Alarm and remote locking issue

[Shottaroddz]

Hi All,

I’m based in London, UK and have a 4.6is e53.

Recently I’ve been having an issue occurring with my central locking only working sometime from my key fob. The locking actuators work OK every time when I use the key in the door to lock everything so it’s definitely just the remote locking element.

In addition, I’m am having the alarm beep randomly every so often - not sure if they’re related issues.

I had the alarm issue happening a few months back, going off randomly during the day and night, and put it down to the fact that I just was not running the car that much and it was using this as a warning that the battery was going flat. To stop pissing off my neighbours I started locking the car with the key in the door as this seems to not arm something that does get armed when you lock with the remote key fob. This solved the random alarm problem but obviously it’s not a fix.

I know these issues have been discussed on here before(so apologies for dragging it up again) but I’m a bit confused as to where to start as my combination of alarm and key fob is slightly different so wanted to get the headline items out for discussion.

Any help to get me going in the right direction would be most appreciated.

C

[andrewwynn]

The random alarm is almost always the hood switch. Wife's would go through phases where it would random alarm.

The second most likely odds is the remote key trunk button pressing itself (stuck down) which sets off panic mode.

They key remote not working well in my personal experience and from dozens of stories online is never the battery and is usually also the key switches.

Three was a guy for $65 will rebuild your key and replace all three switches and the battery.

On my key repair thread (I reflowed the solder joints to fix my two keys), I also show how to test the voltage through the button seam without opening the key.

I put a felt pad like you would put under a chair to eliminate our random alarm issue.

If you lock the car twice it will disable the motion sensor and the tilt sensor so if by chance you did that your racdom alarm could be related.

[jcp240z]

I’ll second the hood switch random alarm issue. Was occurring with mine. Some people have been able to take theirs apart and clean the contacts. I just replaced it.

[X5chemist]

The random hood alarm might explain mine. Right now, the switch is taped up. The part that holds the hood switch broke off. What is the part number for the fire panel? The right side portion needs to be replaced. Once replaced, the hood switch can be put back on.

[andrewwynn]

I think the switch is normally closed so disconnected should act like it's working

[wpoll]

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

I think the switch is normally closed so disconnected should act like it's working

Correct - simply unplug it until it is replaced.

[andrewwynn]

I went to unplug wife's when I noticed it didn't push onto the hood very firmly and added the felt pad instead.

[Shottaroddz]

Thanks all.

OK so for the alarm issue I’m looking at hood switch first. Then the remote key trunk button.

For the remote locking I’m looking at either repairing or replacing the key.

Andrewwynn, I can’t find the thread you mentioned for the key fix, could I get a link?

Thank you

C