Zafira alarm problems

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Mike J

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The alarm is going off at random - at night only!

It had the siren replaced a month ago because it kept giving out the 4 beeps when the keys were removed from the ignition. I ripped apart the old siren and found the problem was caused by corrosion - a cheap cure if you can split the unit without destroying it.

Anyway, the hazard led shows no errors.

Does the tech2 unit show why alarms went off, or only errors in the system?

My dealer says it maybe the rear window sensors - replacement will be very expensive.

Any ideas?

TIA,
Mike.
 
If its anything like the problem i had recently it could be the back up section of the alarm. The alarm on my Zafira was going off at random but it was only the backup section(high pitched part, not the horn or the hazzard lights) no matter wether the alarm was on or not or if the car was open, it even went off a couple of times while the engine was running!! as it was not the 'alarm' being triggered it showed no faults on the led. Luckily, it was replaced under warranty after a couple of trips to the vx dealer after they found no fault.

Since they replaced the powersounder its been fine.

Hope that helps

Tim

Tim
 
yes tech2 will tell you the reason.
what do you mean by the rear window sensors?
another known problem is the internal movement sensors. have you tried hitting the disable button (left dog inside) before you leave it?

mike
 
Tim,

Thanks for the info, but in my situation, every item was 'working' - lights, horn and siren. Another 'option' was that the air vents (heater system) were open and wind was getting into the car activating the ultrasonics, at least that is what the dealer said could happen.

Mike.
 
Mike,
yes tech2 will tell you the reason.
Click to expand...

How long does the alarm reason hold?
what do you mean by the rear window sensors?
Click to expand...

The dealer said these sensors fail and have to be manually checked by an electrician - lots of trim removed and new windows - sounds like they need some work on their books. I don't think I will pursue that route!

BTW, as my car has the multifunction display, which can show some faults controlled by the ECU (oil level), why isn't there a user interrogation mode? It would be relatively simple for the system to display the last alarm reason, and any ECU errors that are occurring. Isn't user access to ECU info mandatory in the US nowadays?

Mike.
 
AFAIK it stores all recorded faults until reset.

i would go with the sensors (ultrasonic) being crap.

my sintra always did it, now i just leave the siren until disconnect. sorted (though i live in te sticks!!)

if alan is around he will tell you about these units, they fail 10/10 times..

have you the disable button?

u didn't ans that one.

mike
 
Get a tech test done and it will show the last 9 causes of alarm activation. If it comes up as "pane break" it means the thin electronic strip around your rear side windows has gone open circuit so the alarm thinks the window has been smashed. Easy to check with a multi meter.
 
have you the disable button?
Click to expand...

I haven't used the ultrasonic disable buttons recently, but they are there and seem to work.

I have had no problems recently. I have also noticed that the alarm has only gone off when the car is in a certain place - near the road. Perhaps something is setting it off. It is possible that there is extra exposure to wind in that position.
 
if you disable the movement sensors, does the car still have random alrms? might be sunlight, wind, rocking loose toys, air freshener etc etc.
mike
 
"mike"
My advice is, Look at your rear window's. The last windows on the N/S/ & O/S/R of the vehicle. If indeed, you have "Pane break sensors" you will see an "Element" similar to a heated rear screen element. An easy way to tell is, look for 2 connectors (they look like press-hoods) at the bottom, center of the glass.(You may have to remove some interior panneling to see them) A very common fault is vandal damage. After a break-in, someone replaces the glass without a pane break element. Your alarm is then simply doing it's job as, It continually looks for resistance. No connection, No resistance. Log's a fault. If you have elements In BOTH windows, check connections themselves. Corrosion, loose, "green crap" increases resistance. Your alarm has a preset min-max resistance value stored to refer to. Any higher/lower, log's a fault. Not unusual to find loose connections... If above is O.K. get a multimeter, set on Ohm's value, and measure resistance of both window elements. If one is open circuit, Get some heated rear element repair paint to try to repair. Look at the glass carefully, you will find a break in the element. Follow the instructions to repair the element in the paint pack. This is a "suck it and see repair" If you DON'T have sensors fitted, (And no wiring to the windows. Check for it first...) You most likley have an alarm E.C.U. fault. MUST go to a Vx dealer, no option. Alarm is tie'd into your Immobiliser and will need programming to your car. Scrapyard option is not available to you as, they are linked to your chassis number and immobiliser code and are not(AFAIK)re-programable. As an ex Vx tech, who has seen this fault many times, I once saw a "fix" involving a resistor soldered in-line. However, this defeat's the reason for pane break sensors and, cannot be a sensible option. Hope this helps Bilko130
 
nice info as always, i hope the originator finds it useful.

mike
ps pete says tnx for sorting the disks
 
if you disable the movement sensors, does the car still have random alrms?
might be sunlight, wind, rocking loose toys, air freshener etc etc.
Click to expand...

The alarm has not gone off for the past week or so, so it is probably due to wind entering through the air vents and setting off the ultrasonics. If the alarm goes off with the car in the 'wind free zone', then I will check the ultrasonic disable route.

Thanks for the assistance.
 
My advice is, Look at your rear window's. The last windows on
the N/S/ & O/S/R of the vehicle.
If indeed, you have "Pane break sensors" you will see an "Element" similar to a heated rear screen element. An easy way to tell is, look for 2 connectors (they look like press-hoods) at the bottom, center of the glass.(You may have to remove some interior panneling to see them) A very common fault is vandal damage. After a break-in, someone replaces the glass without a pane break element. Your alarm is then simply doing it's job as, It continually looks for resistance. No connection, No resistance. Log's a fault.
Click to expand...

The car has the alarm sensors in both rear side windows and they seem the original items. As the alarm has only sounded in a 'windy' area, I will park in the usual area near the house. If this doesn't cure the problem, I will start testing the window continuity.

Thanks for the assistance.
 
I work for a vauxhall dealership down in Lincolnshire and am I fleet ops manager the problem you are desribing to me sounds very like a power sounder if you are getting four beeps when taking keys out the ignition etc and the alarm is going of randomly then you need i would say to thw power sounder
 
Hi,

If you were refering to me, the 4 bleep problem was cured by a new sounder. The old one had contact corrosion - I guess it was the voltage sense wire, as the sounder operated OK.

Since the work was carried out, the alarm was going off once or twice a week at night, at random - 1am, 5am, 6am. Then again it was OK for a week.

A guy at work said it was a moth in the car (it has ultrasonics) and sure enough, last week a spider descended down from the passenger visor area right in front of the sensor. The wee beasty has been ejected and so far no more alarms (6 days).

HTHs,
Mike

----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, September 06, 2004 6:22 PM
Subject: Re: Zafira alarm problems
 
If you were refering to me, the 4 bleep problem was cured by a new
sounder.
The old one had contact corrosion - I guess it was the voltage sense wire, as the sounder operated OK.

Since the work was carried out, the alarm was going off once or twice a week at night, at random - 1am, 5am, 6am. Then again it was OK for a week.

A guy at work said it was a moth in the car (it has ultrasonics) and sure enough, last week a spider descended down from the passenger visor area right in front of the sensor. The wee beasty has been ejected and so far no more alarms (6 days).
Click to expand...

Alarms have come back with a vengance and so I guess I hadn't cured it after all. I managed to get a Tech2 check and it came up with multiple pane breaks!!

It seems bilko130 is 130% correct :-)

The question now is, how to remove the rear trim - do you have to follow the TIS info and remove almost half the interior trim, or can you get away with a few clips and reach 'in' to clean up some contacts.

As the alarms happened when I got a new sounder (and a software update) could the problem be caused by a sounder wiring fault (alarm loom to rear goes via sounder loom?) or could the ECU alarm parameters have be changed with the software upgrade?

I have pressed against the appropriate windows, but have not got the alarm to go off - is this proof that the windows are OK and the problem is wiring?

TIA
 
i would suspect it's the contacts, there were a few posts a while ago on these. they just tarnish esp in this colder damper weather now.

you might get away with a good squirt of switch cleaner (not WD40) which will remove the tarnish & leave a residue to protect against further contamination, but if you can get to the contact just a wiggle normally sorts it, but you still need to protect against it happening again.

as i say, look back in the alarm threads, i think it's there, if not, bilko i'm sure will help whwn he is around next

mike
 
Martin Pratley said:
I work for a vauxhall dealership down in Lincolnshire and am I fleet ops
manager the problem you are desribing to me sounds very like a power sounder
if you are getting four beeps when taking keys out the ignition etc and the
alarm is going of randomly then you need i would say to thw power sounder
changed. If i can be of any help feel free to email me
Click to expand...
Hi Martin, hope you are still here? My issue is that my LED indicates a fault, flashing light when locking the car with the FOB, have disconnected the Power Sounder, to confirm that its not that (No "bleeps" coming from it before the disconnect) and check rear sensors in the break 1/4 window's all looks good but alarm still goes off but a least its the horn sounding, any ideas what to check next? All doors seem ok, locking and unlocking.
 
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