Alarm trouble (report problems/fixes here)

Irv Mac · 09-17-2008, 08:29 AM

My three-week-old has alarm trouble. Several times now, after I have locked the car, within about 30 seconds the alarm goes off. It rings for about 30 seconds and then shuts off. I have no dogs or people inside to set off the motion alarm. Any ideas?

Best regards,
Irv

smartHHO · 09-17-2008, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Irv Mac

My three-week-old has alarm trouble. Several times now, after I have locked the car, within about 30 seconds the alarm goes off. It rings for about 30 seconds and then shuts off. I have no dogs or people inside to set off the motion alarm. Any ideas?

Best regards,
Irv

Sounds kind of messed up. Might want to take it to your dealer if you can replicate it each and every time and ask them WTF??

Woody14619 · 09-18-2008, 03:14 PM

So a search in the forum. This has happened to a lot of people. It's probably you motion sensor has been installed upside down. (Apparently happens every now and again, new trainees, what have you...)

jediknight36 · 09-18-2008, 03:21 PM

I had similar issues with my toyota Matrix. I hope you can replicate it for them because I couldnt. I would be driving down the freeway and it would go off!

saronian · 09-18-2008, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Irv Mac

...after I have locked the car, within about 30 seconds the alarm goes off. It rings for about 30 seconds and then shuts off....
Irv

I've had my smart with factory alarm since April, and it just started doing the same thing. It's not 100% repeatable, so I'll need to do some testing to see if the false trigger can be isolated. In my case turning off the motion sensor prevents the false alarm.

The full alarm, siren and horn, is not being triggered, just the motion sensor portion with siren. So most likely the sensor is failing. Others, with similar symptoms had the problem right from the beginning, and it was most often a bad "ultrasonic" control unit or tail-gate micro switch.

You can read details in the largest thread on the subject, Alarming Situation

Tinman2000 · 09-19-2008, 04:16 AM

Just had mine fixed a couple months ago for the same reason. They replaced the module(?...I've heard several names for it) in the emergency brake area and I haven't had the problem since...knock on wood. They initially took apart the tailgate to adjust the microswitch and found the Passion model doesn't have one. I'm finding Smart technicians seem to be learning as they go.

**SmartCard** · 09-19-2008, 05:09 AM

Actually, I was thinking of starting a thread in the technical forum focusing and clarifying these alarm problems since mine has been acting up as late as well. Yes, I know there are at least a couple other threads already, but hopefully just with the "facts" (the "alarming situation" thread is kind of long now to sort through!) can be reported here.

Seems if I understand the info in the other threads correctly, are there TWO sensors?
I've seen some mention of IR sensors, which I would guess visualize physical movement ( ie a hand being placed through the window), and then the motion sensor that has been reported under the handbrake. This one I assume picks up the physical movement of the car. Which one is the one reported to be installed upside down in some instances?

Please report if you have alarm issues. Include brief symptoms- how often, when did the problem arise (from days, weeks, months after purchase), and if fixed - what was replaced.

(I've moved this thread to the operation and maintenance forum, and modified the title slightly)

mvaldes · 09-19-2008, 05:42 AM

Mine started going off at random a day after i took delivery. About once a day at first and then pretty much every time I locked the car. Pushing the "tow" button to disarm it would prevent the problem. The dealer said it was the motion sensor (no, not installed upside down) and would need to be replaced. Since it took weeks to get the part (back in March) they disconnected it as a temporary fix. (The rest of the alarm would work, just not the interior motion sensor.) When the part arrived and was replaced, all was (and remains) well.
FWIW, the dealer said that it's fairly low in the front and he was embarrassed once demonstrating it to a customer. He reached in the open window and nothing happened. When he lowered his hand, it went off.

Irv Mac · 09-20-2008, 10:13 AM

Thanks for the replies. I have been turning off the motion/tow switch for the last two days when locking, and the problem has not reoccurred. Sure sounds like a sensor,huh?

Best regards,
Irv

mvaldes · 09-20-2008, 01:49 PM

It does sound like the sensor since I believe (from what the dealer told me) that's the only thing the tow button turns off. The rest of the alarm remains functional. Hopefully, parts are more readily available now. But, if your dealer is at a distance, a call to confirm that might be worthwhile 'tho they may tell you that you have to bring it in to be diagnosed, etc. Good luck!