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Old 04-16-2008, 07:41 PM   #1 (permalink)
 
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Alarm System sensitivity cannot be adjusted

My alarm has been going off in the middle of the night when it's dead calm outside and nothing has touched the car. The dealership told me the alarm sensativity cannot be adjusted, but you can hold the lock button for 5 seconds and turn off the motion sensor. Unfortunately, it went off anyway a 4am even with the "motion sensor" off.

It hasn't yet gone off with the alarm turned off.

Anyone else learned how to control a crazed alarm?

Jeff

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Old 04-16-2008, 07:44 PM   #2 (permalink)
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JeffLAustin View Post
My alarm has been going off in the middle of the night when it's dead calm outside and nothing has touched the car. The dealership told me the alarm sensativity cannot be adjusted, but you can hold the lock button for 5 seconds and turn off the motion sensor. Unfortunately, it went off anyway a 4am even with the "motion sensor" off.

It hasn't yet gone off with the alarm turned off.

Anyone else learned how to control a crazed alarm?

Jeff
Afraid it sounds like it need to be checked and the motion sensor possibly replaced by the dealer - I had the same sort of issues on another car and it turned out to be caused by the defective motion sensor. When it was replaced all was well.

Fwiw we leave the Smart armed and it does not randomly go off, so not a normal behavior.
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Old 04-16-2008, 07:46 PM   #3 (permalink)
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Another owner had some similar issue: alarm went off while nothing unusual was happening.
His motion detector was mounted upside down. Or was it inside out? Heck, you get the picture: the wrong way!
Maybe that's your answer...
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Old 04-16-2008, 07:48 PM   #4 (permalink)
 
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It was my car...I had an upside down sensor inside. Apparently there is no obvious way to tell which side is up and which is down so the factory gets it wrong sometimes... easy to fix at the dealer.
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Old 04-16-2008, 08:56 PM   #5 (permalink)
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JeffLAustin View Post
My alarm has been going off in the middle of the night when it's dead calm outside and nothing has touched the car. The dealership told me the alarm sensativity cannot be adjusted, but you can hold the lock button for 5 seconds and turn off the motion sensor. Unfortunately, it went off anyway a 4am even with the "motion sensor" off.

It hasn't yet gone off with the alarm turned off.

Anyone else learned how to control a crazed alarm?

Jeff
Obviously sounds like something's up with your alarm system and that's up to the dealer to diagnose, but as an aside, disabling the motion sensor(s) doesn't involve the lock button, but rather the appropriate "Tow away protection/interior motion sensor switch". Simply push it within 60 seconds of pulling the key, exit the car and hit the lock button on your key. The car is locked and alarmed against forced entry, but all motion sensors are disabled.

Page 78 & 79 of your manual. Hope this offers some relief till the actual cause can be handled.

Arch
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Old 04-16-2008, 09:03 PM   #6 (permalink)
 
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Archie,

Yes, that is the correct description to turn the alarm OFF. But, holding down the lock button for about 5 seconds is supposed to leave the alarm ON, but allow the car to have motion. You can rock the car, but if someone tries to open a window or door it goes off. Try it!

That's what the tech said.
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Old 04-16-2008, 09:44 PM   #7 (permalink)
 
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Originally Posted by JeffLAustin View Post
Archie,

Yes, that is the correct description to turn the alarm OFF. But, holding down the lock button for about 5 seconds is supposed to leave the alarm ON, but allow the car to have motion. You can rock the car, but if someone tries to open a window or door it goes off. Try it!

That's what the tech said.
Again, if you'd like to disable your alarm's motion sensors, see pages 78 & 79 of your owners manual.

Arch
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Old 07-22-2011, 04:06 PM   #8 (permalink)
 
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Disconnecting the motion sensor as per pages 78 and 79 in the manual does not work. The alarm goes off at random - locked or unlocked. Has anyone tried pulling the fuse on the alarm system? Or is there some way to disconnect the wires to the horn?
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Old 07-22-2011, 10:46 PM   #9 (permalink)
 
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Ummm, hate to admit to having done it years ago, but mischievous people in police cars can set off car alarms by keying their mics. Maybe you got one patrolling in your neighborhood?
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Old 07-23-2011, 05:49 AM   #10 (permalink)
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Mine, an '08, had a similar problem that was cured when the motion sensor was replaced. But, you may have a different problem since turning off the motion sensor with the center dash button and then locking the car with the fob did stop the problem on mine while we were waiting for the replacement part.
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