996 alarm probLem
Discussion
My 98 996 has developed a problem with it's standard alarm. About six months ago the red light on the locking button on the dash started to stay on, when I pressed it, I seemed to lock the doors and then unlock straight away. It didn't give any other problem so I chose to ignore it. However about a week ago when I came away from the car after locking it with the remote button it made a single cherp sound. This continued for a few days and did it whether or not it was locked. Then after a few days of this when it as was locked it made the usual cherp when leaving it and then a further two cherps when it was locked. And yesterday the alarm started sounding for no apparent reason and wouldn't switch off either by remote or key and when the key was placed in the ignition the car would start and stop the alarm but only for a second then back to sounding again. This happened at least six times in a row yesterday before it stopped. And has been quiet ever since. I didn't use the car today incase it let me down. Any ideas ? Or is it a visit to the autosparks for me.
Hello
The chirping you describe is it a horn beep or a siren chirp ? if horn beep then it is possible something is not closed so its letting you know, if its alarm siren chirp then the battery back up siren maybe flat and need a new siren (as batteries are internal) also maybe the tilt sensor maybe full of water which is attatched underneath the siren located to the left of the car battery.
Check underneath passanger seat for water ingress, as the alarm control unit is located underneath the seat.
Mike
The chirping you describe is it a horn beep or a siren chirp ? if horn beep then it is possible something is not closed so its letting you know, if its alarm siren chirp then the battery back up siren maybe flat and need a new siren (as batteries are internal) also maybe the tilt sensor maybe full of water which is attatched underneath the siren located to the left of the car battery.
Check underneath passanger seat for water ingress, as the alarm control unit is located underneath the seat.
Mike
Hi Guys,
Just a quick note to add - yup the single chirp indicates something isnt "closing" properly. I had this on my 996 when i first picked it up, and despite everything appearing to be locked up fine occasionally and at random the alarm would go off, which became desperately annoying (woke up the neighbours, saw me running about in my pants at a small hotel in the middle of the night, which to be honest no one really needs to see).
It went to Exeter OPC once, and Reading twice. The fault was finally diagnosed as a "faulty/corroded connection to the stereo" - from what i gather circuit must include a connection to make sure your stereo isnt in the process of being nicked. Once Reading had sorted it (not included in warranty, 150 quid if i remember) it never re-ocurred.
Make sure you get that checked too - i had to resort to leaving my car unlocked in the garage with the drivers door open so the alarm didnt auto arm, or take the battery out - it was driving me mental.
Regards,
R.
Just a quick note to add - yup the single chirp indicates something isnt "closing" properly. I had this on my 996 when i first picked it up, and despite everything appearing to be locked up fine occasionally and at random the alarm would go off, which became desperately annoying (woke up the neighbours, saw me running about in my pants at a small hotel in the middle of the night, which to be honest no one really needs to see).
It went to Exeter OPC once, and Reading twice. The fault was finally diagnosed as a "faulty/corroded connection to the stereo" - from what i gather circuit must include a connection to make sure your stereo isnt in the process of being nicked. Once Reading had sorted it (not included in warranty, 150 quid if i remember) it never re-ocurred.
Make sure you get that checked too - i had to resort to leaving my car unlocked in the garage with the drivers door open so the alarm didnt auto arm, or take the battery out - it was driving me mental.
Regards,
R.
M@verick said:
running about in my pants at a small hotel in the middle of the night
R.
I did this once without pants at a posh hotel in Surrey after a wedding party. I basically woke up needing a slash and took a wrong turn into the hotel corridor instead of the toilet and I had no key obviously. Very amusing. R.
In your case, you seem to be doing this voluntarily, as stopping for trousers would only take an extra 6 seconds or so. An unacceptable and gratuitous display of flesh - not cool!
I own a Zenith Blue 1999 Porsche 911 (996) Carrera with factory aero kit (as featured in 911 & Porsche World magazine on a few occasions). I bought the car from Yorkshire Classic Porsche in May 2012.
I have never had any issues with the alarm, until last week.
One evening I came home from walking the dog and heard the alarm sounding in the garage. When I went in the siren was going off, but no lights flashing etc. Whatever I did, I was unable to silence it. Every so often it came to the end of its cycle, then chirped and started again!!
This went on for five or so cycles, and then suddenly it stopped.
After that, all was OK.
Yesterday, I had the car out for a run (for around an hour) and then stopped at the local shop to pick up a paper on my return. As I shut the door, the siren went off (I had not even locked the car at this point)!! Nothing I did would silence it. Locking or unlocking, ignition on or off, engine on or off!! Again, no lights flashing, just the siren.
I drove home (wishing I could have found a paper bag to wear on my head to hide my embarrassment) and drove into the garage, opened the front luggage lid, removed the plastic cowlings etc., but could not stop the siren. At this point it had been sounding for five or ten minutes.
I finally disconnected the battery negative lead and that killed it.
Half an hour later, I reconnected the battery and all was calm.
I reset the radio and time etc., and reckoned I was on to a winner.
Strangely though, the alarm chirped when I locked the car (not the beep from the horn indicating an open door). It has never chirped like this before.
I have left the car for a while now and it is still quiet, although I have heard an occasional chirp from the alarm, but it has not fired off.
Do you have any ideas what the cause could be please?
The car battery has seen better days, but is often on a trickle charger to keep it topped up.
I'm concerned that my next trip out may result in similar embarrassment, so any advice you could offer would be greatly appreciated!
Many thanks.
I have never had any issues with the alarm, until last week.
One evening I came home from walking the dog and heard the alarm sounding in the garage. When I went in the siren was going off, but no lights flashing etc. Whatever I did, I was unable to silence it. Every so often it came to the end of its cycle, then chirped and started again!!
This went on for five or so cycles, and then suddenly it stopped.
After that, all was OK.
Yesterday, I had the car out for a run (for around an hour) and then stopped at the local shop to pick up a paper on my return. As I shut the door, the siren went off (I had not even locked the car at this point)!! Nothing I did would silence it. Locking or unlocking, ignition on or off, engine on or off!! Again, no lights flashing, just the siren.
I drove home (wishing I could have found a paper bag to wear on my head to hide my embarrassment) and drove into the garage, opened the front luggage lid, removed the plastic cowlings etc., but could not stop the siren. At this point it had been sounding for five or ten minutes.
I finally disconnected the battery negative lead and that killed it.
Half an hour later, I reconnected the battery and all was calm.
I reset the radio and time etc., and reckoned I was on to a winner.
Strangely though, the alarm chirped when I locked the car (not the beep from the horn indicating an open door). It has never chirped like this before.
I have left the car for a while now and it is still quiet, although I have heard an occasional chirp from the alarm, but it has not fired off.
Do you have any ideas what the cause could be please?
The car battery has seen better days, but is often on a trickle charger to keep it topped up.
I'm concerned that my next trip out may result in similar embarrassment, so any advice you could offer would be greatly appreciated!
Many thanks.
I've had a reply to my query from a Porsche Specialist, who confirms that the siren units can develop internal faults causing the siren to chirp or activate for no reason. The only way to solve it (once basic checks have been carried out to rule out simple wiring / fuse issues) is to replace the siren unit (well over £200 new, if you can find one). A cheaper alternative is to simply remove it and rely on the basic horn alarm, but how this would be viewed when it came to an insurance claim concerns me somewhat. Replacement it is then! :-(
sportsandclassic said:
Hello
The chirping you describe is it a horn beep or a siren chirp ? if horn beep then it is possible something is not closed so its letting you know, if its alarm siren chirp then the battery back up siren maybe flat and need a new siren (as batteries are internal) also maybe the tilt sensor maybe full of water which is attatched underneath the siren located to the left of the car battery.
Check underneath passanger seat for water ingress, as the alarm control unit is located underneath the seat.
Mike
My 996 makes quite a loud beep when i alarm it, but done it since i owned car & thought this was normal? Is something wrong with it as all seems to work?The chirping you describe is it a horn beep or a siren chirp ? if horn beep then it is possible something is not closed so its letting you know, if its alarm siren chirp then the battery back up siren maybe flat and need a new siren (as batteries are internal) also maybe the tilt sensor maybe full of water which is attatched underneath the siren located to the left of the car battery.
Check underneath passanger seat for water ingress, as the alarm control unit is located underneath the seat.
Mike
iaiin said:
My 996 makes quite a loud beep when i alarm it, but done it since i owned car & thought this was normal? Is something wrong with it as all seems to work?
Aftermarket radio? Could be the alarm contact is connected incorrectly. Otherwise, it is an open compartment (centre console lid is favourite) or a dodgy microswitch on one of the compartment lids or doors.
Richard Hamilton said:
Aftermarket radio? Could be the alarm contact is connected incorrectly.
Otherwise, it is an open compartment (centre console lid is favourite) or a dodgy microswitch on one of the compartment lids or doors.
richard Otherwise, it is an open compartment (centre console lid is favourite) or a dodgy microswitch on one of the compartment lids or doors.
ok thanks, no aftermarket stuff, it has 6 cd player under bonnet but dont know if standard or not ?
It all works ok is there any point in sorting it ? I thought it was slightly annoying how loud the beep was but thought this was normal?
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