V40: - Disconnecting battery triggers alarm

ww1dm1 · Apr 16th, 2015, 20:26

Hello everyone, I come here as a freshman in hopes that one of you will save what's left of my sanity. I recently purchased a 1999 Volvo V40 T4 and there is one thing that has been driving me crazy - whenever I disconnect the battery the alarm ruptures my eardrums and won't shut up until I reconnect it. I'm not sure if this is supposed to be a fault or a feature, but I'd much prefer to do my repairs in silence.

A couple of weeks ago my battery died. The remote control wouldn't work of course, so I opened it with a key and what do you know, the alarm went off. I couldn't turn it off, because taking the battery out did nothing, this bastard has it's own battery. So I had to leave it and pray that the neighbors wouldn't set it on fire.

Does everyone's Volvo do the same? I noticed there's a keyhole on a black little thing near the airbox, (at first I thought it was the siren, but I found that the siren should be inside the front wing?) but it is tiny and I have no such key, is it for turning the alarm off in such a situation? Maybe there's a fuse to save me? Any thoughts are appreciated, thanks in advance!

pierremcalpine · Apr 16th, 2015, 20:47

Strange - that is not the case with my vehicle. I have not had any issue disconnecting any time I needed to.

v40alex · Apr 16th, 2015, 21:46

It's normal if the alarm is active as it's one of the anti tamper features, the siren should stop after five minutes. Sounds like your system is staying armed. I'm a bit unsure about your remote fob - do your indicators flash twice when you unlock with the remote?

druid · Apr 17th, 2015, 00:11

Need pic's of your (key)hole though, its an odd one!

ww1dm1 · May 5th, 2015, 18:04

Alright, sorry for the late reply, apparently my brake pads decided to fall apart in the middle of a trip, had some bigger problems. One important point, I think the alarm system is aftermarket. Among the mostly useless garbage I got together with the car there was a couple of remotes with the Volvo logo. Here's a picture of it, is that what the original alarm fob looks like? The one I use, though looks like this (the trunk open button doesn't even work). The ultrasonic sensors don't seem to work either, not sure what was the point of an aftermarket system.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pierremcalpine

Strange - that is not the case with my vehicle. I have not had any issue disconnecting any time I needed to.

Well, in that case I clearly have a problem. A simple fuse could save me here, but if it's an aftermarket system then I don't even know where to look :/

Quote:

Originally Posted by v40alex

It's normal if the alarm is active as it's one of the anti tamper features, the siren should stop after five minutes. Sounds like your system is staying armed. I'm a bit unsure about your remote fob - do your indicators flash twice when you unlock with the remote?

I'm pretty sure the alarm should be disarmed, no other situation triggers it. The indicators do flash as supposed to, the doors unlock, etc.

Quote:

Originally Posted by druid

Need pic's of your (key)hole though, its an odd one!

That's naughty. Here you go: 1 2 3.

druid · May 5th, 2015, 18:23

It looks after market to me, given that you have a T4 it may have been an insurance thing in the past with a previous owner. I HAD to have one on a bike once.
The O/E alarm is very good. Only way to check is leave window open or sit in till it arms, but you "new" one may have interfered with it. Don't just cut the wires to it as they will be "everywhere" and usually bits of the loom are cut and routed through the alarm. Removing is tricky but not impossible .

ww1dm1 · May 6th, 2015, 21:04

Alright, after some asking around I finally know what's the deal. It's an aftermarket autonomic alarm system. Apparently these things are quite common in some places, never felt the need for an aftermarket alarm myself. The keyhole thing is the siren, as suspected, and the only way to turn it off is to insert the nonexistent key ant turn it. It's actually designed to go off whenever the battery is disconnected, so turns out it's a feature. A glorious ****stain of a feature. So unless it's somehow possible to break the lock to make it unlock with a screwdriver, the only solution I have right now is to rip out the whole siren and smash it with a hammer.

Protip: if your Volvo has an aftermarket alarm installed and you find an odd tiny key lying around - fend it like your apricots.

Apr 16th, 2015, 20:26	#1
ww1dm1 What is this I don't even Last Online: Aug 31st, 2017 08:01 Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: *	Disconnecting battery triggers alarm Hello everyone, I come here as a freshman in hopes that one of you will save what's left of my sanity. I recently purchased a 1999 Volvo V40 T4 and there is one thing that has been driving me crazy - whenever I disconnect the battery the alarm ruptures my eardrums and won't shut up until I reconnect it. I'm not sure if this is supposed to be a fault or a feature, but I'd much prefer to do my repairs in silence. A couple of weeks ago my battery died. The remote control wouldn't work of course, so I opened it with a key and what do you know, the alarm went off. I couldn't turn it off, because taking the battery out did nothing, this bastard has it's own battery. So I had to leave it and pray that the neighbors wouldn't set it on fire. Does everyone's Volvo do the same? I noticed there's a keyhole on a black little thing near the airbox, (at first I thought it was the siren, but I found that the siren should be inside the front wing?) but it is tiny and I have no such key, is it for turning the alarm off in such a situation? Maybe there's a fuse to save me? Any thoughts are appreciated, thanks in advance!

Apr 16th, 2015, 20:47	#2
pierremcalpine Premier Member Last Online: Jan 3rd, 2024 14:43 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Toronto Canada	Strange - that is not the case with my vehicle. I have not had any issue disconnecting any time I needed to. __________________ 2003 V40 1.9T B4204T4, 197,000miles (sold but alive!), 2004 S60 2.5T, 160,000miles, 2010 V70 3.2, 125,000miles, 2002 V70XC 2.4, 175,000miles Click here for my x40 and V70 P3 repair guides

Apr 16th, 2015, 21:46	#3
v40alex I do like a V40 Last Online: Dec 1st, 2018 19:03 Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: North Surrey	It's normal if the alarm is active as it's one of the anti tamper features, the siren should stop after five minutes. Sounds like your system is staying armed. I'm a bit unsure about your remote fob - do your indicators flash twice when you unlock with the remote? __________________ Current: '02 V40 1.9TD, '02 V40 T4 Previous: '00 V40 1.9TD, '99 V40 1.9TD, '97 V40 2.0CDi, '87 240DL

Apr 17th, 2015, 00:11	#4
druid V40 Owner Last Online: Dec 13th, 2020 01:28 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Tonyrefail, Souh Wales. View Photos By: druid	Need pic's of your (key)hole though, its an odd one! __________________ *An MS Warior living one day at a time* "Neville" 207,000 so far. Water use 0 - oil negligible....

May 5th, 2015, 18:23	#6
druid V40 Owner Last Online: Dec 13th, 2020 01:28 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Tonyrefail, Souh Wales. View Photos By: druid	It looks after market to me, given that you have a T4 it may have been an insurance thing in the past with a previous owner. I HAD to have one on a bike once. The O/E alarm is very good. Only way to check is leave window open or sit in till it arms, but you "new" one may have interfered with it. Don't just cut the wires to it as they will be "everywhere" and usually bits of the loom are cut and routed through the alarm. Removing is tricky but not impossible . __________________ *An MS Warior living one day at a time* "Neville" 207,000 so far. Water use 0 - oil negligible....

May 6th, 2015, 21:04	#7
ww1dm1 What is this I don't even Last Online: Aug 31st, 2017 08:01 Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: *	Alright, after some asking around I finally know what's the deal. It's an aftermarket autonomic alarm system. Apparently these things are quite common in some places, never felt the need for an aftermarket alarm myself. The keyhole thing is the siren, as suspected, and the only way to turn it off is to insert the nonexistent key ant turn it. It's actually designed to go off whenever the battery is disconnected, so turns out it's a feature. A glorious ****stain of a feature. So unless it's somehow possible to break the lock to make it unlock with a screwdriver, the only solution I have right now is to rip out the whole siren and smash it with a hammer. Protip: if your Volvo has an aftermarket alarm installed and you find an odd tiny key lying around - fend it like your apricots.

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