VTS: Theft Alerts

[This Is Pete]

Hi there,

I had a theft alert from VTS this morning on my way in to work. As far as I can see, the battery in the tracker fob is fine (replaced it a few months ago when I bought the car from the OPC) and the little LED is merrily flashing away. I didn't get any text messages saying that the battery level was low.

The only thing different is that I'm driving the car with a different key to normal - when I bought the car, I was only given the one key ("Key 2" comes up on the dash display). So, I decided to use the new "Key 1", which locks/starts/drives the car as per normal.

I previously understood that the little fob tied in to a transponder hidden in the car somewhere. I didn't know that they key transponder also plays a part.

Do I need to get this new key coded up to the tracker fob? If I do that, will it displace "Key 2"?

[Pope]

OE vehicle keys have no connection with VTS fobs - just a co-incidence I would summise......

Get Cobratrac to check the VTS fobs on the system - usually there are at least two coded onto the system- did you get a theft alert call as in: 'vehicle in use with no fob found in vehicle' or was the call as a result of a 'Cobratrac health check'?

The latter can be a result of the vehicle not being located via GPS due to atmospheric or actual location conditions ie: underground car park......

[This Is Pete]

I have text messages this morning that say "Theft alertt transmitted to the Secure Operating Centre". The voicemail message they left simply stated that an alert has been raised. I called them when I got into the office, but they didn't say anything about a health check.

[This Is Pete]

There's a possibility that I might have inadvertantly turned the fob off from pressure where it's been sequestered. I remember yesterday taking it out to show someone. I might have put it back the other way around where the button can be easily pressed. I'll be doubly careful over the next few days just to make sure.

It's a shame those things are so easy to deactivate.

Thanks for the quick response though, appreciated.

[DSM2]

This Is Pete said:

It's a shame those things are so easy to deactivate.

They're not, in my experience. Takes a firm press for about 8 seconds, like the book says.

[kjlowe]

Similar experience. When you take delivery of the car only one transponder is programmed. If you use the other key with the other transponder it will trigger a theft alert because that transponder will not be recognised by the system.

[majordad]

Similar experience. When you take delivery of the car only one transponder is programmed. If you use the other key with the other transponder it will trigger a theft alert because that transponder will not be recognised by the system.

Not true in my case, both my gt3 and rs came with two activated fobs from new from the dealer. I regularly , say every 6 mths, alternate the key sets with their appropiate fob and have no problems.

btw, how can I test is the tracker actually working, can I ring up cobra and ask them do a test, and also, when im travelling on car ferrys I just leave the fob by the gear lever and I dont get an alert, am I correct ?

[mankey]

DSM2 said:

This Is Pete said:

It's a shame those things are so easy to deactivate.

They're not, in my experience. Takes a firm press for about 8 seconds, like the book says.

As he says. Takes much more than a momentary press. Could be something else. There is just a possibility that one of your sensors is tripping whilst parked up. You could either get it checked out by someone and the codes checked or you could try setting the alarm without the internal sensors activated. Just press the remote twice and the indicators will come on steady for a short while to let you know it's worked.

[This Is Pete]

The issue was that I had deactivated my fob, the pressure inside my wallet was in the right place for it to turn the fob off.

Was extra careful with it on the way home and got no text messages at all.