Other S60 Problem: Alarm Service

[Theeggman]

Originally Posted by oragex

I'd say, pull the fuse or better unplug the module as of now. When the siren module melts, it can also get shorted and drain the battery overnight - even if a little, it's not good in the long term.

Pull the fuse and your car will start when you want it to, sort the siren PDQ because you may be annoying your insurers.

[vanno]

Okay, so I have pulled the Siren fuse, (double checked!!), sun roof still works and still have alarm service warning message. I guess it will stop possible short and battery drain as suggested.

[Mac940]

Pulling the fuse doesn't stop the message showing!
The alarm button on the key fob operates the horn not the siren, that's why it worked then and not when you rocked the car.
The fix isn't as hard as it looks. It took me just under 2 hours and all you need is drill, rivet gun, vise grips, hacksaw and some electrical tape.
I fixed it well over a year ago using £4.99 RC car battery and I never had problems with it again!

I hate any warning lights on the dash and if you feel the same then it's definitely worth a try - you can't make it any worse. None of the garages would attempt to fix it - they would only replace the siren - £300-400 compared to a fiver is a no brainer lol

[reggit]

Originally Posted by Mac940

I fixed it well over a year ago using £4.99 RC car battery and I never had problems with it again!

Slight thread hijack :-)

Can you remember the voltage/Ah of the battery you used? I need to change my siren; have one in the garage which I took the battery out of years ago and extended the wires to put the battery somewhere serviceable. Chucked the battery away and can't remember the size!
Same as you - I hate warning messages!

[Mac940]

It's 7.2V. I used 650mAh but from what I read this is not critical. If you're getting RC battery you'll need to re-use the old connectors. You can also buy already wired batteries with Volvo connectors but from what I remember these are around £35.

PS. Make sure it's a rechargeable battery
PS.2. when the siren is pulled apart and the battery leaked out it may not be too late to save the board, you'll need to use some electrical contact cleaner to get the acid off.
It worked for me even though the edges of the board were already melted away...

[Volvotastic]

Originally Posted by reggit

99% of the time it means the rechargeable battery inside the alarm siren has failed and dripped acid over the alarm circuitry rendering it dead.

It is DIYable if you want to repair it, the siren is underneath the driver side wheel arch. If the siren still works, you may get away with cutting it open and changing the internal battery, otherwise it's a new unit.

If the siren is dead, the alarm will function as normal, but with no sound and you get the warning message on the dash for a few seconds after start up.

I have the message on my dashboard so I have removed the alarm and dismantled it this afternoon and here are the photos ... not repairable but I just got the car in the last 4 months so no chance to catch it before the proverbial acid leak.



I am now waiting for a second hand one from a breaker which I will test and even if it works, I will cut it open and replace the battery. Has anyone else done this and any ideas on what additional protection can you add to stop the alarm board from being attacked by acid?

[mannyo1221]

The alarm siren on my S60 is mute, and even when the alarm is triggered I get no siren. I was not getting the alarm service error just the dead sounder.

As a precaution I have removed the siren fuse, I now get the alarm service message but at least I know that my main battery will not die if / when the acid joins two traces together.

I only noticed one day that mine was dead as the car was sitting outside with the indicators flashing as the alarm had triggered. I think I have a dodgy bonnet contact to the alarm, and I can stop the false triggers by almost slamming the bonnet shut.

I am just going to put up with the alarm service error, its only on the DIM for a few seconds anyway. So thats two security devices removed from my S60, the locking wheel nuts and the silent alarm.

[Volvotastic]

Originally Posted by Volvotastic

I have the message on my dashboard so I have removed the alarm and dismantled it this afternoon and here are the photos ... not repairable but I just got the car in the last 4 months so no chance to catch it before the proverbial acid leak.



I am now waiting for a second hand one from a breaker which I will test and even if it works, I will cut it open and replace the battery. Has anyone else done this and any ideas on what additional protection can you add to stop the alarm board from being attacked by acid?

Got the replacement alarm box and fitted it this morning. The message disappeared so that was a good sign.

However, I tried the 3 x lock/unlock process and it did not work. After reading around I then tried the Key position II, hold up the window switches for 8 seconds, lock/unlock 3 times and then it did the reset and all worked!

A good start to the day!

[Turbodave]

Similar issues with mine and have been posting my findings on Facebook but with limited response... or there's so much posted since, it's hard to find the post again which is one of the downsides to such a platform.

But I digress...

Mine started displaying the warning message and after being sat for a week, the battery was flat (perhaps a coincidence) so I removed fuse 8 which is for the siren and on mine (a 2005 facelift V70 D5) lives under the steering column... however I believe some are fuse 38 which is in the end of the dash.

Once removed, the warning remains displayed and the siren has since started making pathetic buzzing / clicking noises which I assume it either the circuit board frying or the battery is nigh on dead and it's a lat ditch effort to make a noise. I have ignored it for three days in the hope it'll stop... it hasn't. Yet.

I have a spare siren so my thinking is to order a replacement battery pack and build a 'good' siren unit out of the two, assuming at least one has a non-damaged circuit board, and then refit it and hopefully resolve the error message as I too hate having messages on start up.

Noted the Volvo specific batteries with connectors in place for £25 (ish) but being a tight arsed Scotsman, I assume I can buy the batteries only and resolder the original wiring / connectors on to those?

Anybody got a link to such batteries?

Cheers

[Volvotastic]

Originally Posted by Turbodave

Similar issues with mine and have been posting my findings on Facebook but with limited response... or there's so much posted since, it's hard to find the post again which is one of the downsides to such a platform.

But I digress...

Mine started displaying the warning message and after being sat for a week, the battery was flat (perhaps a coincidence) so I removed fuse 8 which is for the siren and on mine (a 2005 facelift V70 D5) lives under the steering column... however I believe some are fuse 38 which is in the end of the dash.

Once removed, the warning remains displayed and the siren has since started making pathetic buzzing / clicking noises which I assume it either the circuit board frying or the battery is nigh on dead and it's a lat ditch effort to make a noise. I have ignored it for three days in the hope it'll stop... it hasn't. Yet.

I have a spare siren so my thinking is to order a replacement battery pack and build a 'good' siren unit out of the two, assuming at least one has a non-damaged circuit board, and then refit it and hopefully resolve the error message as I too hate having messages on start up.

Noted the Volvo specific batteries with connectors in place for £25 (ish) but being a tight arsed Scotsman, I assume I can buy the batteries only and resolder the original wiring / connectors on to those?

Anybody got a link to such batteries?

Cheers

Here is the link to the ebay vendor who sells the battery with connector

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volvo-Rep...72.m2749.l2649

His price is very close to the batteries on their own.

Hope that helps.