To avoid break-ins, thefts and theft of a car, as well as its contents, car owners en masse install alarms on their cars. This is the most common security tool.
Scher Khan car alarm keychain
The alarm can be standard, provided from the factory as part of the vehicle's configuration, or installed separately. But they are all controlled remotely using a special remote control or key fob.
We are talking about an electronic system that can periodically malfunction, work incorrectly or fail. Moreover, often a failure occurs unexpectedly and at the most inopportune moment.
A fairly common situation is when the protection system stops responding to commands sent through the control panel. It is important to quickly understand the reasons and take appropriate measures to eliminate the problem.
Why does the alarm not respond to the key fob?
If the Panther, Centurion, Pharaoh or any other security system does not go off, the reasons must be sought not only in the failure of the key fob, but also in the lack of communication between the communicator and the head unit.
Key fob failure
When using the pager for a long time, the buttons, transceiver or electronic board may fail. The key fob also does not work due to mechanical damage caused by impacts and falls. Finding the cause of the breakdown is not difficult - you need to inspect the main elements of the communicator. Major damage can be seen with the naked eye. A damaged alarm key fob does not respond to button presses.
Dead battery
If the alarm does not work and does not turn off on the car, you need to check the quality of the batteries in the key fob. The problem may lie in the discharge of the power supplies. The batteries may become dislodged, causing the device to not receive enough power. Reducing the charge gradually reduces the range of the pager, the brightness of the LED element and the display. The machine does not respond to user commands.
The problem is resolved by replacing the batteries. To do this, the key fob body is disassembled and faulty batteries are removed. After installing new batteries, the system begins to work correctly.
Radio interference
If the car alarm has stopped responding to user commands, the reasons should be sought in the presence of interference. Areas of poor radio communication are located near sensitive facilities, airports, and industrial buildings. Sources of interference include electromagnetic fields and cars equipped with a large number of electronic devices. You can determine the reason why the alarm does not turn on or turn off yourself. To do this, bring the key fob to the antenna and try to control the device. If the pager still does not work, you should change where you park your car.
Lost connection between key fob and control unit
If the key fob attached to the head unit is not capable of sending signals or the processing device does not receive them, you need to contact a car service. The reason may lie in damage to the software of the communicator or the main control module of the anti-theft system. Diagnostics and repairs are carried out by first removing the alarm from the security mode. An emergency button is used for this. You can repeat the binding of the communicator by following it in accordance with the recommendations in the instructions.
Problems with car electronics
Often the key fob loses connection with the alarm system due to a decrease in voltage in the on-board network. The cause is a low battery charge or current leakage due to damage to the battery case. When the voltage drops critically, command execution becomes impossible. Voltage drops may occur in frosty weather. Diagnosing and charging the battery helps to cope with the problem.
The alarm goes off on its own
Sometimes the anti-theft system “lives its own life.” She either disarms the car, or vice versa - sets it without a command from the key. In this case, you need to pay attention to three factors.
Failure of contacts
Contact oxidation is a common cause of inadequate signal operation. Most often this problem appears in the key fob battery compartment. The malfunction can be solved by simply cleaning the contacts with natfil or treating them with alcohol.
In another case, the car itself may be sending incorrect data to the control panel. The anti-theft system recognizes the loss of a signal on a rusted door or hood contact as an attempt to break into the car. If the security trigger zone is displayed on the key fob, the problem is easier to fix. Otherwise, you will have to check all connections in the anti-theft wiring.
Problem with door mechanisms
In winter, another problem may arise. The control panel shows that the central locking is open, but in fact it is not. Do not think that this is a malfunction of the alarm. First of all, you should check whether the door mechanisms are rusty or not.
It also doesn’t hurt to test whether the central lock itself is working properly. If it does not make any sounds when you press the open button, then you should check the fuses or wires.
Incorrect operation of sensors
In modern cars, anti-theft systems are connected to car sensors. The more complex this circuit is, the higher the likelihood of a failure. The reason is that either the contact has oxidized or the sensor has failed.
In any case, the car remote control will show an error. Don't rush to change the sensor right away. First you should try cleaning the wire connection.
Diagnostics
If the above malfunctions have been eliminated, and the car still does not set the alarm, you will have to disassemble the key fob and check the condition of its main elements. Before performing work, you need to prepare a soldering iron, solder, oscilloscope and multimeter. Diagnostics of the key fob and control unit is carried out according to the following algorithm:
- Opening the case. After removing the back cover, unscrew the bolts connecting the plastic elements. The case is disassembled, after which the microcircuit and the parts connected to it are inspected. Elements must not have cracks, chips or signs of corrosion. Breakage of the key fob can occur when the quality of connections decreases. If the microcircuit has dirt, it must be removed with a thin brush. Do not wipe the board with alcohol-containing liquids or solvents. This may damage the capacitors.
- Soldering contacts. If you find that board elements are disconnected, you will have to use a soldering iron with a fine tip. Work must be done carefully. Otherwise, solder may get on other parts and damage them.
- Measure the voltage of the conductors. To do this, use a multimeter, which is switched to voltmeter mode. After this, check the serviceability of the buttons and the LED element.
- Assess the condition of the head unit. Diagnostics of the voltage supplied to the processor device is performed using an oscilloscope. It is necessary to ensure that pulses are received from the generator unit. After this, the ability to receive signals from communicators and the correctness of data encoding are assessed. If there are no pulses, the head unit needs to be replaced or repaired.
Let's sum it up
The above information shows that the main causes of alarm system failures can be related to both failures and software errors. The system may also become unstable due to power problems, poor battery condition, etc.
It is also worth adding that if the alarm system is new (under warranty) and/or additional elements have recently been installed in the car, it is better to refrain from trying to repair it yourself. In this case, you should immediately file a claim with the center where the security or anti-theft system or other devices are installed.
What to do
If the alarm does not respond to the key fob, it can be disabled in the following ways:
- Using the emergency button. Some alarm models are deactivated only after entering an individual password. The code is applied to a plastic card, which is included in the anti-theft kit. The service button is installed in an inaccessible place of the car. You need to look for it under the standard wiring harnesses. To emergency disable the security mode, use the keys located on the center console.
- Increasing efficiency by activating a signal. This simple method allows you to quickly disable the anti-theft system. The driver's door is opened with a key. The key fob is brought as close as possible to the head unit or antenna module. The emergency shutdown key is quickly pressed the number of times indicated in the instructions.
Both options for disabling the security system are used only in emergency situations; they cannot be used constantly.
- The car alarm keeps going off for no reason.
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- The alarm is blocking the engine from starting, what should I do?
If the alarm system Starline, Pandora, KGB and other models does not work: useful tips
If there is a malfunction, check the immobilizer, sensors, the alarm control unit itself, check the wiring, etc. Also try moving the remote control closer to the car (closer to the central unit or the place where the antenna is located).
Please note that if the engine suddenly stops while driving or the siren turns off and the engine stops after turning the ignition off and on again, this usually indicates a severely drained battery or a power failure.
In this case, the alarm unit reacts to the fact that the voltage has dropped below 8V, and the system activates the blocking modes. This is an anti-theft feature which means that when power is restored, the locks remain and must be removed by the owner.
The motor itself remains blocked and the siren turns off. To solve this problem, make sure that the battery is good and charged, and that power is being supplied to the alarm unit, there are no wiring problems, etc.
In this case, the device freezes, blocks the engine from starting, or causes the entire system to malfunction. In this situation, it is optimal to dry the unit and, if necessary, repair its microcircuits. You can also immediately replace the chip or completely replace the entire device.
Problems synchronizing the key fob with the security system
If the starline security system itself and the key fob are working properly, but the signal is not transmitted, this may indicate a failure in synchronizing the key fob with the signal receiver on the security system. As a rule, this occurs due to failures in the control panel program. In this case, you need to unlock the car with the key, after which the alarm can be turned off using the emergency shutdown function. Reprogramming the key fob will help solve the problem. This is quite easy to do. Manufacturers of security systems provide detailed instructions that describe the procedure for reprogramming the control panel. Also included in the security system kit you can often find a disk with software that makes it easy to carry out the reprogramming procedure. Car owners who are well versed in modern technologies can do this themselves, and if problems arise, they can contact specialists.
Electronic protection device
To a first approximation, any alarm system is a complex of interconnected electronic devices. The malfunction of any of them, of course, leads to the loss of the function intended only for it and, in general, the entire car alarm ceases to be functional. The list of such electronic components most often looks like this:
- remote control - key fob. It is a miniature mobile phone. Its task is to send an encoded radio signal to the car alarm receiving antenna. The functions of supplying a control signal can be performed by the driver’s individual tag (card), the secret “Valet” button, a mobile phone, the ignition key; it can be made with or without a display;
- it comes with both one-way and two-way communication;
- with its help, knowing how and what to do, you can program some functions of the alarm system installed on the machine;
- can be in both contact and non-contact versions;
Important: in addition to the listed components, various sources of their power supply will also have an indirect effect on the performance of the alarm system. These are standard batteries and rechargeable batteries that you can install yourself into key fobs, individual tags, and GPS/GSM communication beacons. Even the main car battery can cause the entire car alarm to malfunction.
SLR 5100 key fob fell off: what to do
There are several reasons why the pager refuses to work.
- One of the most common is a discharged battery. Insert a new battery and check the operation of the remote control.
- Key fob desynchronization. Re-write the transmitter into the security system memory.
- Exposure to external radio interference. Park the car in a different location.
- Wear of the anti-theft complex. Contact the warranty center.
- Low battery voltage. Charge it or install a new one.
Video: emergency disabling of the anti-theft system
The Pandora Store channel in its video showed an example of emergency deactivation of a car alarm using the Starline A63 and A93 models as an example.
Do you have any questions? Specialists and readers of the AUTODVIG website will help you ask a question
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How to turn off a Pantera car alarm without a remote control
If you have lost your pager or its batteries are dead, use the key to open the car. Don’t pay attention to the fact that the alarm is screaming, the lights are blinking, and the interior lights are on. The security system worked normally, and you can turn it off even in the active phase.
- Insert the key into the ignition. Turn the ignition on, off and then back on again.
- Press the “Jack” key for 10-15 seconds.
The alarm mode will turn off and the engine will be locked. Find out how to register your Pandora keychain.
How to “silence” an alarm that won’t connect
The problem is this: they brought the alarm key fob to repair it, it worked, but the LED was constantly on, and the battery lasted for a week. More precisely, it works, the signal comes from it, I checked it on the TV - the frequency is about 410 MHz, but the central unit does not respond to the key fob. I can’t find the key fob diagram anywhere... Hello. I have exactly the same problem with the KGB-VS100 alarm system. I just slightly turned the bolt of the tuning capacitor, and reprogrammed the alarm to a new remote control... The door opens with the key, the siren goes off, the car does not start, the ignition turns on, the starter does not turn.
The car does not start with the Panther remote control: how to fix it
During the entire period of operation of the Pantera alarm system, one day you encountered such a problem as the autostart stopped working. A car engine may not start for three reasons:
- no control of a running motor - problems with programming, connection or standard wiring;
- problem with the wires to the handbrake;
- low battery charge.
Remote starting and stopping of the engine is carried out according to the following algorithm.
- Apply the handbrake and set the automatic transmission to “PARK” mode.
- Set the air conditioner settings.
- Set the ventilation to recirculation mode.
- Press the key with the star symbol twice. The turn signals will blink once. The engine will start.
- To stop the motor, press the button with the star symbol. A siren signal and a 2-second vibration signal will follow.
What to do if the Pandora key fob does not see the car.
What to do if the car does not disarm the alarm system?
Good to know
If the security mode in the car is not turned off, the only option to get into the cabin is to emergency deactivate the anti-theft system.
There are two options for unlocking the alarm - without using a personal password and using a code.
Deactivating the alarm with the Valet button
Instructions for emergency shutdown of the alarm using the example of Starline A1, A2 or A4:
- The vehicle door is opened using a key. The alarm mode will turn on, accompanied by siren signals.
- The key is inserted into the lock and the ignition system is activated. To do this, the element must be turned to the “ACC” or “ON” position. The engine does not start at this stage.
- The button to enter the service mode is pressed three times. This should be done within twenty seconds after ignition activation. In the Starline A8 model, the number of clicks will be 4.
- The ignition system in the car is turned off. If the security mode is deactivated, the external lighting devices will blink.
Deactivating an alarm using a code
Guide to disabling using a code using Starline A6 as an example:
- The car door opens with a key. The control element is inserted into the lock and the ignition system is activated.
- Over the next twenty seconds, the first digit of the password is entered. Initially, the alarm is assigned code 11, but the user can change it. Since the first character of the password is 1 in the example, the key is “clicked” once. Accordingly, if the symbol is 3, then the press should be triple.
- The ignition system in the car is turned off, after which it must be activated immediately.
- The second character of the code is entered. The algorithm of actions is similar.
- The ignition system is turned off. If the user has entered the password correctly, the security mode is deactivated.
How to turn on the key fob after replacing the battery
The battery is changed every three to four months and depends on the frequency of use of the remote control. You can change the battery yourself by following the instructions.
- Pry off the battery compartment cover from below.
- Slide and remove the cover.
- Remove the dead battery.
- Insert a new battery (AAA type). Observe polarity.
- Put everything in its place.
After this, hold down two keys at the same time: “Open lock” and “Snowflake”. The key fob must independently restore the communication code with the control unit.
