Testing the alarm

mfresh · Nov 3rd, 2011, 11:48

I've had the dreaded alarm service required vehicle message a month or so back, and took it in to the dealer for the mass movement sensor to be replaced, but now the message seems to be coming back from time to time.

So my question is this - how do you test the alarm? I have tried locking the doors while leaving the window open, and then waving my arm in the through the window, but that doesn't seem to activate the alarm. Would that be enough to set it off if it is working properly?

The only way I can get the alarm to sound is to press and hold the red triangle on the key fob for 5 seconds - that certainly does the trick, but is clearly cheating as far as testing whether the alarm sensors are working.

Thanks for any advice!

jimbg · Nov 3rd, 2011, 12:48

Well mine went very quickly when I left the dog in the car and forgot to press OK for reduced guard.

She was in the boot and stood up and of it went!!

thanosgr · Nov 3rd, 2011, 16:02

1) You can lock the car and you inside the car after a minute move or try to get out...
2) Try to unlock the car with the key.
In both cases the alarm must come on!

wimorrison · Nov 3rd, 2011, 17:51

I know that mine works on the Mallaig to Armadale ferry - there were two XC60s on the ferry and both our alarms kept going off

- as did the BMWs, but not any of the other makes.

darbs · Nov 3rd, 2011, 20:15

ask someone to sit in the car, then lock the doors with the fob (or door button if you have pcc). get them to move around a bit.

robg · Nov 3rd, 2011, 20:39

remember to allow at least a minute for the alarm to set and arm itself after you lock it before you try and prove the sensor.

mfresh · Nov 3rd, 2011, 21:59

Thanks for all your replies. I'll give all these methods a try. Apart from the ferry one, perhaps.

Clan · Nov 3rd, 2011, 22:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by mfresh

I've had the dreaded alarm service required vehicle message a month or so back, and took it in to the dealer for the mass movement sensor to be replaced, but now the message seems to be coming back from time to time.

So my question is this - how do you test the alarm? I have tried locking the doors while leaving the window open, and then waving my arm in the through the window, but that doesn't seem to activate the alarm. Would that be enough to set it off if it is working properly?

The only way I can get the alarm to sound is to press and hold the red triangle on the key fob for 5 seconds - that certainly does the trick, but is clearly cheating as far as testing whether the alarm sensors are working.
Thanks for any advice!

That is not the alarm at all you will notice it is the HORN which sounds not the alarm siren :-) It is a panic alarm or for finding your car in a car park , it works well for that purpose .

mfresh · Nov 4th, 2011, 09:56

Aha! Well that's interesting. Having never heard the alarm go off I didn't realise that it had its own sound - I though it probably used the horn.

At least I know that the horn works, although I believe that there is another way of testing it by pressing on the centre of the steering wheel...

wimorrison · Nov 4th, 2011, 12:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clan

That is not the alarm at all you will notice it is the HORN which sounds not the alarm siren :-) It is a panic alarm or for finding your car in a car park , it works well for that purpose .

So what was going off to make the noise on the ferry?

Sure sounded like a horn to me , not a siren and disarming the alarm stopped the noise

Nov 3rd, 2011, 11:48	#1
mfresh Nice person Last Online: May 2nd, 2024 18:06 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Henley on Thames	Testing the alarm I've had the dreaded alarm service required vehicle message a month or so back, and took it in to the dealer for the mass movement sensor to be replaced, but now the message seems to be coming back from time to time. So my question is this - how do you test the alarm? I have tried locking the doors while leaving the window open, and then waving my arm in the through the window, but that doesn't seem to activate the alarm. Would that be enough to set it off if it is working properly? The only way I can get the alarm to sound is to press and hold the red triangle on the key fob for 5 seconds - that certainly does the trick, but is clearly cheating as far as testing whether the alarm sensors are working. Thanks for any advice!

Nov 3rd, 2011, 17:51	#4
wimorrison Grumpy Old Sod Last Online: Dec 14th, 2021 15:39 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Hampshire, nee Scotland	I know that mine works on the Mallaig to Armadale ferry - there were two XC60s on the ferry and both our alarms kept going off - as did the BMWs, but not any of the other makes. __________________ Currently XC60 Previously XC60, V70, S40, ...

Nov 3rd, 2011, 20:15	#5
darbs XC60 Owner Last Online: Mar 21st, 2022 00:40 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: London View Photos By: darbs	ask someone to sit in the car, then lock the doors with the fob (or door button if you have pcc). get them to move around a bit. __________________ 59 (MY10) XC60 D5 205 AWD Geartronic SE Lux 54 RX8 231ps Renesis ****el 96 Megane Coupe 2.0 82 Metro 1.0

Nov 3rd, 2011, 12:48	#2
jimbg Master Member Last Online: May 10th, 2022 13:27 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: By the Sea	Well mine went very quickly when I left the dog in the car and forgot to press OK for reduced guard. She was in the boot and stood up and of it went!!

Nov 3rd, 2011, 16:02	#3
thanosgr Thanos Last Online: May 1st, 2024 17:08 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Thessaloniki	1) You can lock the car and you inside the car after a minute move or try to get out... 2) Try to unlock the car with the key. In both cases the alarm must come on!

Nov 3rd, 2011, 20:39	#6
robg Member Last Online: Nov 6th, 2012 20:35 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Brentwood	remember to allow at least a minute for the alarm to set and arm itself after you lock it before you try and prove the sensor.

Nov 3rd, 2011, 21:59	#7
mfresh Nice person Last Online: May 2nd, 2024 18:06 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Henley on Thames	Thanks for all your replies. I'll give all these methods a try. Apart from the ferry one, perhaps.

Nov 4th, 2011, 09:56	#9
mfresh Nice person Last Online: May 2nd, 2024 18:06 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Henley on Thames	Aha! Well that's interesting. Having never heard the alarm go off I didn't realise that it had its own sound - I though it probably used the horn. At least I know that the horn works, although I believe that there is another way of testing it by pressing on the centre of the steering wheel...

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