Possessed alarm

[garymac]

My w202 c250's alarm started to go off this morning at 5.30am. I tried in vain to turn it off. I tried every button on the alarm fob and when the key went in the ignition the alarm still did not stop. I even started the engine and that made no difference. Eventually I gave up and was going to ring the AA when as I locked the car it stopped. I went back in and looked out of the window a few mins later to see the indicators flashing. Pressed the fob to unlock the doors and it stopped. Locked up again and went back to bed. At 9.00 used car and it unlocked OK, got in and alarm started. Started car with alarm still going and drove about 200 yards. Got out pressed key fob and it stopped. Due to rain turned lights on and a light off bulb warning came on. It was the n/s rear tail light (the one on the outside). Could this be a coincidence or have something to do with it?? Please help before the neighbours lynch me for the early Sunday call.....

 

[Doodle]

Nope, mine does exactly the same thing from time to time.

None of the methods detailed in the instructions manual for the MBSS2 alarm actually make it shut up. As you have found, it'll quite happily let you start the car and drive off while wailing away at the top of it's voice.

I always carry the black alarm key with me and use that to shut it up, and then leave the car for as long as possible to settle down.

It's been like that since the car was new, it's been back many times but they've never been able to cure it. The problem is in the alarm itself, it's made by Scorpion and it's just plain crap.

As yet it's only happening about once every six months, and so has not yet annoyed me enough to go to the lengths of having it removed and replaced with a decent alarm.

 

[grasmere]

I have never had my alarm wailer enabled - have used the key to disbale the wailer itself. The red lamp on the reverse mirror flashes when the car is locked and I'm happy with that.

Why? Because I dont respond to car alarms or house alarms myself and would'nt expect anyone else to. Also they are more of a pain when they go off as per this thread and that is why no-one responds to them . . . IMHO

 

[garymac]

Just spoke to a friend who is an auto electrican. He said it is a Scorpion alarm and it is located under the passenger floor panel. He said as for the bulb going off, probably a fluke. In saying that after I removed the bulb and later replaced it the alarm has not done it again. Touch wood

Does anyone know what the replacement cost is of this alarm unit if it get any worse?

Also how can I drive the car with the alarm going. I had a Vectra with a Toad cat 1 alarm before this car and if the alarm was activated on that there was no way it would start???

 

[miro]

My w202 c250's alarm started to go off this morning at 5.30am. I tried in vain to turn it off. I tried every button on the alarm fob and when the key went in the ignition the alarm still did not stop. I even started the engine and that made no difference. Eventually I gave up and was going to ring the AA when as I locked the car it stopped. I went back in and looked out of the window a few mins later to see the indicators flashing. Pressed the fob to unlock the doors and it stopped. Locked up again and went back to bed. At 9.00 used car and it unlocked OK, got in and alarm started. Started car with alarm still going and drove about 200 yards. Got out pressed key fob and it stopped. Due to rain turned lights on and a light off bulb warning came on. It was the n/s rear tail light (the one on the outside). Could this be a coincidence or have something to do with it?? Please help before the neighbours lynch me for the early Sunday call.....

The roadside assist people in Australia replace the main wiring harness.

 

[Doodle]

To replace the current alarm with another identical one? As far as I'm aware it's now long out of production, and frankly not worth the hassle.

Ballpark figure for a new Cat1 alarm from one of the respected manufacturers is normally in the region of £250-350, rising onwards if you tick some of the trick options boxes, such as remote starting.

 

[garymac]

To replace the current alarm with another identical one? As far as I'm aware it's now long out of production, and frankly not worth the hassle.

Ballpark figure for a new Cat1 alarm from one of the respected manufacturers is normally in the region of £250-350, rising onwards if you tick some of the trick options boxes, such as remote starting.

Thanks for that - by doing this would I have to put new wiring and ultra sonics etc in and would it work off the key in the same way as the current system or would I have an additional fob???

 

[Doodle]

Yes, you would be putting in a new wiring loom and sensors, although chances are the installers would re-use the routings and sensor points, so a lot of the old stuff would be removed. You would have an additional fob

FYI, those prices generally include installation.

 

[garymac]

Spoke to independant specialist - the siren on this model is located behind panel in n/s wing. As such they are prone to damp and corrosion, this is what has happened to mine. He disconnected it and has used his computer gadget to tell the car it does not have an alarm. Problem sorted and I did not get chinned off any neighbours