Cobra Alarm Problem

[Spirit]

Anyone else had issues with theirs, or can offer any advise ?

I have the Cobra Elite 3 cat 1 fitted and it has started to develop a few issues.

The problems really started Friday night when I disarmed the alarm but is started going off all by itself - it took a good minute or so of button pushing to get it to stop. I got home, set it as normal and all seemed fine until at 3am it went off again all by itself, and again took ages to get it to stop (I was not popular with the neighbours :$ ). Then again around noon yesterday the same chain of events but this time it took Shaz about an hour to get it to stop.

I have just been outside now checking all the connections etc and can't seem to find any problems, except the sequence of events has got even worse. Now when you disarm the alarm it goes off for about 5 seconds then stops. When you arm it it goes off every couple of minutes - again stopping after about 5 seconds. If you just lock the doors with the key, before it even self arms the siren goes off for a few seconds but the hazards do not flash, then it arms itself and goes off every couple of minutes again.

I have now totally disconnected the car battery thinking the alarm battery back up would kick in but that does not appear to exist - no flashing LED and no self-arming etc :sad3:

Anyone got any ideas at all ? Could the battery back up in the alarm be causing all the problems if it has died ?

Thanks

Pete

[Spirit]

Keeping looking out the window to check no-one is near the car - may be a sleepless night tonight :dozey:

[Physician]

Pete,

I recollect reading a very similar story recently ........ somewhere :sad3:

If memory serves it WAS something to do with battery or back-up battery.

I'm off to search the net to see if I can find it again.

Rich

[Brind]

It could well be the battery backup, if the battery is dying it may be thinking it's being tampered with.

It could also be a dodgy door/boot/bonnet sensor sticking or corroding.

Could be anything really...

[Spirit]

Thanks Rich ;)

Checked all the connections/sensors as best as I could Mark, and could not see any issues. I just hope the alarm itself ain't fubared as it's the wrong time of year to have to fork out for a new one :(

[Physician]

Pete,

As mentioned and as you will be well aware - it could be a dodgy connection anywhere.

However, does this make any sense to you ..........

"Press BOTH key fob buttons at the same time until the neon light goes out - now press the large button until car lights flash." :sad3:

PS - couldn't find the post I recollect I've read somewhere.

[Spirit]

"Press BOTH key fob buttons at the same time until the neon light goes out - now press the large button until car lights flash." :sad3:


In what respect mate - is this a cure to a problem? There is a sequence to get the keyfobs to learn the system involving pressing both buttons, and yes there is a bigger button used to arm/disarm the system.

[Physician]

In what respect mate - is this a cure to a problem? There is a sequence to get the keyfobs to learn the system involving pressing both buttons, and yes there is a bigger button used to arm/disarm the system.

Just a comment I read on the internet of how to reset the system .......... sorry don't know any more and as my alarm is different - don't know what it even means :sad3: - mine has a little keypad on my windscreen to reset etc.

[Nick VR4]

Have you tried using the pen like key to reset alarm on the dashboard ?

[Spirit]

Have you tried using the pen like key to reset alarm on the dashboard ?

Used this, and also reset the key fobs but made no difference. Sean is gonna pop down Tuesday morning and will try his battery to see if it makes any difference. Will also try cleaning/disconnecting the bonnet/boot/door connections too - just in case.

[wirdy]

Used this, and also reset the key fobs but made no difference. Sean is gonna pop down Tuesday morning and will try his battery to see if it makes any difference. Will also try cleaning/disconnecting the bonnet/boot/door connections too - just in case.

Try the door switches Pete. I had a similar prob with my Cobra alarm.
Took all the door switches out and resistance checked them -the front switches were intermittent ('cos they get most use?). They come apart quite easily and have a square conductive body that is wiped by a two pronged lever, the lever just needs cleaning and bending out slightly to regain a good contact. Also make sure the holding screw is not rusted as that's how the switch earths itself.

Go careful though, :$ I broke one & had to 'borrow' one from Project VX. And the front door switches have a VERY short wire that tries to disappear into the hole when you disconnect the switch!!

[Spirit]

Thanks mate, I would probably have gone at them like a bull at a gate and bust them ;)

[v8killa]

Mine goes off when its windy and a window is open slightly - it has air pressure sensors inside car - maybe something like that???

[wirdy]

Mine goes off when its windy and a window is open slightly - it has air pressure sensors inside car - maybe something like that???

That'll be the ultrasonic sensors. A similar false-alarm can be given purely by convection currents in the car on hot days (especially from the dash air vents), although this can usually be dialled out on the sensitivity adjuster.

[Spirit]

Well I reconnected the battery last night after 24hrs disconnected and seemed to work perfectly.....for a while :dozey:

Battery has now been on charge all night and will shortly begin to check all the connections etc....fingers crossed !

[HJM]

Good luck, Pete, hope it's all ok :)

[Spirit]

Good luck, Pete, hope it's all ok :)

Unfortunately it wasn't :sad3:

Got as far as checking my battery is fine and the earthing/connections seem fine - now got to the point of calling a specialist in who is coming tomorrow.

[Spirit]

Well it looks like a new alarm system :( !

The specialist confirms the siren seems to be at fault as all else works fine.....and guess what, Mitsy no longer do that alarm (now an Elite 4). They also called Cobra who said they have no spare parts for the Elite 3 - WTF !!!!!
However, they did have two NEW systems left - as the guy rightly said to them, why would I buy another new one if no parts are available in the future ! TOSSERS !

Anyhow, got to break the news to Shaz when she gets home later - wish me luck :lipsrseal

[Spirit]

LYING F**KIN B**TARDS !

I just made a call myself to Cobra to give them a piece of my mind about the fact of not having spare parts for one of their alarms available to find out they do !

Apparantly, the siren is compatiable with a "universal" siren they sell which is just a straight swap over :-D

Could not order one as I am not trade, but have ordered it via a local firm we deal with at work and it should be here tomorrow or Friday - £43.42 inc VAT :-b

Will now wait to confirm if this cures the problem and then will be calling this other company back to air my opinion on their unscrupulous sales pitch !

[Physician]

Personally I would write to the MD/Owner and politely explain what happened and ask him what he wishes to do about the matter - now that you have bought a new system from a different manufacturer. :lipsrseal

Also mention that if you don't receive a satisfactory response you will be contacting trading standards.

[wirdy]

Personally I would write to the MD/Owner and politely explain what happened and ask him what he wishes to do about the matter - now that you have bought a new system from a different manufacturer. :lipsrseal

Also mention that if you don't receive a satisfactory response you will be contacting trading standards.

:p LOOK OUT SIMON!! :$

Pete, please publicise your alarm "specialist" - (once you get their explanation).

Seems strange though, the siren is normally 'dumb' i.e- it's the siren output from the alarm that directly drives it. If you're getting false alarms that would normally be one of the sensing circuits or the alarm processing on the pcb itself that's faulty. :sad3:

[enigma]

I am suprised that you think this is unusual from a 'specialist', especially as you are in the trade (kind of)

[Spirit]

:p LOOK OUT SIMON!! :$

Pete, please publicise your alarm "specialist" - (once you get their explanation).

Seems strange though, the siren is normally 'dumb' i.e- it's the siren output from the alarm that directly drives it. If you're getting false alarms that would normally be one of the sensing circuits or the alarm processing on the pcb itself that's faulty. :sad3:

Don't understand the "Look Out Simon " comment ?

Anyhow, I thought the same but when the siren goes off (in faulty mode) the hazards don't flash - which could also indicate the cpu/pcb is fine ?

[Spirit]

I am suprised that you think this is unusual from a 'specialist', especially as you are in the trade (kind of)

I guess I was suspicious hence the call to Cobra myself. In the "trade" I am sure there are still many "dodgy" characters/companies - one must always be on one's guard so to speak ;)

[Spirit]

Well hopefully it looks like it's all sorted - a new siren went in yesterday morning and no problems since. £43 is better than £300 for a new system :-b

[nick-f1]

Well hopefully it looks like it's all sorted - a new siren went in yesterday morning and no problems since. £43 is better than £300 for a new system :-b

Glad you've got it sorted Pete, just goes to show a second opinion as they say.