Octy 2 1.4TSI ESTATE CAXA

Quite uncertain where to enter this question. The keyfob#1 has started to cause serious problems with the car alarm system. So far keyfob#2 is working with no problem. Car alarm starting randomly and only disconnecting the battery helped. Yesterday the alarm kept sounding/flashing even when the engine was running - undrivable.

Is there a home cure whereby I can remap/reset the key fob? My very helpful auto sparks is unable to help

I would suggest that your problem is not with the key fob, but with the alarm system itself - if the fob is disengaging the immobiliser to allow the engine to start, this suggests to me that the fob is working correctly.

Disconnecting the vehicle battery should not stop the alarm, as it has a self-contained, internal battery.

Thank you Warrior183.

12 hours ago, Warrior193 said:

Disconnecting the vehicle battery should not stop the alarm,

as it has a self-contained, internal battery.

No does not make it stop, it will keep sounding till the battery of the alarm drained.

That's why there is a key hole in the side of the alarm's box and a set of 2 keys provided after the alarm installation.

I think that the battery inside the alarm is Li-ion and lasts many-many years.

^^^ & it has been in the car for 16 years now if the car is a 2010 Octavia which is 'many'.

Mine is in the alarm for 25 years and still working.

@D.FYLAKTOS Different alarm, in a different model and in a different environment / climate. So maybe someone with similar to the op in a similar location can comment on their alarm battery life. Not exactly an unknown issue!

Edited 15 June15 Jun by Evolution13

So it's time for a competition "who's alarm battery lasts longer from which brand-model and which location-enviroment temperature".

This will take some years to complete...

@D.FYLAKTOS Just relevant if the Mk2 Octavia Siren Battery might be more like a Mk2 Fabia's which might be as low as 8 years & needing replaced or 16 years old and still not as issue. The Alarm Siren showed in the Service Book as a replacement item at 5 years. Skoda / VW Group were the ones publishing the @ 5 year crap. & replacing whole units. You would have thought that they would know that they had fitted ones to cars already that were going to be good for 25 years.,,,,,,,,,,,,

Edited 15 June15 Jun by Evolution13

OK, "case closed" otherwise the @somean49 thread will ruined.

I would recommend buying a new alarm unit as others have found that the secondhand units have come from old crushed cars sources or other sources and only last a short time.

Once you start to have alarms at random, you will not be popular with your neighbours. The internal battery is NiMH and cannot be replaced by a LiPo or Li-ion battery.

See also the sticky posts above these threads.

Both my old Octavia and old Seat which I keep for parts had random alarms going off. Finally narrowed it down to when the car battery is getting low on voltage it seems to trigger alarm. Similar to alarm going off if you remove battery when alarm is on. Check the voltage on your battery in case its the same.

Alasdair

Edited 15 June15 Jun by Alasdair1

Thanks to all the correspondents so far. I think I shall follow-up on Alasdair's suggestion first before engaging in slightly bizarre tests on the alarm battery itself, mainly because that unit is 'hidden' somewhere in a wheel arch amid 16 years of filth.

^^^ The thing is you posted the alarm was still sounding when the engine was running.

1 hour ago, Evolution13 said:

^^^ The thing is you posted the alarm was still sounding when the engine was running.

That is quite true and alarming (no pun intended)

I abbreviated the sequence of events as the greatest problem arose when the alarm siren went off during the night. But other glitches had occurred.

For some weeks fob#1 had been showing reluctance to open the doors cleanly, needing a second press sometimes.

One one occasion all four windows opened as if I had kept constant pressure on the unlock button. I had not.

I got into the habit of unlocking the doors at night by fob#1 then relocking with the key in the driver's door. This was mostly successful at keeping the alarm silent. Leaving the vehicle unlocked also kept the alarm silent (of course?). These things had led me to blame the fob#1.

During these weeks I had checked the fob#1 battery, good at 2.9V. And I did not know that the alarm had its own power source. My auto sparks disconnected the interior alarm to establish whether that might have been the source of my neighbours' and my misery. The continuing siren soundings showed it had not been implicated. It is now reconnected.

The 12v battery had been disconnected until just before the autospark's last visit. As soon as I reconnected it, the siren sounded. It continued with the key in the ignition. It remained sounding when the engine was started.

The use of fob#2 appeared to stop the phantom siren soundings. But these have occurred once since the change-over.

Key fob battery has had it should be 3.2 - 3.3 volts. At 2.9 it is needing changed. Worth trying as they arent that expensive.

Alasdair

👍

If that doesn't help it may be possible to disable alarm. Folks had a mk1 fabia 1.9tdi estate that the alarm kept going off. Local garage disabled it as the car was about the same age as yours and we thought no one would bother stealing it. Not sure what they did exactly but it worked.

Alasdair

Thanks for that. Quite encouraging because, although I live in S London, I suspect most vehicles which are 'alf-inched' for joyriding are BMW or the like