Random Alarm Triggering
 

My alarm has started to trigger itself (once even while driving). It usually sounds for a few seconds and then repeats after a few seconds and does it again a few times. It makes no difference if I lock/unlock the car or if I start it.

And once it's been through it's little ritual, it behaves itself for weeks at a time .... and then triggers as above.

Not sure if the indicators are supposed to flash when the alarm triggers, but mine don't.

Anyone got any ideas?

Maybe it's just the alarm horn, some sort of internal fault?
Have you done a VCDS scan?

Not done a scan yet - the laptop is flat and we're going away in the morning, so don't reall have time. Should the indicators flash too, though?

If the alarm is triggered then yes, the indicators will flash. If they're not then I'd agree with Andrew that its likely a sounder fault, especially if its gone off while driving.

Thanks Andrew and MJ. I’ve changed the alarm before and IIRC it was a real PITA! I think I’ll just look for the fuse and pull that for now. And look for a replacement alarm.

Sounds like the common leaky internal battery fault in the alarm unit/sounder. I changed my alarm unit several years ago but I seem to remember lots of similar strangeness and chirping.

But I can’t find the fuse. The alarm diodes fuse is listed, but not the alarm itself.

when mine did that I removed the alarm horn and never bothered with it, think the connection to the horn was damaged and you're right it's a PIA trying to fix as there is no "play" in the wiring. Think I might have a spare horn lying around somewhere, but that wont be much use if the wiring is gubbed...

I've replaced mine with the "later" version and located it in a slightly different position (same basic area) so that the wiring isn't quite as taut.

Can't recall if there's a fuse, probably not a separate one as such, just disconnect and ideally remove the thing.

If you take Brian up on his offer, head over to this thread on how to replace it:

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6992

...and you're right, it is a real PITA.