More Zafira alarm problems

Hi everyone.

I have just purchased privately a 2000 zafira 1.8 elegance and the alarm is
driving me nuts. it will either go off straight away or sometimes last for
as long as 10 mins before blowing its top. There was a very informative
thread in this NG and I will be investigating some of the suggestions, but I
need some advice on the matter. I have closed all the vents and even
deactivated the ultrasonics as it says in the book by pressing the 2
internal front light buttons, to no avail. all the door & tailgate switches
appear to function ok - they turn the interior lights on, and the bonnet
switch when held down then released triggers the alarm immediately.

At this moment in time I am unable to lock the vehicle without the alarm
going off. There isnt an alarm button like on my old vectra. instead, the
alarm red led light is part of the hazard light switch. I have tried pulling
fuses to deactivate the alarm, with no joy. I have read that the horn is
self powered but that you can unplug it if you first turn the ignition on.
This is what I would like to do, as I figure that an unalarmed car that is
locked is better than an unlocked car.

But can I unplug the main noisemaker?

Where is the siren, and what does it look like?

Or can someone suggest another way of deactivating the alarm?

Thanks

Mike

 

don't know where it is on the zafira but try behind the drivers headlamp
ass.
that's where it is on the sintra!

the horn (if it is the same as mine)
is about 3in sq and sits mounted to the top of the wheel arc.
the connector has the normal spring wire loop
pop it away from the plug then pull it off.
but make sure the ignition is in the last position before starter motor one
else you will have a box that will go off till the batts wear out.
a nice wet towel(s) and blankets could be useful to put the beasty in if it
fires off
then a field to throw it in!!

i would hazard a guess that your activation problem is down to these blasted
window strip sensors
the connectors are a big problem, they fail big time.
a spot of heated rear window repair paint might resolve the loss of
connection.

pulling the codes from the ecu would tell you the alarm activation reason.

mike

 

I have read references to a paperclip method, but I have no idea what this
is. could anyone tell me? and is there a helpfull website that lists the
codes, or am I coming back here?

Thanks

Mike

 

there are several sites sadly the best two appeared to be down last time i
checked.
i don't know of one for the zafira.
but here are the 3 i have for astra etc. (1st 2 dead?)

http://www.knighta.f9.co.uk/info/fault_codes/fault_codes.htm
http://forums.delphiforums.com/n/mb/display.asp?webtag=cartune&msg=2.2
http://forums.delphiforums.com/n/ma...msg=28.1&prettyurl=/cartune/messages?msg=28.1

hope they help


mike

 

Thats great thanks.
I too found the first two didnt work, but from the third I found how to read
the code and a link to a complete listing of the codes and their meanings,
which I have saved for future referance.

As to the specific problem, I showed items from the other thread about
alarms to my wife, and she commented that when we got the car on friday she
noticed that we had inherited a spider -inside the car (I think you might
have an idea where this might be going). well this morning (sunday) she
decided to get up early and vacuum the car out. after doing so, she said
there was a long hair dangling from the roof in the middle, just behind the
sunroof, and she has removed all such. since then, not a peep out of the
alarm all day. I think its too early to tell yet if we have cured it, but I
think theres a lesson to be learned here, which is look for the
simple/easily checked & cured stuff first

Mike

 

that's two this month.
last one turned out to be a moth.

mike

 

Maybe I spoke too soon. I've just had a trigger. but its back on again, and
still quiet.

I'm now reduced to sitting here with the keys at my side, waiting to rush to
the door. Wish there was just a fuse I could pull...

 

Not quite (if you are refering to me - another mike with a zafira 1.8
elegance !!!!!!). I was told to check for a moth, but in the end a spider
dropped down from the visor area - right in front of the sensor! Since it
was ejected, there has been NO alarm - must be a month now.

Regarding this new problem, it is probably a dodgy siren, which thinks it is
being disconnected. My siren thought it wasn't being charged and gave 4
beeps on turning off the engine. If it thinks it is being disconnected, it
will go off. A visit to the dealer is the only cure - diagnosis and
fitting - 50 quid for the siren and 25 for fitting?

Note that the sirens get corroded contacts and seem to last 3 years only
because of this.

 

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Another theory could be that people called Mike buy Zafiras with dodgy
alarms......<g>

Mike