Astra Alarm - Can I just disconnect it?

[viffergb]

Very useful info. in here which has helped a lot, but is it feasible
to simply remove the connector on the 'Power Sounder' (siren) - with
ignition on as advised - and leave it disconnected to get round the
problem of it having developed a fault such as batteries exhausted /
water corrosion?

Back in the summer of 2005 my alarm started to go off at random
intervals and I discovered the trick (as mentioned elsewhere) of
locking the car by reaching through from the open rear door and simply
pressing the driver's button. However, I wanted to get it sorted and
took it in to my local dealer and sure enough they changed the siren
and all was well.

Unfortunately a couple of days back the problem returned, and I'm a
bit 'miffed' at the thought of having to have another new siren after
only 18 months has passed!

I'm not a lover of car alarms, so I'd be happy to simply disable it
and leave it at that. I decided to take a look under the bonnet today
and located the 'ATWS' horn - as described in the Haynes Manual - and
it looked in good condition with no signs of corrosion on the unit or
the connections, but I've yet to remove the wheel arch liner and
examine the siren.

So, can those of you in the know please advise if I can simply remove
the connector on the 'Power Sounder' (siren) to disable the alarm
system altogether, and if so, can someone confirm which wheel arch
it's located under - is it the O/S as described in Haynes?

B.T.W. my model is Astra Elegance 1.8 Hatch 2001 R.H.D.

I hope someone can advise me.

Thanks.

 

[Peter]

Very useful info. in here which has helped a lot, but is it feasible
to simply remove the connector on the 'Power Sounder' (siren) - with
ignition on as advised - and leave it disconnected to get round the
problem of it having developed a fault such as batteries exhausted /
water corrosion?

Back in the summer of 2005 my alarm started to go off at random
intervals and I discovered the trick (as mentioned elsewhere) of
locking the car by reaching through from the open rear door and simply
pressing the driver's button. However, I wanted to get it sorted and
took it in to my local dealer and sure enough they changed the siren
and all was well.

Unfortunately a couple of days back the problem returned, and I'm a
bit 'miffed' at the thought of having to have another new siren after
only 18 months has passed!

I'm not a lover of car alarms, so I'd be happy to simply disable it
and leave it at that. I decided to take a look under the bonnet today
and located the 'ATWS' horn - as described in the Haynes Manual - and
it looked in good condition with no signs of corrosion on the unit or
the connections, but I've yet to remove the wheel arch liner and
examine the siren.

So, can those of you in the know please advise if I can simply remove
the connector on the 'Power Sounder' (siren) to disable the alarm
system altogether, and if so, can someone confirm which wheel arch
it's located under - is it the O/S as described in Haynes?

B.T.W. my model is Astra Elegance 1.8 Hatch 2001 R.H.D.

I hope someone can advise me.

Thanks.

An obvious thought. If you remove the factory fit alarm you ought to
advise your insurers as it will affect the stealabilty.

 

[grahamb]

An obvious thought. If you remove the factory fit alarm you ought to
advise your insurers as it will affect the stealabilty.- Hide quoted text-

- Show quoted text -

A point well worth making.

It's one of the first things that came to mind when I started thinking
of going down this route. I 'guesstimate' it will probably mean
something in the region of approx. a 'tenner' increase in premium if I
do remove it as despite the 'ads', insurers aren't exactly generous in
premium reductions for when vehicles have alarms in my experience -
but I haven't yet contacted the insurer to get a definitive figure.
If I'm right about the amount, that's a good few years before I start
to be out of pocket given that the cost of replacing it is likely to
to be around £100 + VAT!

Graham

 

[grahamb]

A point well worth making.

It's one of the first things that came to mind when I started thinking
of going down this route. I 'guesstimate' it will probably mean
something in the region of approx. a 'tenner' increase in premium if I
do remove it as despite the 'ads', insurers aren't exactly generous in
premium reductions for when vehicles have alarms in my experience -
but I haven't yet contacted the insurer to get a definitive figure.
If I'm right about the amount, that's a good few years before I start
to be out of pocket given that the cost of replacing it is likely to
to be around £100 + VAT!

Graham

Well....I'm glad I didn't go ahead and remove it. It's now some 7
weeks later and it's been behaving itself - probably regret saying
that!! For the first copule of weeks after it played up, I simply
locked the car without enabling the alarm, then decided to enable it
during daylight hours, and finally took the plunge and did so during
the night as well.

Hasn't played up once in all that time, so I can only assume it was
either a genuine case of someone trying to break in...or just a simple
case of false triggering!

Graham

 

[Peter]

Well....I'm glad I didn't go ahead and remove it. It's now some 7
weeks later and it's been behaving itself - probably regret saying
that!! For the first copule of weeks after it played up, I simply
locked the car without enabling the alarm, then decided to enable it
during daylight hours, and finally took the plunge and did so during
the night as well.

Hasn't played up once in all that time, so I can only assume it was
either a genuine case of someone trying to break in...or just a simple
case of false triggering!

Graham

I should have mentioned this before, I had a similar problem (random
alarms) that was traced to the tilt sensor. As it was under warranty I
don't know how much was replaced, but it's been ok for 4 years now

 

[mikeFNB]

water vapour dear boy.
much the same as false house alarms when winter sets in.
over winter the car gets damp

summer sun comes, internals of car gets hot, dampness evaporates [like the
heat vapour you see on very hot grand prix races.]
that defracts the ultra sonsic motion detectors waves and off she sounds.

little tip

get a piece of cling film and place it over the receiver, cant be seen . 99
out of 100 times punter goes away happy.
[ofcourse we tell them!!]

the other one that is a fav is down to the same thing but involves the
voltage sensor.
the battery cooks under the heated bonnet and it terminal voltage because of
changes it the specific gravity of the electrolite in the battery fall below
the 'allowed' threashold level.
[many of the alarms use a voltage sensor as another way of detecting
intrusion...courtessy light etc etc]

lastly as the other gent eludes to, it the bonnet or boot sensor, spade
terminals are crap and often oxidise and breakdown in heat causing
resistivity issues.

mike

A point well worth making.

It's one of the first things that came to mind when I started thinking
of going down this route. I 'guesstimate' it will probably mean
something in the region of approx. a 'tenner' increase in premium if I
do remove it as despite the 'ads', insurers aren't exactly generous in
premium reductions for when vehicles have alarms in my experience -
but I haven't yet contacted the insurer to get a definitive figure.
If I'm right about the amount, that's a good few years before I start
to be out of pocket given that the cost of replacing it is likely to
to be around £100 + VAT!

Graham

Well....I'm glad I didn't go ahead and remove it. It's now some 7
weeks later and it's been behaving itself - probably regret saying
that!! For the first copule of weeks after it played up, I simply
locked the car without enabling the alarm, then decided to enable it
during daylight hours, and finally took the plunge and did so during
the night as well.

Hasn't played up once in all that time, so I can only assume it was
either a genuine case of someone trying to break in...or just a simple
case of false triggering!

Graham