Alright guys, came across this website while trying to find a fix for my faulty car alarm, which keeps going off randomly. It all started a couple weeks ago, and after a few attempted fixes (inc. battery checks, cleaning and eventually unplugging the sensors located behind the sunglasses case, removing the fuse for the alarm etc.), it keeps coming back... it's proving to be quite the puzzle game.

 

It could be due to the age of the battery powering the car alarm, which I've seen elsewhere only has an official shelf life of 6 years, and I don't think it's ever been changed (I drive a Skoda Octavia Estate Mkii Diesel 1.9L - 2005 model, I know the previous two owners and they never changed it and I doubt the older ones did either). This is probably the most likely issue, followed by a faulty sensor, probably the bonnet.

 

It seems to be a fairly common occurrence for this car, one of very few issues, from what I've seen. Other than this, it's been a great car and I'm hoping to keep it for some years to come.

 

I've learned about the VCDS system, and found this handy link on the forum which lists where all the VCDS owners are located in the UK and beyond:

 

 

I may have restricted privileges for private messaging, as I only signed up today, so I will make a public post and tag all the local members who may be able to lend me a hand and fix this issue using their VCDS diagnostics system (we can discuss any arrangements privately, of course).

 

@mluton, @*murph*, @bradh, @Jonny5ive, @micloi, @cjb, @jrw @MPM -- would any of you lads be able to help me out? I saw that some of you have been inactive for a few years, others showing recent activity, so hopefully some of you will receive this message in good time.

 

Also, @Vrsburnzy -- saw you posted these screenshots in the following thread:

... and made it sound like you had access to a VCDS system? And you're in Bham as well? Perhaps you could help me gain access to VCDS.

 

I'm currently in Sheldon, near the Birmingham airport. I chose all the members within a reasonable distance, anyone who responds I will try to arrange something with, considering the nearest location as well.

 

I need one of the following VCDS systems (below is pasted from link above):

 

Octavia II (1Z) = HEX-NET / HEX-V2 / HEX+CAN / Micro-CAN

 

Hopefully one of you can help me to access the VCDS so we can locate exactly what's wrong with it.

 

Anyone else here that has experience with this, comment and let me know, otherwise I will hold out for one of the members above to reach out!

 

Thanks, and much appreciated for any help.

You have done exceptionally well by not having to change the alarm unit in 17 years. Mine failed at about 9 years and other reports are less than this. Your symptoms agree with what others have reported. Some people have cut the alarm case open and replaced the Varta cells to repair the alarm. Some have found damage to the printed circuit board by cell leakage.

 

I would recommend biting the bullet and getting a new (expensive) alarm unit. There are cheap second hand units on a well known auction site but my suspicion is they not much better than your current alarm.

Agreed, I bought an Ali-Express one and the Canbus Gateway could never communicate with it, a chocolate teapot!

 

My Yeti is 7 years old now and I'm expecting problems soon.

12 hours ago, pikpilot said:

You have done exceptionally well by not having to change the alarm unit in 17 years. Mine failed at about 9 years and other reports are less than this. Your symptoms agree with what others have reported. Some people have cut the alarm case open and replaced the Varta cells to repair the alarm. Some have found damage to the printed circuit board by cell leakage.

 

I would recommend biting the bullet and getting a new (expensive) alarm unit. There are cheap second hand units on a well known auction site but my suspicion is they not much better than your current alarm.

 

11 hours ago, J.R. said:

Agreed, I bought an Ali-Express one and the Canbus Gateway could never communicate with it, a chocolate teapot!

 

My Yeti is 7 years old now and I'm expecting problems soon.

 

We've known the car history for 5+ years and the alarm unit hasn't been changed, I doubt it was with the first owner.

 

So I've found some potential links to the alarm units, are these the ones you would recommend:

 

First-hand, official supplier, £163 - https://www.theskodashop.co.uk/products/electronic-siren-1k0951605f?_pos=1&_sid=69a6cb427&_ss=r

 

AliExpress, made in China, £14 - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32867380080.html?priceBeautifyAB=0

 

I spoke with my stepdad, he's saying we should go for the cheap one, it's a tough one.

 

If there are any other links or places you would recommend to look, please share them below and I'll check them out, cheers.

2 minutes ago, dodd93 said:

 

 

AliExpress, made in China, £14 - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32867380080.html?priceBeautifyAB=0

 

 

My mistake, it's £14 for the wire, but the "FULL KIT" (Siren + Install wire) is £74 on this link. Is that the right one? I've heard they were cheaper elsewhere.

 

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32867380080.html

 

I bought a cheap one from China it did not work even cut it open and it was nothing like the original, do your self a favor buy OEM like I ended up doing and save time and money. 

10 hours ago, dodd93 said:

 

My mistake, it's £14 for the wire, but the "FULL KIT" (Siren + Install wire) is £74 on this link. Is that the right one? I've heard they were cheaper elsewhere.

 

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32867380080.html

 

Of course its not the right one, the clue is in you having to buy a connector with untermibated wires to bodge into your loom, it does not even look remotely like the correct unit for the part number they have quoted and probably will not fit in the security cage under the wheelarch, I can pretty much guarantee that it will not communicate with the body control module (or is it the instrument binnacle?) and hence wont go off when commanded.

 

If you buy a genuine one then it should work, I would probably still take a chance on a cheap one if it at least has the right casing and connector I have had some genuine VAG stuff through Ali-Express that was made in China for the domestic manufacturing plants, but I would try it ASAP and claim a refund if it didn't work.

 

At the VAG price I would just go without an alarm and remove it from the installation list to stop fault codes.

Hi, I just removed mine. This didn't produce any warning lights.

Just to share a small update from my original post:

 

I took it into a local garage where he had a VCDS system (at least I'm 99% sure that's what he was using). The diagnostics report discovered a fault with the boot latch, apparently it wasn't registering as shut on occasion, which he theorised could have been agitating the alarm, but this was just a best guess. Without the alarm going off at the garage, it was hard to say what exactly was triggering it. He said we'd probably be fine to leave the fuse out for the alarm, after we'd removed it as part of our experimenting, so I left feeling positive. The other option was to replace the boot latch, but this seemed unnecessary if we could also leave it as it is.

 

Sadly, a few days later it went off again... but it only sounded the siren for a few seconds then reduced to simply flashing hazards, which is likely the effect of taking out the fuse for the alarm. I unconnected the battery, left it out overnight, and after reconnecting it in the morning, since then it hasn't gone off. That was several days ago. I'm hoping I can just wing it from now on, but potentially might have to replace the boot latch if that is what's really triggering it, but after inspecting it, it looks fine, so not sure why the diagnostics singled that out. We expected it to report a faulty boot sensor, but the sensors were fine supposedly.

 

Overall, it has settled down from the frustrating episodes over Xmas season, and I hope it remains as it is now. I will report back if there are any more disturbances or if we decide to fix it up by replacing any components.

 

Thanks all for your comments and support.