Bit of an alarm problem

[the Nefyn cat]

As you may have heard, there was quite a bit of rain here a couple of weeks ago. Since then, if I use the remote to lock the doors and set the alarm it'll go off within a couple of minutes and keep on doing it till I turn it off again. So, is there a sensor under the carpet or somewhere low down? I know I should be taking the seats/carpets out and looking for something myself, but my 330 suffered quite badly in the flood we had here (tidemark still on there, halfway up the doors) and I've been a bit busy trying to dry that out, and the Z has to get me about the place in the meantime. It's a bu55er living out in the country at times.

 

[t-tony]

As you may have heard, there was quite a bit of rain here a couple of weeks ago. Since then, if I use the remote to lock the doors and set the alarm it'll go off within a couple of minutes and keep on doing it till I turn it off again. So, is there a sensor under the carpet or somewhere low down? I know I should be taking the seats/carpets out and looking for something myself, but my 330 suffered quite badly in the flood we had here (tidemark still on there, halfway up the doors) and I've been a bit busy trying to dry that out, and the Z has to get me about the place in the meantime. It's a bu55er living out in the country at times.

I seem to remember that there are items in the side wells of the boot, particularly the N/S which can get water logged and affect the locking/alarm systems. @Antm72

Tony.

 

[the Nefyn cat]

Hmmm. Will have a look in the boot when there's time, not seen any water in there but haven't had time to dig deep. Just lucky the Z was parked at the other end of the carpark from the 330, poor little thing might have floated away. Never seen that much water here before.

 

[colb]

Tilt sensor for the alarm lives in the nearside boot well and will drown if it gets submerged in trapped water.

 

[t-tony]

Thanks Col.

Tony.

 

[the Nefyn cat]

Definitely have to find some time tomorrow, shame the weather forecast is for more of that cold cr4p. There's a fair bit of electronics under the carpet in the 330, fine place to hide it until you get 6 inches of water inside the car. And it seems like the dashboard has to come out to get the front carpets out. WTF?

 

[t-tony]

If it's had that much water in the electronics is it salvageable?

Tony.

 

[Ianmc]

The only alarm issue I have had is the under bonnet switch. This is a common failure issue on the Z3. Failure symptoms much as you describe, i.e. lock car and alarm goes off a little while later. Has to be first place to check.

 

[Antm72]

I seem to remember that there are items in the side wells of the boot, particularly the N/S which can get water logged and affect the locking/alarm systems. @Antm72

Tony.

As mentioned it may be the tilt sensor if a light seal or ariel grommit is bad it fills up with water.
check you bonnet switch to it may want a clean

 

[the Nefyn cat]

I left the 330 alone with the carpets and seats out for a couple of weeks, charged up the battery, re-fitted it yesterday and, would you believe, fired up first turn of the key. Just got to get the interior back together and wash the tidemark off and it'll be (almost) good as new.Not had time for the Z yet, work keeps getting in the way. 'king horses

 

[t-tony]

I left the 330 alone with the carpets and seats out for a couple of weeks, charged up the battery, re-fitted it yesterday and, would you believe, fired up first turn of the key. Just got to get the interior back together and wash the tidemark off and it'll be (almost) good as new.Not had time for the Z yet, work keeps getting in the way. 'king horses

Great news on the 330 mate, hope the Z isn't a problem too.

Tony.

 

[the Nefyn cat]

It's only an annoyance, can still lock it with the key and unlock with the remote, just keep forgetting, walking away and hearing the alarm go off. Lucky I normally live where I work, would be a bu55er if I was living in town.

 

[colb]

Just a thought if it isn't the bonnet switch or the tilt sensor in the boot it could be the loom of doom between the body and the boot lid with broken wires, matter of stripping outer back and checking each individual wire for breaks, any found should be repaired by soldering and covering with heatshrink then re wrap the loom.

 

[jonco]

.............. just keep forgetting, walking away and hearing the alarm go off.......

You can temporarily unplug the bonnet switch to test whether that is your problem. Take care to identify which plug it is - on the pre-face lift there is a similar spare plug in the loom right next to it. When I did mine I couldn't remember which was which - much to my embarrassment.