Alarm malfunction message
 

V60 Polestar, 2015.

Loads of posts about this type of problem on various platforms; the problem on my car seems different.

Initially, I thought it was the sensor on the bonnet catch. I don't get a "bonnet" open message though. I did once, when it wasn't fully closed. So I don't think it's that ( open to being told otherwise though!).

I set the alarm, after a while all 4 indicators start flashing, but no alarm siren sound. It happens if the battery is on charge or not on charge, fully charged or not and whether the alarm is set on "reduced guard" or not.

I have to leave it unlocked; ironically shielded by a fellow Swede car, a 2007 9-3 Aero convertible with a fully functioning alarm system at 14 years old !

It's not good for a modern car ( I relented on an earlier vow based on my 2004/5 V70 D5, never to buy another Volvo as the electronics and electrical components and connectors were so dire !). I think I was wrong to relent !

The car is now 6 years old with less than 15,000 miles on it; en route to "we buy anycar" I think unfortunately !

I believe that the alarm battery is totally separate from the cars. As such it can and indeed does sometimes expire and occasionally take the alarm p.c.b. with it! The whole unit is usually found behind the drivers side wheel arch inside the plastic cover. Your model may be different from mine!

Today, I had it locked for 6 hours on "reduced guard", the alarm never triggered once ! I'll risk leaving it like that overnight, with the Saab still in place !

This malfunction is especially worrying now. Our village is suffering a crime wave at the moment, mainly thefts and suspicious van movements according to the local milkman at his delivery times, around ca 04;00 (the ones he reported turned out to be untaxed, no MOT or have false plates). There is a newly arrived load of Gypsys and their caravans at the other end of the village, surely not related to the crime wave ?

Update;

Well, the alarm did not trigger overnight nor at any time today until 17:30 (only indicators flashing and a rapidly flashing LED on the dash )! Why, what has changed ? I have no idea. Maybe a battery voltage issue with the siren ( which does not sound). I unlocked it, 20 minutes later it was triggered again, as the car had locked itself/ set the alarm. I unlocked it. opened a door and closed it, hopefully now it will not relock itself. Who knows.

This gets worse.

Automatic switching on of the heated wheel and heated drivers seats is set as "off".

They come on regardless, even though the fuse for the heated wheel according to the on line owners manual is not fitted !

The UK/ RHD on line user manual is wrong as far as fuse box location is concerned; it is a mirror image from the LHD vehicles.

What fuse protects which circuit, who knows ?

The ultrasonic detector unit was rattling and loose in the central headliner light assembly.

It's not a great quality performance from Volvo really.

I disconnected the siren 5A fuse ( if that is indeed the correct one). No alarm yet, I suspect it's the siren unit that is at fault.

This reminds me of my 2004 V70 D5; bought new from a Volvo dealer, many electronic problems to the extent they asked me if it had ever been submerged under water; NO !

Hi Graham

Did you ever get this issue fixed? My MY15 V60 Polestar is doing the exact same thing. I get the alarm notification with the hazards flashing but no siren.

Any thoughts or advice is greatly appreciated.

Mike

I'd be interested as well.
Mine's also en route to we buy any car but I could do with the alarm system malfunction message removing first to avoid them trying to knock me down a grand. I can't find the siren unit, I've looked under the scuttle panel and both front wheel arches but there's no sign. I was hoping to drill it open and replace the batteries.

The alarm siren is behind the passenger side (UK) front wheelarch liner; high up at the back of the wheelarch.

I removed mine when I fitted the winter wheels and tyres I have and took it apart ( angle grinder on the welds). No leakage from the battery, no corrosion internally, everything nice and clean. I fitted a (fully charged) new battery to it and refitted it; still the same problem.

My diagnostics showed a siren issue. The error message could be erased, but comes back.

The car got serviced, their diagnostics showed the same issue. Their suggestion; Needs to be booked in for a new siren to be fitted. I'm not so sure !

I was going to fit a new one myself when I put the summer tyres back on; I think I'll get the dealer to do it instead; if it works, great. If it doesn't then they will need to find out why ( and shouldn't really charge me the £200 or so for the siren if the old one was OK).

The right CTA has also developed a fault; multiple rapid warnings when I was driving along, nothing there and then a BLIS/ CTA service required message appeared. The unit is not communicating with the car.

Thanks for the info.

I do love the car and thoroughly enjoy driving it, but I've had several issues with the electrics over the years and it's getting tiresome. Still, I'll keep it for a few years longer :tounge_smile:

My alarm went off at 3am this morning. It sounded for about 30 seconds and then went quiet but with the indicators still flashing.

I only looked for the siren in the front part of the wheel arch as the one's online seemed to be under the headlamps. I think I'll just bite the bullet and get it booked in at the dealers.
Thanks.