Today I spotted an LED on the driver's door inner cap above the door handle. I take it this flashes to let would be thieves know the car is alarmed. Mine does not flash

I locked the car with the remote, went back to it a couple of minutes later and watched the LED for another minute or so, and it never flashed. is this one of the things the dealer can code on or off or is it just a fault.

I had a read through the manual but it is not mentioned.

The car has a few minor electrical problems. The parking sensors don't work, the button to open the boot from the driving seat doesn't work and the driver's heated seat doesn't heat the base (the back heats okay).

Still, what do you expect from a thirteen year old car.

Sorry I have nothing but questions.

Not having a working alarm is a blessing in disguise, you don't have to put up with false alarms.

 

No-one is gonna nick it anyway.

2 hours ago, Jocko said:

LED on the driver's door inner cap above the door handle. I take it this flashes to let would be thieves know the car is alarmed.

It's also fitted and flashes on cars with no alarm system.

20 minutes ago, KenONeill said:

It's also fitted and flashes on cars with no alarm system.

Well mine doesn't flash at all. I was even out in the dark this evening and I checked again in case it was very faint, but nothing.

36 minutes ago, Jocko said:

Well mine doesn't flash at all. I was even out in the dark this evening and I checked again in case it was very faint, but nothing.

My point was that the presence (and flashing) of the LED is not related to the presence or absence of an alarm system.

22 minutes ago, KenONeill said:

My point was that the presence (and flashing) of the LED is not related to the presence or absence of an alarm system.

Yes, I understood that. You even get stick on flashing LEDs for your dashboard for about £4 on Amazon.

Edinburgh toe rags are maybe nutters but they are not stupid.

If the want to pan in your windows they will and if they want the car they will have it.

 Try the alarm first get in with the remote lock the car and wait a bit then move around see if it goes off if not it it might  be a fault in the wiring mostly it's the door connection from the car to the door it's clamped in with a pull over handle, it gets wet at some point and causes problems, to get at it the best way is o remove the door stay so you can open the door wider than normal then prise out the rubber cover pull the handle clip away from the connection and remove the connector, give it a good clean a spray with wd and i used a good quality silicon grease on the pins then put it back together then get the rubber bck in place not forgetting to replace the door stay 

Please note - I am not a mechanic or expert in anything.

 

If you want to know if you have a (factory) working alarm fitted then just use the keyblade to open the door and do not put the key into the ignition lock and switch the ignition on within 15 seconds after unlocking the door - you and your neighbours will soon know.

 

Or perhaps you don't want to know and assume for insurance purposes that it is working.  I too prefer not to have a car alarm or electronic immobiliser just more potential for trouble.

 

 

Edited 21 January, 20233 yr by nta16
ETA: Please note - I am not a mechanic or expert in anything.

Please note - I am not a mechanic or expert in anything.

 

Murdockman posted whilst I was still typing.

 

One thing I would say don't bother with WD-40 Multi-Use instead get a can of GT85 and it will disperse the water and is a better lubricant than WD-40 Multi-Use and doesn't contain silicone which some say can coat the paintwork, GT85 has PTFE.

 

ETA: It will also help to ease the rubber back into place.

 

 

Edited 21 February, 20233 yr by nta16
ETA:

1 hour ago, nta16 said:

If you want to know if you have a (factory) working alarm fitted then just use the keyblade to open the door and do not put the key into the ignition lock and switch the ignition on within 15 seconds after unlocking the door

 

 

I actually typed that I had done that after sepulchrave's comment at the top but somehow, probably my stupidity, it didn't post. I know the alarm works.

I won't be be doing anything to try and get the LED working. My days of working on cars are long past.

Please note - I am not a mechanic or expert in anything.

 

10 minutes ago, Jocko said:

I actually typed that I had done that after sepulchrave's comment at the top but somehow, probably my stupidity, it didn't post. I know the alarm works.

I won't be be doing anything to try and get the LED working. My days of working on cars are long past.

I lose posts too.  Well if the alarm works you're covered for insurance at least.  The little red flashing LED is so last century, as I'm usually passenger side I didn't notice for ages after my wife got the car.  Perhaps your alarm has been swapped and that light is redundant.  As already put I don't think any would-be thief would take any notice if it was there or not, many will already have flashing lights in their heads perhaps.

 

My neighbour had an aftermarket system fitted many years back with a little numerical keypad on the dash and long after it had stopped working his wife used to pretend to put in the code.  Across the road an aftermarket in an old carvan with a blue LED that's so big and bright behind the rearview mirror that you can't avoid seeing it even when you want to, yet the alarm whistle is quite quiet.