Alarm fixed for £10...it drove me bonkers -heres how

[Bargain Bucket]

It happened to me on an old Astra a few years ago. Every night for a week. I eventually snapped one night at 2 a.m, ripped the bugger out from under the front wing, dug a hole in the garden and buried the wretched thing - still screaming wih all it's might. Peace at last.

[storminmike]

[quote=""Sanj""]Yeah I actually sh!t myself first time round and on the second time I got wise, third time I slept with the key and pressed the unlock/lock button in my sleep.

Fourth time I almost fell down the stairs, got the door open, locked the car manually and then clambered back into bed.

Then had dreams about the car being stolen/alarm going off/not locking the front door etc... [/quote]


*****^^^^^^^^ This I ca fully empathise with ones pride and joy either being violated or left alarm naked and possible prey to wolves...howver errational

The lengths one goes to with grazed knuckles and sleep deprivation

It's not a car...its a limb

[entropy]

Hi Guys,

Thought i'd revive this topic rather than start a new one.

I'm new to x5's and have a question on this problem. Just had my 2001 sport for a day and the alarm has just started going off randomly.

This car has just had a new battery fitted in December, could there be an issue with the battery? as opposed to this bonnet sensor.

also if it is just the alarm sensor - could it drain the battery overnight?

Thanks

James

[storminmike]

[quote=""entropy""]Hi Guys,

Thought i'd revive this topic rather than start a new one.

I'm new to x5's and have a question on this problem. Just had my 2001 sport for a day and the alarm has just started going off randomly.

This car has just had a new battery fitted in December, could there be an issue with the battery? as opposed to this bonnet sensor.

also if it is just the alarm sensor - could it drain the battery overnight?

Thanks

James[/quote]


As was pointed out above.....much to my embarrasment is that a dodgy switch can be diagnosed (sort of) by pulling the plug off and seeing if that stops the fecker going off all night. Make of that (if after a quiet night you're not disturbed) you will. Tis £10 if the plug pull shuts it up for a new switch.

I'd treat it to a new one after 11 years

I fitted mine in BMWs car park in less than a minute

[entropy]

HAHA cheers. Its not done it now for the past hour or so is pretty random.

i'll pull the plug then and hope its the cause.

does this link seem like the right advice

http://www.babybmw.net/howtos/how_to_Re ... Sensor.pdf

[storminmike]

[quote=""entropy""]HAHA cheers. Its not done it now for the past hour or so is pretty random.

i'll pull the plug then and hope its the cause.

does this link seem like the right advice

http://www.babybmw.net/howtos/how_to_Re ... Sensor.pdf[/quote]

That is the very same bonnet switch except it's near the drivers door/bonnet hinge on the X5

You will find it near the drivers door in the void between the engine and the windscreen....the bit where the wipers are.

The wiring is on the far side from the wing and you sort of have to do it by feel as it's a bit hidden

Look at that link to see how the wires plug in. Also although the switch is a piece of cake to get out the clips that snap in when you install it from the top are a bit of a sod to squeeze back in to lift it out with cold fingers/

Ps mine did it once per 2 months....the became a bit more often.....then every 10 minutes

[CondorX5]

Mine packed up a few weeks ago and I taped a piece of cork on the bonnet underside just above it as an easy temp fix my previous X had this happen as well, so I knoew about it. Booked the X into the dealers for a Pano Sunroof exchange under warranty and asked themn to do the switch at the same time. They were amazed I knew about such things.

As for the sunroof, well.....my X now has a special feature of a personal shower via the sun roof switch luckily there is a TSB about that particular issue, no less, and the sun roof is not working as it should, so Stratstone Derby are giving me a loaner for a week while they sort it all out, just imagine the bill if one had to pay for it...........thank heavens for the BMW extended warranty!!

[entropy]

thanks for all the help guys! my wife is going mad at me! its just started again and then the lock unlock thing didn't cure it and then interior light came on. so started car and it stayed on and had to press button for it to go off. then I noticed the light in the boot was on so opened boot it and shut it again and it went off.

maybe the tailgate was causing my problem.. either way i hope it stays quiet tonight.

[Sanj]

Just unclip it, if it continues.

[entropy]

thanks again. it just went off again v annoying. we are on a very quiet st so have just left it unlocked and will have a look at it in the daytime.

[storminmike]

[quote=""entropy""]thanks again. it just went off again v annoying. we are on a very quiet st so have just left it unlocked and will have a look at it in the daytime.[/quote]

Have you pulled the plug off to prove the bonnet switch is an issue?

My memory is vague on this but leaving unlocked with the door shut on its own may still make it arm..and then fail.

Like I said ...vague recollection but it was doing my head in

[CondorX5]

Just tape a bit of cork or cardboard over it as I've noted above - it then depresses the switch all the way in. It only fails as its cheap soft plastic and wears slightl from the vibration so ends up not being sufficiently pressed down. Tape something on the underside of the bonnet so it presses down on the switch - not rocketscience and a darn side better than leaving the X unlocked!! Does no-one take any of my posts seriously!!!!

[X5Sport]

[quote=""CondorX5""]Does no-one take any of my posts seriously!!!! [/quote]

As if! Tsk Tsk for even suggesting such a heinous crime....

I'm a firm believer in K.I.S.S.

[storminmike]

[quote=""X5Sport""][quote=""CondorX5""]Does no-one take any of my posts seriously!!!! [/quote]

As if! Tsk Tsk for even suggesting such a heinous crime....

I'm a firm believer in K.I.S.S. [/quote]


Where was Condor with the cardboard when mine went wonky I've come to the conclusion that time and reading BEFORE it goes wrong is worth it. I got flamed because people said it wasn't new...it was well discussed...how come you lost sleep...how come you didn't read on here how come you didn't pull the wire off

Easy to say after the fact I suppose when that UNIQUE problem aint that unique. If in doubt...read everyones posts however trivial...it may just save your sleep


PS I see someone else has the SPIDER in the indicator rear light FAULT ....is that ticked extra?

[X5Sport]

Only if you want a live one....

And He's a She......you have been warned.... It's why we take her posts Very Seriously.....