PROBLEMS WITH F ALARM AGAIN!!
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Not many rules really, this board being aimed at technical issues, it shouldn't fall foul (hopefully) of some of the more personal issues that can affect forums.
Rule 1 - Is that you need to think very carefully before posting anything technical or asking anything technical relating to the security system of the car - See 'Security Issues' sticky for more info.
Rule 2 - We (MGF Register) do not support copyright infringement and therefore references to CD ROM, PDF versions or paper copies of the workshop manual (for instance) should not be posted on the forum. We don't want to get into trouble and we'd rather sell you a genuine hard copy through our Regalia shop anyway!
Because advice is honestly and freely given in this technical section, much of it will be amateur experienced based, so any information is given in good faith and is not guaranteed as correct.
Not many rules really, this board being aimed at technical issues, it shouldn't fall foul (hopefully) of some of the more personal issues that can affect forums.
Rule 1 - Is that you need to think very carefully before posting anything technical or asking anything technical relating to the security system of the car - See 'Security Issues' sticky for more info.
Rule 2 - We (MGF Register) do not support copyright infringement and therefore references to CD ROM, PDF versions or paper copies of the workshop manual (for instance) should not be posted on the forum. We don't want to get into trouble and we'd rather sell you a genuine hard copy through our Regalia shop anyway!
Because advice is honestly and freely given in this technical section, much of it will be amateur experienced based, so any information is given in good faith and is not guaranteed as correct.
- arsvs
- Posts: 133
- Joined: Fri May 28, 2010 12:14 pm
- MGF Register Region: Midlands
- Model of Car: 98 1.8 vvci
- Location: Long Eaton
PROBLEMS WITH F ALARM AGAIN!!
OK,
i know this has been the bain of most f drivers and ive been all over the net and back again to find the solution.
As everyone else my alar goes off when it wants to mostly though when i double click the button it goes off straight away, but then again it might go off hours later.
after having the boot loom fire all the wiring has been replaced by myself using very well insulated wire so no probs there.
both doors turn the courtesy lights on when opened,
both pins go down when locking,
i disconnected the courtesy light switch under thew front hood.
fully charged my battery (although this may still be a problem as when i had the fire it did kill it)
unpugged my stereo,
did the alarm test,
unplugged sensor in the t bar,
and checked the battery earth strap and cleaned it.
right all that disconnecting hasnt done a thing it still goes off ive come to unplugging the horns now but thats never good is it?
i dont have the money to get it plugged in to the computer so pleeeeeease help me.
pm me if there is anything you could suggest that would comprimise the security of everybodys car on here.
thx guys
i know this has been the bain of most f drivers and ive been all over the net and back again to find the solution.
As everyone else my alar goes off when it wants to mostly though when i double click the button it goes off straight away, but then again it might go off hours later.
after having the boot loom fire all the wiring has been replaced by myself using very well insulated wire so no probs there.
both doors turn the courtesy lights on when opened,
both pins go down when locking,
i disconnected the courtesy light switch under thew front hood.
fully charged my battery (although this may still be a problem as when i had the fire it did kill it)
unpugged my stereo,
did the alarm test,
unplugged sensor in the t bar,
and checked the battery earth strap and cleaned it.
right all that disconnecting hasnt done a thing it still goes off ive come to unplugging the horns now but thats never good is it?
i dont have the money to get it plugged in to the computer so pleeeeeease help me.
pm me if there is anything you could suggest that would comprimise the security of everybodys car on here.
thx guys
Last edited by arsvs on Wed Jun 30, 2010 2:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- Charless
- Posts: 2364
- Joined: Tue Oct 09, 2007 1:52 pm
- MGF Register Region: South Coast
- Model of Car: 96 Mpi, 99 VVC
- Location: Chilbolton
Re: PROBLEMS WITH F ALARM AGAIN!!
A previously run flat battery (fluctuating internal voltage) will probably always be a weak link. AFAIK nobody is holding back a silver bullet answer. Some of them just do that until you find it and fix it. The boot hinge wiring was a good start.
The unplugged horns are a good intermediate 'fix' to keep the peace with the neighbours!
In five years I have had very little problem from early Fs, but I never deadlock and do regularly spray lubricant all over the door central locking motor/door microswitches and the bonnet switch.
The unplugged horns are a good intermediate 'fix' to keep the peace with the neighbours!
In five years I have had very little problem from early Fs, but I never deadlock and do regularly spray lubricant all over the door central locking motor/door microswitches and the bonnet switch.
- Phil MGFPM
- Posts: 93
- Joined: Thu Nov 26, 2009 12:29 am
- MGF Register Region: Cotswolds
- Model of Car: 2001 mpi in JAJ
- Location: Swindon, Wilts
Re: PROBLEMS WITH F ALARM AGAIN!!
Have you removed and cleaned up the bonnet light switch. My F was intermitantly alarming esp when there was a wind, and after 2 years (unaware of the link between the bonnet switch and the alarm) traced it to an oxidising copper strip on the bonnet switch. It is now completely reliable. May be i was just finally lucky in tracing it. Phil
Previously owned '98 F 1.8mpi bought 2008; then a '97 F Mk1 1.8 VVC in nightfire red, bought 2011; now a '01 F 1.8mpi in tahiti blue, bought Nov-19
- arsvs
- Posts: 133
- Joined: Fri May 28, 2010 12:14 pm
- MGF Register Region: Midlands
- Model of Car: 98 1.8 vvci
- Location: Long Eaton
Re: PROBLEMS WITH F ALARM AGAIN!!
hm left it last night not a problem.
went to my mates house armed it with 1 click and beep beep beep beep!!!!!
i have completly disconnected the bonnet switch soooo???
wd40 all over the door straps and door locks.
ive got a 59 plate astra with a virtually brand new battery so ive swapped them over to give it a try.
20 mins and no alarm yet, will post later when it goes off again ):
its such a pain guys.
went to my mates house armed it with 1 click and beep beep beep beep!!!!!
i have completly disconnected the bonnet switch soooo???
wd40 all over the door straps and door locks.
ive got a 59 plate astra with a virtually brand new battery so ive swapped them over to give it a try.
20 mins and no alarm yet, will post later when it goes off again ):
its such a pain guys.
Re: PROBLEMS WITH F ALARM AGAIN!!
Most common 'false' alarm problems are either....
1:Interior Volumetric sensor
2:Boot loom hinge wiring
3: Door lock microswitches
If you say you've checked 1&2 then 3 is the next place to start.
There is a microswitch which is part of the door lock solonoids, water/damp can enter these causing corrosion to the switch leading to false alarms. Sadly these microswitches are part of the solonoid motor itself and thus requires the whole unit to be replaced.
1:Interior Volumetric sensor
2:Boot loom hinge wiring
3: Door lock microswitches
If you say you've checked 1&2 then 3 is the next place to start.
There is a microswitch which is part of the door lock solonoids, water/damp can enter these causing corrosion to the switch leading to false alarms. Sadly these microswitches are part of the solonoid motor itself and thus requires the whole unit to be replaced.
- arsvs
- Posts: 133
- Joined: Fri May 28, 2010 12:14 pm
- MGF Register Region: Midlands
- Model of Car: 98 1.8 vvci
- Location: Long Eaton
Re: PROBLEMS WITH F ALARM AGAIN!!
@ mark l
just checked 3 unplugged passanger side ,, alarm went off,,, unplugged deiver side and silence until i put the key in the ignition and beep beep.
so looks like its the drivers microswitch.
do you know if these can be cleaned and tarted up as i did have problems with the window switches and i just cleaned them.
also are the solonoids just for the mgf or can i get down the scrappies and get one off a 400 or something?
just checked 3 unplugged passanger side ,, alarm went off,,, unplugged deiver side and silence until i put the key in the ignition and beep beep.
so looks like its the drivers microswitch.
do you know if these can be cleaned and tarted up as i did have problems with the window switches and i just cleaned them.
also are the solonoids just for the mgf or can i get down the scrappies and get one off a 400 or something?
Re: PROBLEMS WITH F ALARM AGAIN!!
You could try cleaning up the switch contacts with a WD/electrical contact cleaner type stuff, but from past experiance (myself and others) the only real cure seems to be a replacement, unless you are somehow able to strip and replace the switch.arsvs wrote:@ mark l
just checked 3 unplugged passanger side ,, alarm went off,,, unplugged deiver side and silence until i put the key in the ignition and beep beep.
so looks like its the drivers microswitch.
do you know if these can be cleaned and tarted up as i did have problems with the window switches and i just cleaned them.
also are the solonoids just for the mgf or can i get down the scrappies and get one off a 400 or something?
I think the solonoid is pretty unique to the F/TF, so I doubt other MG-R models are the same.
- arsvs
- Posts: 133
- Joined: Fri May 28, 2010 12:14 pm
- MGF Register Region: Midlands
- Model of Car: 98 1.8 vvci
- Location: Long Eaton
Re: PROBLEMS WITH F ALARM AGAIN!!
yes thought so trust rover(:
just looked on ebay and there are none on there at all and the only rover breaker round here seems to never have ant f/tf in at all.
ive plugged everything else back in including the n/s door and everything seems ok now.
i think ill take it off tomorrow and take a look if i cant do anything with it its not really a hardship to use the key to unlock the car is it? until i find one.
just looked on ebay and there are none on there at all and the only rover breaker round here seems to never have ant f/tf in at all.
ive plugged everything else back in including the n/s door and everything seems ok now.
i think ill take it off tomorrow and take a look if i cant do anything with it its not really a hardship to use the key to unlock the car is it? until i find one.
- Charless
- Posts: 2364
- Joined: Tue Oct 09, 2007 1:52 pm
- MGF Register Region: South Coast
- Model of Car: 96 Mpi, 99 VVC
- Location: Chilbolton
Re: PROBLEMS WITH F ALARM AGAIN!!
Over on .org there is a how-to somewhere with the central locking motor unit disassembled and showing the microswitches which can be replaced. I think a company called Cherry supplies them, Dieter mentions it on his site too. You seem happy with doing the nitty gritty so this might be your best and certainly the cheapest option. Let us know how you fare if you do! HTH
- arsvs
- Posts: 133
- Joined: Fri May 28, 2010 12:14 pm
- MGF Register Region: Midlands
- Model of Car: 98 1.8 vvci
- Location: Long Eaton
Re: PROBLEMS WITH F ALARM AGAIN!!
ive decided to buy one from ebay £9.99 its from a 2009 tf so might last a couple of weeks (:
i think when i take the other one off i'll strip it down so if i can find an easy fix at least i can post it on here and save some people some money.
i'll take a look at all the components if i can find that charless thx.
i think when i take the other one off i'll strip it down so if i can find an easy fix at least i can post it on here and save some people some money.
i'll take a look at all the components if i can find that charless thx.
- arsvs
- Posts: 133
- Joined: Fri May 28, 2010 12:14 pm
- MGF Register Region: Midlands
- Model of Car: 98 1.8 vvci
- Location: Long Eaton
Re: PROBLEMS WITH F ALARM AGAIN!!
right then replaced the door catch and no problems with the alarm at all.
if anyone is having problems i would suggest (if you cant get it plugged in to a T4) disconnecting each alarm component in turn and seeing what happens.
if anyone is having problems i would suggest (if you cant get it plugged in to a T4) disconnecting each alarm component in turn and seeing what happens.
- Rob Bell
- Committee Member
- Posts: 14438
- Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2007 2:36 pm
- MGF Register Region: South East
- Model of Car: MGF 1.8i + MGF Shed!
Re: PROBLEMS WITH F ALARM AGAIN!!
Glad you got it sorted
Bless those little micro switches eh?
Bless those little micro switches eh?
Re: PROBLEMS WITH F ALARM AGAIN!!
Hi there,
New to the forum and now the owner of a Mk1 F. Been a challenge but got most things sorted out BUT I am having problems with the alarm/courtsey lights.
I guess its the micro switch having read this thread but would appreciate any thoughts before I go an buy a new door catch.... In short when driving along the courtsey lights will come on when they feel like it. When setting the alarm I can sometimes get the alarm beeping at me when I lock the doors with the remote AND the courtsey lights can sometimes stay on after the car has been locked and alarmed!
Ive taken a look at the electrical connections to the door catch on the drivers side and cleaned/reseated the connectors but this has not sorted the problem. Any advise before I go and buy another donor catch would be great.
Many thanks!
New to the forum and now the owner of a Mk1 F. Been a challenge but got most things sorted out BUT I am having problems with the alarm/courtsey lights.
I guess its the micro switch having read this thread but would appreciate any thoughts before I go an buy a new door catch.... In short when driving along the courtsey lights will come on when they feel like it. When setting the alarm I can sometimes get the alarm beeping at me when I lock the doors with the remote AND the courtsey lights can sometimes stay on after the car has been locked and alarmed!
Ive taken a look at the electrical connections to the door catch on the drivers side and cleaned/reseated the connectors but this has not sorted the problem. Any advise before I go and buy another donor catch would be great.
Many thanks!
- Rob Bell
- Committee Member
- Posts: 14438
- Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2007 2:36 pm
- MGF Register Region: South East
- Model of Car: MGF 1.8i + MGF Shed!
Re: PROBLEMS WITH F ALARM AGAIN!!
It may be possible to disassemble the lock mechanism, give everything a good clean and reassemble and make the problem go away - but unsurprisingly, there's no guarantee that that will work...
Re: PROBLEMS WITH F ALARM AGAIN!!
Hi Rob, Thanks for the advise, will give it a bash!
Thanks,
Stuart.
Thanks,
Stuart.