Has your car alarm started going off for no apparent reason?
It's important to solve the issue not only because it’s a nuisance to yourself and your neighbours if your car alarm keeps going off, but because a faulty alarm could invalidate your car insurance.
In the UK, a car alarm that keeps going off could even result in a ‘statutory nuisance’ notice from your local council, especially if you find your car alarm keeps going off in the middle of the night.
What makes a car alarm go off?
There are a number of factors which could be causing your car alarm to keep going off.
The following are common issues people experience when having a problem with their car alarm keep going off; check to see if any of these are causing the issues with your own car alarm:
Do you have a dead battery in your key fob?
One of the most common causes for an alarm going off is a dead key fob battery. Without any charge in its battery, the key fob cannot deactivate the alarm system - which can mean it is set off.
If the battery is working, your key fob may need to be scanned or reset with a code reader.
Is the latch sensor obscured?
Today's cars feature a latch sensor which triggers the alarm if someone tries to open the bonnet forcibly. This sensor may stop working if it's covered in dirt or grime - which may sometimes make the alarm go off.
Try cleaning the sensor to repair the fault.
Failing this, the connection to the control unit may be too weak, which is causing your car alarm to keep going off.
Is your car battery low?
Your alarm system needs a certain amount of voltage from the battery to continue working. If the voltage is too low, the alarm could go off.
If your car's battery is very old or the terminal connections are corroded, it may be time to install a new one - which may solve your car alarm issues
Find out about how to replace your car battery.
Do you have a badly installed car alarm system?
Your car alarm may not have been installed correctly, which could be the reason it keeps going off.
While adding an alarm to your vehicle is great for security and may even lower your insurance premiums, if it is not installed properly it may create more problems than it solves.
Why might your car alarm going off be considered a statutory nuisance?
In rare cases, a malfunctioning car alarm may be considered a "statutory nuisance" by your local authority - particularly if you live in a built up area.
In such cases, you might be issued with a warning notice, or even have your vehicle impounded, with any associated costs passed on to you.
Check your car warranty
If your factory-issue alarm has started to malfunction, check to see if your warranty covers it. Conversely, after-market alarms may invalidate your warranty.
How could a faulty car alarm impact your car insurance?
A malfunctioning alarm could also cause problems if you need to make a claim with your insurer for a break in or vandalism. It’s important to fix the problem as soon as possible.
Buy breakdown cover
Whilst you may want your car alarm to stop, one thing you don't want to stop is your vehicle. However, rest assured that Start Rescue have you covered should you suffer a breakdown, with our range of affordable and reliable breakdown cover policies:
