LC alarm weirdness

[cuprakitty]

I'm having a weird problem with my alarm that searches have yielded no joy on so far. I've also RTFM... no certain answer there. Over the last 12 hours my alarm has gone off 5 times whilst my LC is parked on the drive (where it normally is overnight).

There has been no break in attempts, all doors and windows and boot are properly shut (we made sure after the second alarm triggered), and there is no wildlife (domestic or other) trapped in the car!

Had my LC 6 months and had never heard the alarm go off so it was a total surprise, but the only thing that's different about the last 12 hours or so is a) the rather icy temperature in these parts (between -3 and -5) and b) I put a sucker-pad windscreen protector over the screen last night knowing the frost was going to be a bad one.

Neither of these seem like viable reasons for the alarm going nuts, but I'd no indication of any alarm issue before. On a positive note it's been quiet for a while now...

Anyone had a similar experience with their alarm, very cold temperatures and/or silver-backed windscreen protectors? Or indeed any other ideas what could have been going on?

I would hate to have to conclude that pixies are to blame...

 

[m0rk]

might be faulty internal sensors

Try disabling them (use the magic button on the B pillar) and see if you get the problem still

Failling that I'm 99% sure that vag-com will diagnose faulty alarm isues

 

[Blondini]

Hi,
If you disable the internals with the magic button
a) How do you know they are disabled
b) How do you re-enable them

Thanks Nick

 

[m0rk]

light comes on (on the sensor)

I think they're renabled each time you lock the car from then on.

however, you can do it permanently in vagcom

 

[cuprakitty]

Within half an hour of my original post, the "it's been quiet for a while now" thing was (of course) shattered by yet another alarm triggered. There was me secretly hoping this was all just pixies and had gone away... (pixies are often cheaper than garages)

Had to move the car anyway at that time, and noted as I did so a feint flickering of the tailgate light on the warning lamp display. Worrying in itself because it shouldn't flicker. The boot WAS shut when I got out and checked, but something clearly didn't think so. Shut the boot firmly (again!) and the warning light went away.

Been out all day - in our other car - so havn't a clue whether the neighbours have been driven mad while I was out (and nobody put a brick through the windscreen so I'm assuming nothing has happened since), but if it happens during this evening I'll try the magic button as suggested.

 

[james_tiger_woo]

Hate to hijack - but at least it's going off - my Leon was broken in to and the alarm didn't go off...

(Add this to the list of my Leon's problems )

 

[cuprakitty]

Hate to hijack - but at least it's going off - my Leon was broken in to and the alarm didn't go off...

(Add this to the list of my Leon's problems )

sorry to hear that

 

[cmc]

Sounds like a problem I had a few years ago and it was linked to the boot lock.

Check your boot lock area for water condensation. Also is your rear washer jet functioning properly? My water froze over in my reservoir as I got the screen wash concentration wrong for the cold weather.

What happened was that when I used the washer jet nothing came out as it was frozen and the pressure pushing on the hose pipe at the back popped the hose our the rear washer jet (common problem). The leaking water contaminated the boot lock switch and although my boot was closed the boot warning light would come on and off randomly i.e. the car thought the boot was opened and kept triggering the alarm - a real pain in the @rse I tell you. It got so bad i just had to leave it unlocked until it got fixed!

In the end the boot lock completely seized and wouldn't open but I got it fixed under warranty.

Lesson learned was, get the concentration of screen wash right.

Hope this helps

cmc

 

[cuprakitty]

Sounds like a problem I had a few years ago and it was linked to the boot lock.

Check your boot lock area for water condensation. Also is your rear washer jet functioning properly? My water froze over in my reservoir as I got the screen wash concentration wrong for the cold weather...

Thanks for this - I'll keep an eye on the boot lock as whilst the alarm problem has now 'gone away' [flinches in anticipation of the alarm going off as I click Submit Reply on this response!] the following day there was more boot lock related oddness - opened the boot and was loading shopping on the supermarket carpark and heard the sound of locking all round - boot still open and no remote buttons clicked whatsoever. This happened again on unload at home as the boot was open.

Rear washer jet is fine, and the concentration of the washer fluid is also in accordance with the packaging (according to Other Half who mixed it up for my car and his - his'n'hers washer fluid.... awwwwwww!) But there was a lot of condensation on the boot lock area the night and following day it happened so this is a distinct possibility.

Cheers for the tip.

 

[m0rk]

Hate to hijack - but at least it's going off - my Leon was broken in to and the alarm didn't go off...

(Add this to the list of my Leon's problems )

probably your internal sensors have been disabled

 

[cuprakitty]

Update: Mystery solved!

Other Half took the boot hatch interior apart today (following another incident of this problem earlier this week) to find clear evidence of recent leaks from the rear screen washer, and one of the electrical connectors for the alarm/central locking system had signs of corrosion and verdigris that would likely be causing the alarm weirdness.

He cleaned up the electrical connectors with suitable cleaning solution and some fine files, then set about trying to pinpoint the source of the leak. It wasn't the hose (which from searches seems a common problem) - it was the black elbow-shaped connector that the hose fits onto that goes into the motor mechanism. There is a joint on the elbow, and a mini silver clip that wasn't sealing satisfactorily causing water to spray out of the top of the elbow joint.

In between my original posting and the second incident I noted a frequent misting up on the inside edges of the back window - another sign of a hidden leak

Another thread alludes to the same problem (http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=116084), but seriously deterred by the thought of a) Wolves SEAT doing any work to it under the approved-used car warranty I still have a few months left of and b) the potential expense of a new washer motor mechanism this side of Christmas he persisted at my request. He released the clip with a small screwdriver, then with some careful pressure and levering with the same screwdriver seperated the joint. He then applied a liberal wrapping of PTFE tape to the exposed joint. After a firm reconnection effort and exhaustive testing of the washer (which has all but emptied my reservoir... onto the bodywork and driveway) the leak has gone away!

Hopefully, so has the alarm weirdness caused by the slow leak. Unfortunately so have another couple of spring clips inside the boot interior which was a complete b*tch to put back on.

Theoretically solved! And not a pixie in sight.

 

[Gixxer]

alarm problems still fixed?

Hi CupraKitty,
I have had exactly the same problems, in the same order, with my Altea.
Except that now my radio comes on randomly as well...

So is your problem still fixed?

I'd prefer to sort it myself rather than spend a fortune at a dealer to maybe not get it fixed.

Cheers Gixxer

 

[cuprakitty]

My problem is still fixed - no more alarm weirdness whatsoever. Or misting up. I have been avoiding using my rear washer if the temperature is freezing, however. Have used it when it's been below 5 degrees/above 0 - but sparingly, and had no further recurrence of leaks.