Question! (disabling alarm)

[vegansmartie]

I'm not really sure what it's called, but I have an alarm system on my Passion, that if I don't disarm it after I turn the power off it goes off with the slightest movement.. Is there an easy way to turn this off completely? Or...... make it less sensitive? Because right now, the wind blowing sets it off.

[Mike T]

Press the dash button before exiting/locking the car?

[vegansmartie]

I've been doing that, but when I unlock it to open the hatch in the back and then lock it back up it is armed again.... Is there a more permanent solution?

[Padawan]

Is your car under warranty? Is it the factory alarm or an aftermarket unit?

The stock alarm should not be that sensitive, so if it is covered under warranty I would suggest bringing it in to the dealer.

[vegansmartie]

I believe it is the stock alarm, it's the one that I disarm on the dash (when I remember). It goes off constantly if I don't disarm it... It's not under warranty, but I have a service plan through my dealership and I've only had it for 17 days. I guess I could call and talk to them about it. Your alarm isn't like that then?

[Padawan]

No, mine isn't nearly that sensitive. I've never had a false alarm and never had to disable the sensor on either my 2009 or 2012.

[wrumbarger]

What year is your smart?

[vegansmartie]

2009 Passion.

[Karl Roth]

There is a history of alarm problems. The system works fine when something is not broken. What you can turn off on the dash is an interior motion detector so you could leave your little dog in your car when you go for your coffee or whatever. More than a few early cars had problems with these sensors.

The system works fine when it is working correctly.

[Rustedwrench]

The alarm should not be that sensitive. When armed it can be set of by a door latch switch, even if the door is closed, if the switch is faulty. It can be set of by the interior motion sensor by a animal or somebody reaching into the car when it is locked and the windows are down. It can also be set off by the inclination sensor if there is a relatively rapid change in the vehicle attitude in a short period of time. It can also be activated by a loss of power to the alarm siren by way of the power back-up battery.

The quickest way to diagnose it is with a diagnostic tool that can read alarm system data to find which input set it off. Anything else is guess-work. Unfortunately, all modern vehicles are that way. Easy to diagnose from the front seat with the right scan tool but a right royal pain otherwise.