No alarm siren

[tvrheart]

In short, the functions of the alarm work fine with the exception of the audible siren. Having had the Tiv for almost a year now thought I would try the panic function just to test it out, well the hazards flashed but no siren. It's a 98 S reg Chimaera 450 with the META system. I know this topic has been done before but I can't find it - hopefully someone will have a quick fix for me
Any ideas?? I know some of the alarm gubbins is by the radiator near the grill. Where should I look first - is the alarm 'control centre' seperate to the siren?
All help gratefully received, will be making sure the garage is locked tonight then!
Mail me off-group if you like,
[e-mail]
Thanks,
Chris

>>> Edited by tvrheart on Tuesday 26th February 17:24

[rthierry]

Hmmm, I have an S reg Chimaera 450 and I have never heard the sound of the alarm either... Even with this panic mode which I triggered unintentionally once.
I just thought it ws a quiet alarm...

It is fine by me as these cars don't get nicked anyway - touch wood.

Cheers

Roms

[thb]

I noticed the same problem on my 96P. All the functions worked except the actual siren. I got it checked on the basis that my insurance company might give problems if I had to make a theft/damage claim. Turned out the siren was knackered - I reckon it was either because it is prone to damage by the grill or wet weather had got at the connections.

p.s I noticed it was very difficult to get at if you're doing it yourself!

[ATG]

My 97 Chim has a Meta system. Siren is mounted on a bracket in front of the radiator on the passenger side (close to the horn's sounder). You can reach it fairly easily through the air slots at the front if you remove the license plate. Mine was shagged by water ingress and had to be replaced. Given where it is mounted, it is exposed to the elements.

Might be worth checking that it is still plugged in to the lead from the controller. There is a connector within a few inches of the siren that in my case was sealed/bonded together with ... you guessed it ... black sealant. Having said that, it should have its own backup battery, so it should have gone bonkers for a couple of hours if that connector fell off.

[loudandfast]

is it switched on?????????? most meta sirens are battery backup sounders.look on the back of the sounder and you might have a black rubber cap.under this you will find the key switch to turn it on.if it is not turned on no sound will be heard. the key will be a small tube like key with a tree digit number stamped on. hope this helps.

andy

[manek]

I suspect the previous owner switched the alarm unit off because it went faulty due to water ingress. I've had this happen twice (the siren going faulty) in three years.

[ATG]

hang on ... r u geezers saying that the sirens all have an on/off key switch on the back ... with the key in it??? So anyone could turn the thing off?

[tvradict]

Yeah, thats not a good thing to be posting on a public forum!

I'll think I'll just go and get me a Griff...

[Bob C]

I had exactly the same symptoms - 98R 450. All the alarm functions working but no sound. First thing is to give it time to complete the arming sequence say a couple of minutes to be on the safe side and then activate the alarm. The best way to do this is take the roof off, set the alarm and then reach in and open a door with the golfball.

The siren is very exposed so as suggested by others check the connector, by the way the loose wire is the aerial. This didn't sort mine so I took it to an alarm specialist who substituted the siren but this didn't work either so I ended up with a new alarm piggy backed onto the existing immobiliser - cost 200 odd quid.

The alarm controller unit is under the dash, it may be worth poking around for loose wires.

I'm pretty certain there is no on/off switch on the siren.

BTW your insurance may be invalid!!

>> Edited by Bob C on Wednesday 27th February 08:37

[MajorClanger]

The so called on/off switch only disables the audible alarm, it's a service switch for garages when they need to disconnect the car's battery which would set the alarm off.... pretty annoying to have to work under a car blaring away!!! Alarm detection and immobiliser (if combined) should still work and lights still flash when siren deactivated.

Can you set off the alarm in any way? What happens to alarm lights and indictors when you do?

MC

[tvrheart]

Thanks for all the help so far. Just had a poke and play in the garage with the alarm. It was connected ok and I can get the siren to go off by either doing the panic mode or setting the alarm off and then disconnecting and reconnecting the siren, it then stops exactly when it should after its set number of seconds.
This makes me think that the problem probably lies with the controller box. I might have a poke around under the dash when it's daylight again but I think I will take it to my car electrics chap who seems to know everything there is to know about electrics. Depending on his verdict it seems it might be a dash out job and get the META unit fixed or put in a new system. Will post the final verdict as soon as I know in case anyone else is interested. I wonder how many other cars are going round with the same problem?!
Cheers,
Chris.

[gasblaster]

This all sounds very familiar. I have had my Tiv for over a year and never heard the alarm. There is a wire hanging from the alarm unit in the front wing - is this the aerial or should it be attached somewhere?
Bit worried about the insurance now...

[gasblaster]

This all sounds very familiar. I have had my Tiv for over a year and never heard the alarm. There is a wire hanging from the alarm unit in the front wing - is this the aerial or should it be attached somewhere?
Bit worried about the insurance now...

[Bob C]

gasblaster - it could well be the aerial. On mine ('98 450) its part of the bunch of wires that run into the connector before the siren. The aerial stops short of the connector and is bared at the end. On the insurance front my schedule clearly says the alarm should be in working order.

tvrheart - you wont need to take the dash out. You can get away with undoing the two passenger side nuts and hinging it up.

[tvrheart]

Cheers for the advice Bob_C. I will have a quick look behind the dash myself for anything obvious, failing success with that I will take it to my car electrics man, at least access to the unit sounds straight forward enough.
Insurance wise, you are indeed 100% correct but I guess my insurance will just be invalid if I have a break in as I cannot get it fixed instantly, I live in the real world, and am content (have little choice) to risk it for a few days.
Cheers,
Chris