S60 Alarm

Delirious · Post by **Delirious** » 06 Apr 2008, 11:54

My newly acquired '03 S60's alarm is going squirrelly! Without an apparent reason the alarm goes off!, but without the siren, just the visual effects - four way flashers blink on their own with the car shut off ... then the light show ends after a minute or so, on its own as well (or you can shut it off with remote). I checked the alarm button and it does work with the siren when activated. Originally the dash info. centre displayed the "alarm system service required" message but now it does not and the little red dashboard light goes nuts when it goes off. The question now is where is the alarm module is it an F.I.Y. job?
Anyone?

Post by **VCA** » 06 Apr 2008, 12:42

Delirious wrote:My newly acquired '03 S60's alarm is going squirrelly! Without an apparent reason the alarm goes off!, but without the siren, just the visual effects - four way flashers blink on their own with the car shut off ... then the light show ends after a minute or so, on its own as well (or you can shut it off with remote). I checked the alarm button and it does work with the siren when activated. Originally the dash info. centre displayed the "alarm module needs servicing" message but now it does not and the little red dashboard light goes nuts when it goes off. The question now is where is the alarm module is it an F.I.Y. job?
Anyone?

I'm not 100% on this on your car, but I believe that the panic button actuates the horns and not the alarm siren (they are different units)...quick test: leave the driver's side window rolled down, lock the car with the fob, unlock the door by pulling up on the lock (don't use the key), and open it from the outside door handle. If the lights flash but you don't hear a siren, then either the alarm module has a fault or the siren's inoperative.

FUBAR · Post by **FUBAR** » 07 Apr 2008, 12:17

We went over this same thing not too long ago...
https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/chat/p ... ight=fubar

Your siren is probably suffering internal problems from a leaking battery, another one of those problems on that looong list of known problems on newer volvos.

Delirious · Post by **Delirious** » 08 Apr 2008, 07:54

thanks Fubar, my search for "alarm" did not return the thread you posted I will test the alarm as suggested by others. It did not occur to me that there is a difference between the panic button on the fobe that I tested and the antitheft alarm sound sources .... why? Anyways if the problem is with the siren, would it actually have a battery that needs replacing? I also have noticed that there is a very faint beeping comming from the front right corner of the car.

FUBAR · Post by **FUBAR** » 08 Apr 2008, 14:44

I had the same exact things happen with my V70. Eventually the "alarm system service required message" will turn on at startup and dissapear after 5 sec and your siren will eventually become eternally silent. The red led will still do it's thing like normal. Volvo dealer just says its bad. I haven't tried opening it up.