD in NZ? If you are, it's to the right of where your legs are if you are sat in the car; there is a handle to open the draw. Symmetrical for LHD. You'll then see the wire I'm on about; I might take a photo of it for future reference.

Header console; why is it dropping on one side? It might be causing a loose wire; check all wiring here. Only other non-dealer option would be to replace the header console and alarm module with another from another Stilo; I can hear the words "Yeah Right!" being said here, unless you have a friend with a Stilo fitted with the factory alarm .

 

[alexGS]

Re: Alarm Failure - Return to Dealer

Hey Alex

The body computer is located behind the fusebox cover; correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't you RHD in NZ? If you are, it's to the right of where your legs are if you are sat in the car; there is a handle to open the draw. Symmetrical for LHD. You'll then see the wire I'm on about; I might take a photo of it for future reference.

Cheers for that, yes we are RHD, I think I'll be able to find that. You truly are a mine of information about the Stilo If you ever need to know anything about an Uno, just ask

Header console; why is it dropping on one side? It might be causing a loose wire; check all wiring here.

It just doesn't fit, quite simply. Nothing is broken, but the clips will not clip. The headlining flexes a great deal as well (some days I miss the 'quality' of my Alfa Romeo). No wires appear loose but I was wondering if the ultrasonic sensors have to be specially aligned (i.e. with the console fitted properly, do they bounce sounds around the car from one transducer to the other?)

Only other non-dealer option would be to replace the header console and alarm module with another from another Stilo; I can hear the words "Yeah Right!" being said here, unless you have a friend with a Stilo fitted with the factory alarm

You're right... LOL - good idea, but "from the sublime to the ridiculous"...
A 'friend' with a Stilo - hahahahahaha - then again do you know, I actually saw another Stilo the other week? Quite a high chance of it being an Abarth as well, since there are only two models in NZ - 1.6 5-door and Abarth 3-door or 5-door.

Possible if I drive to the dealer in Auckland, they may have another Stilo around (probably an unsold 2004 model) but I don't expect they'd like me removing pieces off it

Maybe if I keep this car for a long time it will be an extremely rare classic one day. There must only be a hundred or two of the bastards (at most...) and I wonder if there is another one in purplish-black

I suspect there may be more around in a few years time, as they will be imported from Hong Kong and Singapore as used vehicles, since NZers rarely buy new cars. In fact there will probably be more imported than were ever sold new...

-Alex

 

[Argonought]

Re: Alarm Failure - Return to Dealer

It just doesn't fit, quite simply. Nothing is broken, but the clips will not clip. The headlining flexes a great deal as well (some days I miss the 'quality' of my Alfa Romeo). No wires appear loose but I was wondering if the ultrasonic sensors have to be specially aligned (i.e. with the console fitted properly, do they bounce sounds around the car from one transducer to the other?)

Something must be wrong here surely. Mine is very difficult to remove (despite the manual saying you only have push in at the sides to remove it). I've found a wooden (or plastic) letter opener is perfect for levering off the cover and mine goes back very easily. Have you not got a couple of metal clips which can be tensioned up a bit?

The ultrasonic Tx and Rx units can be pretty well put anywhere although obviously a bad idea for them to be able to move once active.

Have you not tried out the switches on the header console yet. I'd be keen to work out what's working and what isn't.

 

[Rich]

Re: Alarm Failure - Return to Dealer

Mine's ok to come on and off; just lower slightly each side so there is a gap between the alarm module and roof console, then pull sharply.

 

[alexGS]

Re: Alarm Failure - Return to Dealer

OK an update - yesterday I parked the car in town where I work (I never normally take my car to work) and the alarm went off three times in a row (so the security guard tells me), so I went back and unlocked, turned the ignition on (THEFT HAS BEEN ATTEMPTED), then pressed the ultrasonics-off button on the console, and relocked the car with the remote.

The alarm didn't sound at all for the next four hours.

I know this is now a subtly-different problem, but I haven't had 'alarm failure' since.

I found out the other day that my car was actually made in 2002, making it 'earlier' than I would have liked... Two obvious places - the rear seat armrest has a date marking inside it, and the glovebox lid has a sticker telling when to renew the airbag gas generator(s).

It was registered in NZ May 2003, first driven in October 2003, but by that time the car was more than a year old... guess that's what happens when you buy new in NZ!


Cheers,
-Alex

 

[Rich]

Re: Alarm Failure - Return to Dealer

Ok Alex, definitely a header console problem. Take it off, make sure all wiring is secure and not loose, then refit.

If you give me your chassis number I can give you a build date; mine was registered on 31-03-2003, was made in 04-2002!! (Obviously sat at FIAT Bristol for a while )

 

[badkilla]

Car Alarm randomly goes off in the night

Im not sure what it could be, but twice on different nights the alarm has been triggered off and I have had to wake up from deep sleep to switch it off. It hasnt happened every night, just particularly on the odd couple of nights when there is bad weather. One night I pressed the fob and it turned off, the other last night, it kept going off so I opened/closed the boot and had to leave the car unlocked in order to get some sleep. It never happens during the daytime ever, so what could it be, any ideas?

 

[Argonought]

Re: Car Alarm randomly goes off in the night

:idea: Have you tried turning off the ultrasonic protection ?

 

[badkilla]

Re: Car Alarm randomly goes off in the night

Nope, how do you do that. Any advice would be pretty much appreciated, dont fancy waking up at 3.52am again to switch it off.

 

[Argonought]

Re: Car Alarm randomly goes off in the night

You should have two switches on your header console.

One disables the ultrasonic protection and the other disables the anti-jacking protection (you can disable both at the same time if you want).

If you want to leave the alarm switched off completely then just lock your car with the key only.

Can't give much more advice because I have the opposite problem - mine doesn't work at all :bang:

 

[its stilo the best]

Re: Car Alarm randomly goes off in the night

get ya car battery checked too , the alarm might pick up a drop in battery voltage and set it off

 

[alexGS]

Re: Car Alarm randomly goes off in the night

badkilla,

I agree with its stilo the best... I suspect the battery as mine goes off too for no other apparent reason.

You may find it useful to know that if you lock the doors with the key, the alarm is not set. You can still use the unlock button on the remote to unlock the doors, of course. So next time you're out there at 3AM, half-asleep, just lock up with the key and leave it...

EDIT: oops, I see Argonought already said the same thing!
-Alex

 

[jut1972]

Re: Car Alarm randomly goes off in the night

try this to see if it is the ultrasonic picking something up and not just some local toerags giving your car a boot

in the day time open all the windows, lock the car with the keyfob to engage the alarm

leave it for a bit to make sure then pop your head in through the window
now wave your arms about a bit
you may want to ignore the last line and put your fingers in your ears instead.

if it goes off it could be the sensors are picking up something internal, check they aren't pointing at the sun visors.

you sure its not some local scum who think its funny?

 

[dello]

Alarm going off everytime boot is opened

Hello all,
Since last week, the factory fitted alarm on my Stilo has started going off every time I unlock the boot with the fob without unlocking the rest of the car. I can stop it by immediately unlocking the car after it goes off, and strangely when I start the engine I don't get the 'Theft Attempted' warning which I would usually get if I set the alarm off by accident.
Is there a sensor or something I can look at in the boot connection?

Thanks,
Del

 

[alexGS]

Re: Alarm going off everytime boot is opened

What happens if you unlock the car and then open the boot? Does the alarm go off in that case?

I think I have a related problem, every time I lock the car, I get a second 'beep'. Then I have the message 'Alarm Failure' next time I start. I think this has only happened since I opened the boot by itself using the third button on the key. Do you have those second beeps/alarm failures?

Thanks,
-Alex

 

[dello]

Re: Alarm going off everytime boot is opened

Hello Alex, it only goes off if the car is locked and the boot is then opened on its own. If I unlock the car and then the boot, it doesn't go off. Also, no extra beeps, just the one long one when I lock it.
Does anyone know if there is a sensor in the boot catch or something that I could have a look at?

Thanks,
Del

 

[ABARTHAK]

Alarm failure

Yes lads!

When I lock the car after the long bleep a short bleep sounds and the door led flashes. When I open up again the panel shows alarm failure. The panel behind the interior light with the two sensor buttons do not light up anymore, even when you press them.

Any ideas on how to solve this minor glitch?