I think by default anything with the FAST is alarmed. The blinky thing is under the radio, where the passenger airbag warning light is.

 

^Yes, I think so too...

I always lock my car with the handle button, and the blinky light comes on all the time when I come back 5~10min later. It just might not click on immediately?

 

Not sure about US spec RA's but all models in AUS have the alarm. I normally lock the car with the door handle button (the alarm still goes off then) so it's not a faulty FAST key unfortunately.

You can see the red light come on almost immediately, you can even hear it if you're in a quiet area. A faint "beeeep (pause) beeep" can be heard for the first 30 secs. The alarm should then fully activate but mine likes to clear its lungs good and proper.

I have the car booked in for an alarm check tomorrow at the dealers. I'll post up any findings here afterwards.

Cheers.

 

You can change the sensitivity of it, You'll have to rip apart your centre console and its on the compartment side behind the hand brake.

 

:Update:
OK so I had the car looked at by the dealership today and suggested they adjust the sensitivity of the alarm. Apparently they did so and I thought all was well. Drove it out of the dealership, got it home and BAM! Alarm goes off again.

Seriously wondering how on earth this is going to be resolved if even the dealership can't manage to find the cause of the problem. Its becoming a major inconvenience.

 

Did they make it MORE sensitive or less sensitive?

 

Not sure. But I'd have to assume they know the difference. I was told they adjusted it as much as they could while still ensuring it's functional when it's really meant to be. I'll be letting them know today that it wasn't successful.

 

Hmmm. I've got an '09 Ralliart too with exactly the same alarm problems. It seems to be a bit worse when I park in the sun (did it consistently all day Saturday) though it did go off at 2:10am on Tuesday for no particular reason.

I wonder if there's any sort of plug-in diagnostic tool, or at least some way of seeing which sensor triggered the alarm?

Cheers,

Ian.

 

Looks like there are two Aussie RA's with the problem...maybe it's localized to the ADM(?) RA's...I haven't heard of any USDM RA's with this problem.

 

Hi Griffin5,

I'd like you to try something: get some citrus-based degreaser (I used a "3-in-1 Professional All-Purpose Cleaner & Degreaser from K-Mart), pop your bonnet open and smother the microswitch on your bonnet catch with the degreaser. Leave it for a minute, rinse it off well with water and blow it dry.

I did this last night to mine, and after arming the alarm on about six separate occasions, it's behaved properly!

My wife got the ******* yesterday when she took my RA to her work, parked it near some tradies working up a ladder and watched them almost **** themselves and fall down when the alarm went off... ******* it's loud.

Hope this helps

Ian.

 

Oh yeah, in the process of cleaning the microswitch, I got stuck into it with some cotton buds and worked the switch in and out several times (you'll know what I mean when you look at it).

 

Very interesting Ian. Let us know how it goes after a few days. The car is booked in (again) with the dealers to take a real good look at it on Monday. If I get time to try your suggestion between now and then I'll let you know how I go. I'd much rather avoid them pulling my car apart to get to all the motion sensors. Thanks again for the tip mate.

 

Ugh...bad news. Alarm just started going off again. This is really giving me the sh%ts...

I've got it booked in @ the dealer this Friday. I'll let you know how it goes. BTW they don't reckon it's a known issue. Well, not yet anyway.

 

Bugger. Hopefully I can shed some light on it after Mondays findings. Stay tuned.

 

Quick update: After having my car looked at again by the service dep't they recallibrated the motion sensors under the centre console and all has been fine since, no more alarm problems. It's been four days now which is a good stretch of time so I'm hoping its gone for good.