The main reasons for the car alarm to go off on its own

A car alarm is installed for the safety of the vehicle. She must always be on guard. But the security system itself can malfunction and work incorrectly. This situation needs to be corrected as quickly as possible, because attackers can take advantage of this state of affairs and quickly steal a car.

Most often, the alarm goes off on its own. Many motorists face this problem, but few of them know what to do. We decided to correct this situation.

The main reasons for car alarms to go off

The reasons why the car alarm went off are conventionally divided into regular and abnormal. Standard offenses include unauthorized entry into a vehicle for the purpose of robbery or theft. The standard includes an alarm when an impact occurs on the external parts of a vehicle.

Abnormal alarm activation can be caused by a number of conditions. For example, a car alarm went off for the following reasons:

Increased system sensitivity.
Limit switch malfunction.
High sensitivity to environmental humidity.
Poor installation.
Poor quality repairs and setup.
Oversized and heavy cargo left in the cabin.

When the car alarm went off, fulfilled its function, reacted to the entry of unauthorized persons into the car interior, to an impact - everything is clear. The car alarm confirmed the correctness of the choice and possibilities.

A false alarm in a car is a completely different matter. We will analyze each reason for the protection to be triggered separately.

What should you do if your car alarm goes off by itself?

Today, almost all car models leave the factory with built-in alarms. They help protect movable property from criminals. Despite this, vigilant and scrupulous owners use additional safety features. This greatly reduces the risk of theft.

Even the most popular security system can malfunction. One of these is the spontaneous activation of sensors or alarms.

False alarms reduce the car owner’s vigilance over time and worsen the performance of the alarm itself. All this happens if the problem is not corrected in a timely manner. Such malfunctions may result from improper installation or configuration. But that is not all. Today we will look in detail at each of the possible reasons. The recommendations presented are suitable for most security systems and vehicles.

Increased sensor sensitivity

The sudden activation of a car alarm is due to incorrect adjustment of the sensors. The settings of the elements responsible for the response to impact are performed poorly, with a high level of sensitivity. This is especially true when there is heavy traffic nearby, creating vibration. Shock sensors mounted on the vehicle are triggered, notifying others with loud signals, causing panic among the owners.

The problem that arises is solved by reducing the susceptibility of car alarm sensors responsible for reacting to an impact. Before making adjustments, it is recommended that you thoroughly read the operating instructions. Installing a security device on a vehicle has many nuances. Our experts will tell you how to properly adjust the sensitivity of shock sensors.

You can perform this elimination operation yourself. Independent elimination is fraught with certain difficulties. This is especially true when reconfiguring car alarms of an earlier generation. In such car alarms, to prevent unauthorized operation, the sensitivity is adjusted mechanically.

In modern models installed on a car, sensitivity is adjusted electronically. To be on the safe side, you should engage the service center of the company that installed the security system on the car. Adjusting the sensitivity is accompanied by the activation of a car alarm and the periodic activation of a warning light.

The problem of alarms going off for no reason is often exploited by car thieves. At night they shake the car so that the alarm goes off, and they hide. The car owner looks out the window, the car is in place, the reasons for the alarm are not visible, then the car is armed again. The thief again loosens the car, and the car owner repeats his actions. This happens many times. The neighbors start screaming because it’s night outside and the alarm is going off making it difficult to sleep. After several alarms go off, for no reason in the owner's opinion, he disarms the car or puts it on silent, after which the thief opens the car without fear that the sounds of the siren will wake up the owner and he steals the car.

To prevent theft, the owner of the car should not immediately go to bed after the alarm goes off, but wait and see why the alarm goes off, or you can immediately drive the car to a safer place, for example, to a guarded parking lot.

Differences

There are differences on older systems - in this case, the sensitivity threshold is adjusted not by electronics, but by a special screw. To reduce it, the element is rotated counterclockwise. On more modern models, buttons are used instead. The scale has several levels, which indicate the degree of response of the device. Standard adjustments are level 5 out of 10 possible on most systems. During the setup process, you should not increase the sensitivity too much, because the security device can only be triggered on average 10-12 times per cycle.

After this, the system is re-armed and then the configuration continues.

Faulty limit switches

Electrical circuit devices that close them are collectively called limit switches. Car alarms are equipped with limit switches that are installed in doorways, the engine compartment, and the trunk.

Faulty limit switches are often the reason why car alarms in vehicles go off. The malfunction is determined by the indication of the corresponding icon on the key fob screen. The main reasons for incorrect operation of the switch:

Problems with electrical contacts;
Oxidation or wear of connecting elements;
Damage to electrical wires.

Only high-quality diagnostics of all protection elements will allow us to determine the true cause of the operation. In some cases, ordinary alarm prevention is enough: cleaning contacts; anti-corrosion treatment; replacing the wire. In other cases, the limit switches on the car are replaced.

Complaints from car owners

Mostly, car owners complain about breakdowns such as:

In most cases, the key fob does not work correctly: the doors may open with a huge delay, or the central locking may not turn on at all. The problem is most likely in the central unit, which is responsible for controlling the security system, or in the key fob. We try to bring the key fob near the vehicle, and if in this case everything works well, or something may clog the signal, or the key fob needs to be changed. In other options, repair of the central control units of the anti-theft system is required.
Another much more common reason is that the alarm goes off on its own. In most cases, this becomes the reason that you cannot get into the vehicle, or even worse, during the period of your absence from the signal, the battery of your vehicle has completely discharged. In most cases, this is not even a malfunction as such. In some cases, when the correct alarm setting can solve the problem. For example, most likely the system turns on on its own if its sensitivity is set to the maximum range; you just need to reduce it and everything will be in perfect order. Although, let's look at all the possible situations of this breakdown in detail.

Poor installation, configuration or repair

The installation, followed by setting up the alarm on the machine, should be given close attention. The result of poorly performed work will be the activation of a car alarm anywhere, at any time.

This applies equally to repair work. When choosing a contractor, the car owner must take care of the impeccable reputation of the specialist and service center. Finding information today is not difficult. Our specialists know about faulty alarms and how they can be eliminated.

Summary

These are the most common reasons - all car owners face them.

These problems have been discussed more than once in numerous automotive forums. To prevent this from happening, experts recommend not purchasing cheap products from China. It is better to purchase a reliable device from trusted manufacturers. Then you won’t have to rack your brains about why the car alarm goes off for no reason.

Prevention measures

Often the security system goes off on its own due to improper installation. Modern security alarms are equipped with a large number of electronics. Therefore, having purchased an anti-theft installation, you should not install it yourself or trust unqualified specialists. When installed at a service center, you will not have any problems during operation, in addition, the installation is guaranteed.

Car alarm installation kit

If the alarm does not work correctly, then it is better to entrust the troubleshooting to the specialists who installed it. Moreover, during installation there is a guarantee of free maintenance.

To avoid problems with random activation, you need to monitor the condition of the security system and its components and replace worn or damaged parts in a timely manner.

This video demonstrates how to adjust the sensitivity of the sensors with your own hands (the author of the video is logan34rus).

Problematic limit switches

This is the part of the security system that closes the electrical circuit to give an alarm signal when the doors are opened. It is very simple to determine that the reason lies there. When the security system is activated, a symbol of an open door, hood or trunk will be displayed on the key fob. Among the reasons for the limit switch to malfunction, as a result of which the car alarm goes off by itself, may be poor electrical contacts, oxidized parts on the limit switch, or excessive wear of the element. If the wire is damaged, this can be corrected by replacing it. As for other cases, only complete replacement of this element will help. You can try to do without this and try to treat the part with an anti-corrosion agent. But this is only a temporary measure.

Foreign things in the car

Modern car alarm models have the option of configuring the interior volume sensor. Large items left inside the car may cause the alarm to go off.

When setting up a volume sensor installed in the car interior, you should take into account the likelihood of the presence of foreign, large objects in the car.

There have also been cases of incorrect settings of volume sensors in the car interior. When the sensitivity of the sensor settings is high, the car alarm starts to trigger on insects that remain in the car interior. Motorists could only drive out all the flies from their interior before arming the car, or they still had to set up the sensors correctly.

The car alarm went off in the car. Is it good or bad. When an alarm system alerts you to intentional, unlawful actions by unauthorized persons, this indicates that it is performing the functions assigned to it. When the alarm goes off for some unknown reason, careful diagnostics and checking of the technical parameters of components and software are necessary.

Having identified malfunctions, they begin to eliminate them. We remind you that the main sources of abnormal activation are: sensors; Limit switches; connecting elements of the electrical circuit. The possibility of influence of weather conditions cannot be excluded.

There are many reasons why the alarm goes off on its own. The siren screams due to improper installation or high sensitivity of the sensors. First you need to make sure that the system is configured normally. After this, the electrical circuits of the anti-theft installation are diagnosed.

Features of problems with alarms from different manufacturers

The reasons for false alarms may vary among anti-theft systems from different manufacturers.

Starline A91

Starline car alarms often go off due to improper installation or loose parts. The operating principle of the sensors is based on the early occurrence of a sound pulse. To prevent A 91 from triggering spontaneously, you need to adjust the sensitivity of the sensors. To do this, perform the following steps:

reduce the indicators of both areas, adding several points for the warning zone;
the alarm system is switched to security mode;
after a minute they touch the body, which helps determine the degree of sensitivity of the sensor;
if necessary, the values are reduced again;
The same actions are performed for alarm zones of Starline car alarm sensors.

The recommended sensor sensitivity is 14, the lowest is 0.1. When the value is set to zero, the sensors will not operate.

Tomahawk 9030

The Tomahawk car alarm may turn on spontaneously due to the following reasons:

Installation of sensors on plastic parts. When cooling, this material creates vibration, to which the anti-theft system reacts. Installing sensors on a metal part of the body helps fix the problem.
Incorrect timer setting. In this case, the siren starts to turn on at certain intervals. Resetting the settings helps solve the problem.

Sheriff

The Sheriff security complex is often activated, especially in the following situations:

Rain getting on the hood (when installing the system under the steering column). In this case, it is recommended to move the sensors to the middle part of the body.
The lamp is set to activate when the doors are opened. If this part of the system is equipped with a diode, the anti-theft agent will stop responding to interior lighting.

Alligator

A common reason for the spontaneous activation of the alarm mode is the increased sensitivity of the sensors. If after adjusting the indicator the problem is not solved, you need to move the sensors and evaluate the condition of the limit switches.

Pantera

The cause of malfunctions in this anti-theft system is the breakdown of the limit switches. The contacts of these parts oxidize, so their condition should be assessed and cleaned. If the Panther security complex reacts to passing vehicles, you need to change the sensitivity of the sensors. After this, the car is put on the handbrake, the on-board network is de-energized and electrical circuits are diagnosed, checking the connections.

Sherkhan 5

If the Sherkhan Magikar system falsely triggers, you need to do the following:

disable additional functions;
clean the door limit switch contacts (replace parts if necessary);
check that the system is installed correctly (false alarms occur if only the car doors are equipped with sensors).

Pandora

If the alarm mode is triggered frequently, you need to evaluate the operating conditions of the security system. Spontaneous operation occurs in frosty weather. A malfunction may occur when the key fob is placed near the steering column or the system is connected incorrectly.

How to avoid malfunction of the alarm system?

In most cases, the cause of any type of breakdown in the operation of the alarm system is its incorrect installation. Therefore, when purchasing an anti-theft system, there is no need to leave its installation to garage professionals. When you contact an authorized service, you will most likely be able to get rid of many problems that are associated with the operation of your vehicle’s security systems.

The integrity of the car in the parking lot is one of the main concerns of the owner. The problem is solved by using a car alarm. The car alarm market is vast, there are a lot of offers - from simple to complex, with many options. Any security device mounted on a machine can be triggered randomly at the wrong time. In this article we will try to figure out why the alarm went off for no apparent reason and what caused it.