DIY car alarm shock sensor repair

In detail: DIY car alarm shock sensor repair from a real master for the site my.housecope.com.

During the operation of the car, it becomes necessary to repair its systems and assemblies. The security system in this regard is no exception. To save money, you can do it yourself. In this article, you will learn how to repair car alarms and key fob with your own hands.

All alarm faults can be conditionally divided into the following types:

nutritional problems;
wiring problems;
software failure;
false positives;
malfunction in the key fob.

Let's take a closer look at each of the malfunctions in car alarms.

Power problems are often the cause of alarms not working properly. This can happen both with the equipment installed on the car and with the car alarm key fob. The system is de-energized due to a discharged vehicle battery. The car stops responding to the owner's commands. The battery, which serves as a power source for the key fob, can also be discharged. In this case, the lamp and display of the device will turn off. A decrease in the battery charge can be noticed in a timely manner by decreasing the range of the key fob.

Defects in the wiring sometimes become the cause of the system being de-energized. Over time, the contacts oxidize, which leads to the interruption of the transmission of electricity. The wires themselves may also be damaged. This happens during the installation of additional equipment or when attempting to steal the machine. Another reason is faulty fuses. The symptoms are the same as with power problems - the car does not respond to commands. This is provided that the key fob is in working order.

Sometimes car alarm malfunctions are caused by incorrect operation of the control unit - the "brain" of the system. This is due to a software failure.

These malfunctions are caused by errors in the setup or installation of the car alarm. If the sensitivity of the sensors is set too high, then the alarm will be triggered at the slightest shock or vibration. Alarms can be caused by small dry tree branches falling onto the machine, rain, or even a loud sound. Sensors set for optimal sensitivity, but installed on plastic parts, will also not work correctly. The fact is that plastic amplifies the vibrations that the sensors perceive. When heated, this material expands, which can trigger the sensors.

During operation, the key fob may start to work incorrectly or even break down. The reasons for this are wear and various damage caused by falling or exposure to water. A cracked display significantly reduces the information content and usability of the security complex. Dropping the key chain can also damage the quartz.

Before starting to repair car alarms, you need to find the cause of the malfunction. Completely different breakdowns can have the same symptoms. To accurately determine the cause of the malfunction, it is necessary to consider all possible options in stages.

You need to start with the key fob. Inspect it for mechanical damage and traces of water. If the key fob gets into water, condensation will form on the inside of the display lid. The operation of such a device (if it turns on) will be unstable. If the key fob did not fall and fell into the water, but the display is turned off and nothing happens when you press the buttons, then the discharged battery is to blame.

If the key fob is completely functional, but nothing happens when you press its buttons, then there may be two reasons for this - strong external interference or problems with the car and the alarm. Try to bring the key fob to the part of the car where the car alarm antenna is installed and press the button. If nothing happens, then the malfunctions need to be looked for in the car itself or in the alarm equipment installed on it.

Next, power and wiring diagnostics are performed. Check the battery charge and inspect the terminals for oxidation. The full charge of the battery can be easily determined by the operation of the on-board electronics. If everything is in order, then the next step is to check the wiring. To do this, you need a special tester with which the contacts are called. Inspect the wires for mechanical damage. Special attention should be paid to fuses. Usually they are in a box, which is located on the wire coming from the positive terminal of the battery.

Video (click to play).

If the cause has not yet been found, then a defect in the control unit or a failure of its software is to blame. It will not be possible to eliminate such a defect with your own hands, but with a software failure, everything is much easier - it is enough to carry out simple manipulations, which we will talk about below.

Most often, a car alarm key fob requires repair. The buttons wear out and begin to react poorly to pressing, and the device itself may fall on the asphalt or into a puddle. Button repair includes disassembling the case, cleaning the contacts and replacing the button pads (if necessary). To lift the recessed buttons, you can make a plastic backing that sticks to their seats on the board.

Most often, when the key fob falls from its board, quartz comes off. To eliminate this defect, it is enough to disassemble the keychain and solder the quartz to its original place.

To fix cracks in the display, you need to completely replace it. Remove the old display, strip the contacts and solder the cables of the new display. The process itself is not very complex and requires initial soldering skills. The difficulty lies in finding a new display. You can hardly find it in stores, so you will have to order from China via the Internet. Defects caused by water ingress cannot be eliminated by yourself.

Power and wiring problems are solved by stripping the battery contacts and terminals, and replacing fuses and damaged wires. To avoid unnecessary work, use the tester to find the exact cause of the problem and then fix it.

To eliminate the problem of false alarms, it is necessary to adjust the sensitivity of the sensors. The adjustment process is extremely simple. To do this, screw in or unscrew the adjusting screw located on the sensor housing.

To resolve software crashes, you need to reboot the system. To do this, de-energize it by disconnecting one of the terminals from the battery for a few minutes. If this does not help, then set the factory settings of the car alarm. Step-by-step instructions for resetting the settings can be found in the instructions for your alarm model.

The best way to test your car alarm is to use it as directed. Arming the car and try to open doors, trunk or hit the car. You should hit the wheels, hood and windows, gradually increasing the force of the impact. After checking the sensitivity setting of the sensors, open the car door with the key and try to start it, also using the key. The alarm should go off. Check the rest of the functionality, depending on the specific model, the functionality will be very different, we suggested how to check the basic and general alarm functions.

Most of the problems associated with the operation of car alarms can be eliminated by hand.It is better to entrust the repair of the control unit and other complex electronics to specialists. If, after following the above recommendations, the breakdown is not eliminated, then you need to contact a car service. To continue driving with a broken alarm, you need to master the process of turning it off with a secret button, which you can read about in the instructions for the car alarm.

Partner in crime

Group: Participant
Posts: 377
User #: 42957
Joined: 4-February 09
Place of residence: Vladivostok

New Year's gift:
Lighter shock sensor, specially designed for automotive GSM
alarms on the forum
Details with (*) select the signal duration.
Here is the first option, there will be the second.
Under its variable resistance (500k), which sets the sensitivity, the seal needs to be corrected. Used to stand
SPO-0.15 with a long handle, but for repeating the design in the store
they were not there and for the price they became more expensive than in the photo, so put
your what you have.
The shock sensor differs from all others in that with a very high sensitivity
does not react to sound, but only catches shocks and vibrations.
Remove the piezoelectric element from the gas piezo lighter, disassemble it,
Stretch the large spring a little, insert it back. Insert the screw
M3 up to the housing wall, the sensor must be positioned so that the bolt is
upright. Try it!

Attached file (Number of downloads: 1535)

Datchik.rar

Breakdowns of car alarms are a common occurrence that is caused by problems of a completely different nature. Even the premium signaling system is not immune to malfunctions. Problems of this nature are solved in specialized salons, but it is not always possible to go there. If a minor defect is identified, the vehicle owner is confident that he can fix it on his own, it is worth trying to make minor repairs at home. How exactly to produce it will be highlighted now.

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Modern signaling systems are divided into several types. Some are connected by standard

method - using wires, others are wireless, and another category involves combining the two types of connection. Each person, choosing a security system, is guided by their own ideas about the ideal car alarm, guided by their financial capabilities. The reliability of all security systems is confirmed by quality certificates, but one small breakdown is enough for the integral mechanism to stop working in a harmonious mode. Because of what alarms break, how to repair them, motorists will be able to find out now.

So far, there are few fans of wireless signaling systems, but the standard model is on every car. It is on her example that possible breakdowns will be determined. A standard alarm that is connected to the car with a wire can break for the following reasons:

incorrect operation of the vehicle control system;
mechanical damage to the central unit;
breakage of signaling wires;
work at temperature conditions that are lower or higher than recommended;
software failure due to attempts by unauthorized persons to gain access to the security system;
lack of normal voltage, poor performance of the car battery;
inaccuracies made during system connection;
incorrect operation of control key fobs.

To repair the car alarm with his own hands, the driver must turn it off completely, find the cause of the breakdown, and eliminate it with high quality.To disable the security system, you should use one of these methods:

special computer support;
killers or linemen;
jack emergency shutdown button;
introduction of a personal code value.

After completely disabling the security system and its siren, the driver needs to start looking for the problem. To do this, he needs to go through a couple of simple steps in the following sequence:

inspection of the standard connection diagram - it will tell you exactly where to look for the problem if the person does not set the alarm yourself;
inspection of the central unit of the car, checking the correct connection of the wires and their integrity;
checking the LED indicator, latching relay, limit switches, sensors and siren;
checking the quality and power of the current supply, the operability of the key fob.

After finding the source of the problem, the driver needs to deal with it. To do this, he should prepare the appropriate tools, if necessary, dismantle the alarm. If the cause of the breakdown of the car alarm could not be found, the car owner should contact the service center for help.

The car dealership will carry out a full diagnosis in a short time, they will be able to determine the exact location of the problem, and solve it at a professional level. If the driver is not sure that he will be able to make the repairs correctly, it is better for him not to do it with his own hands, because it will only get worse. Standard problems of signaling systems are resolved quite quickly, without significant material damage to the car owners. If professional assistance cannot be provided, the system is completely out of order, the driver will need to replace it, which is also done in specialized repair centers.

Repair of alarms of any level of complexity should always be carried out professionally. If this is not done on time, the system will completely break down and the driver will have to spend money on a new alarm system, which is undesirable in any case, because it requires high costs. Repairing the security system is a responsible business. If the owner of the vehicle does not have the skills in this matter, he should not eliminate the cause of the malfunction himself. It is better to pay for a good repair than to buy a new car alarm later.

Modern anti-theft Starline systems consist of many electronic devices, the breakdown of which will lead to incorrect operation of the signaling as a whole. Repair of Starline car alarms can be done by hand.

The main symptoms of a problem are:

lack of signaling response to commands sent from the remote control;
the alarm siren is triggered for no reason;
after arming the alarm does not close one or several doors.

Problems of this kind can be associated both with the operation of the communicator and with the functionality of the additionally installed equipment. The presence of voltage drops in the electrical network can ultimately lead to breakdown of the main control module. In the absence of power, the anti-theft complex will be de-energized, as the battery will be discharged.

Signs of such a problem include non-response of the signaling to the commands sent from the remote control. This malfunction may be caused by the discharge of the battery installed in the device, this will turn off the display and indicator light. If the battery is discharged, it will also reduce the range of the communicator. It is necessary to diagnose the battery using a multimeter, and also check the status of the power supply in the key fob.

Prolonged use of the anti-theft complex, as well as temperature drops and moisture, lead to wear and the formation of oxidation on the contact elements of electrical circuits. Because of this, the voltage will not be able to pass through the power lines, the same happens when the circuits are broken.The reason is often associated with the connection of additional equipment and electrical appliances, as well as an attempt to steal a car. Power problems are often caused by broken fuses.

Symptoms of a malfunction include a lack of response to commands sent from the remote control, although the communicator itself will be in working order. Diagnostics of the wiring is carried out with a multimeter, it is necessary to check each electrical circuit connected to the microprocessor unit.

Firmware malfunctions will lead to incorrect functioning of the complex. Car alarm can trigger the alarm mode for no reason, and also not respond to sending commands from the communicator. Unreasonable blocking of the power unit is possible. It will not be possible to detect such a problem on your own.

In reviews, motorists often complain about such a problem as the unreasonable operation of the siren. In practice, malfunctions of such a plan are usually caused by mistakes that the consumer made during the installation and adjustment of the signaling operating parameters. The user could incorrectly adjust the sensitivity of the shock sensor, as a result of which the alarm reacts to passing cars and animals.

If the sensitivity is too high, the siren can be triggered in response to loud sounds and wind. Incorrect operation of the shock sensor is due to its incorrect installation, for example, the user has used a plastic or rubber gasket between the device and the surface of the body. In accordance with the instructions for a specific model, the sensor's sensitivity is diagnosed.

If the device fails and malfunctions or malfunctions, then the microprocessor device will not be able to receive signals from it. The problem is related to wear or mechanical or software problems. The device may have been dropped or water might have been spilled on it.

In winter frost, the electrolytes in the battery move more slowly, as a result of which power problems occur in the on-board network. This is especially true for the northern regions, where the air temperature can be lower than the manufacturer's allowable temperature.

Paha Blue showed a "glitch" in the anti-theft system Starline.

If the signaling with feedback A91, A61 or another model does not work in the car, then you can try to diagnose the problem yourself.

If a problem is found, the repair is carried out as follows:

Alexander Shestopalov spoke about diagnostics of the car battery and generator set using a tester.

It is not recommended to repair the microprocessor device yourself; it is better to trust the professionals for a quality result.

Faults in the operation of the key fob can be corrected by yourself.

Algorithm for cleaning the Starline signaling console:

If the screen or case breaks, it will be difficult to find new parts. You can buy a new pager on the market or in stores, but the manufacturer does not supply the accessories for sale. Therefore, it is advisable to look for a screen and a case on the secondary market or on the Internet.

Before carrying out repairs, do the following:

The battery is dismantled from the control fob; to remove the battery, the rear cover is dismantled.
A screwdriver with a small blade unscrews the screws that secure the two parts of the case. The back cover is removed, the buttons are removed from the communicator.
If the display is broken, then this is not such a serious problem. It is much worse if fragments of it damaged the microcircuit. Remove the board by detaching the latches, the circuit is pulled out of the case with the transceiver module. To dismantle the display from the microcircuit, you must disconnect the LED backlight lamps. Carefully, using a screwdriver or clerical knife, the graphite cable is disconnected from the board contacts. Flex cable, be careful when removing.
Cleaning is performed with the contact of the microcircuit.Then take a new screen and attach it to the body of the device, making sure its dimensions are correct.

Roman Marketov demonstrated the screen replacement procedure on the Starline communicator.

Algorithm of actions when repairing a communicator:

The Auto Launch channel demonstrated the process of communicator repair and replacement of the screen with a loop.

Prices for repairing Starline car alarms differ depending on the city of residence and the model of the anti-theft complex.

Car alarm repair is a fairly common reason for motorists to contact car repair shops. It is carried out only with the help of professionals and has its own subtleties.

In order to prevent your car from being hijacked, it is extremely important to take care of the burglar alarm in time. It is of two types:

Dependent on energy.
Independent.

The first type allows, in case of a lost key fob, to start the engine by shorting the wires. It has a number of advantages:

you can easily start the car and drive to the service, where you can get a new key fob;
it is not necessary to understand electronics in order to connect the wiring together.

But there is one significant drawback: easy accessibility for the hijacker.

The second type is much more difficult for a burglar. It consists of open relay circuits, to combine which it is necessary to build up the wiring or find all the wiring connections. The advantages include:

the impossibility of breaking and starting the engine;
low cost.

The disadvantages include the impossibility of starting the engine without special training. To obtain it, you must contact the sellers of the security warning system.

There are several types of alarms, of which the most popular are:

GPS alarm.
Direct start.
With feedback.
Engine plant in the distance.

A GPS or GSM security system has its drawbacks:

the hijackers will still be able to take her away;
in the case of a flat phone, the signal will not be received.
when using jamming equipment, there is no way to determine where the car has moved.

Direct-triggered signaling is the most primitive type of signaling. It is unable to carry out full-fledged protection, and is suitable for installation on inexpensive cars.

With feedback, the alarm has in addition a key fob, which depicts a car model with a display of the presence or absence of burglars. In addition, such a key fob, when broken, emits a signal.

Factory remote engine saves time for warming up the passenger compartment in winter. When you turn on the key fob, the car turns on and begins to warm the interior with the help of the stove.

Regardless of the type of alarm, each of them contains a standard set:

Main and auxiliary keychain.
Signal transceiver.
Shock sensor.
Service button.
Sensor for opening doors.
Indicator.
Trunk opening sensor.

All these details are interconnected and form an integral chain.

If the alarm fails, it is necessary to repair it in a timely manner. True, in this case, you should remember the "golden" rule: in no case do not start checking the functionality or malfunction of the alarm yourself if it is under warranty. If it is not there or it has long ended, then you can try to repair the off-road vehicle alarm yourself.

There are the following reasons for the malfunction:

failure of charging;
faulty wiring;
the alarm does not respond to the sent signal;
lack of performance at the fuses.

These are superficial types of breakdowns that the driver can try to fix on their own. If this idea was not successful, you should contact a car service as soon as possible.

Read all about DIY car repair here. What tools should every car owner have? Useful information in this article.

If the charging fails, it is necessary to check the operation of the battery. To do this, disassemble the key fob and check the lighting level. In case of dim light or prolonged failure to work, replace the battery with a new one. At the end of this procedure, you must make sure that the key fob is working. If the work is still not carried out, you should check it for the presence of liquid. It is possible that after using the keychain in rainy weather, drops have penetrated into it.

If after this manipulation the key fob does not want to work, you need to drive up to the service to identify additional reasons for its inoperability.

When the alarm does not respond to the signal, but the LED shines brightly, indicating the health and functionality of the battery, then certain actions should be taken.

If you have a GSM alarm system installed, then the whole thing may be in the system freezing. In this case, the alarm must be de-energized for 20 minutes. Then connect.

If this technique doesn't work, you can try it 2 more times. If such a malfunction lasts, you should contact a car service.

If the fuses are not working properly, you should immediately contact the service. To determine this factor, it is necessary to check absolutely all types of fuses included in the alarm. It is quite possible that by removing and inserting the block with them after a short period of time, the alarm will work.

There are situations when there is no way to start the engine, and the alarm does not react in time. In this case, the reason may lie in the discharge of the battery. In this case, turn off the alarm and then check its charge. Thus, if it is impossible to correct the situation, you should immediately contact the car service, where they can establish the deeper causes of the malfunction and fix them in a short time.

Safe driving is a priority for any driver. Modern technologies make it possible to simplify this task by using a shock sensor. Thanks to him, you can get information about the physical impact on the car body. Sometimes this can be of great help in identifying a car breakdown, or even preventing an accident.When the vehicle comes into contact with a foreign object, a signal is sent through the signaling means to an external indicator. This is accompanied by a sound signal, which will make the driver immediately aware of a problem with the car. He instantly reacts to outside influences. This is due to the high sensitivity of the device, which is facilitated by the individual setting of the shock sensor.There are many such devices on the market, and they have a different physical principle of operation. In this case, the algorithm of action for all indicators is the same - sending a digital or analog signal to the instrument panel through interaction with the alarm device. Recently, it has become popular to install a shock sensor to the alarm board. This significantly reduces the cost of the equipment, but the signal quality also becomes worse.There are several main ways where to install the shock sensor. Some argue that proper installation involves the use of a rigid metal mount on the vehicle body. Many people refute this theory, explaining this by the ability of the metal to damp the indicator oscillation amplitude. In their opinion, the device is losing its sensitivity. Of course, there is a sensor setting for this, but from its incorrect adjustment, the device will even respond to noise, passing it off as a physical effect.This can cause severe discomfort and distract from driving. Alternatively, it is recommended to install the product on the harnesses that come from the wiring. The shock sensor is fixed with special clamps-ties, which preserve the sensitivity of the elements.Some car dealerships offer the service of installing the sensor in the very center of the cabin. This option allows you to achieve a uniform distribution of sensitivity.When operating this equipment, it is important to know how to adjust the shock sensor with your own hands. If this is done incorrectly, the car may stop responding to stimuli altogether. To configure the device yourself, you first need to find its location. To do this, check the data with the master who installed the alarm. Image - DIY car alarm shock sensor repair

As a rule, in most alarms, a shock sensor is installed in two levels. The first one is responsible for physical contact with the wheel or car body. This reaction is displayed and sends a signal to a special key fob installed in the cabin by the driver. At the second level of exposure, the signaling reproduces a longer signal. It occurs when the body is hit hard.

To adjust the side impact or general sensor, you need to find the special screws that are located on the device itself. It is important to determine which of the wires is responsible for a certain level of the indicator. For this, special indicators are provided on them, which will light up when working with the correct contact.

For ease of use, all screws are marked with appropriate adjustment marks - plus and minus signs. Accordingly, when adjusting, the sensitivity increases or decreases. For work, you need a flat screwdriver. Initially, you need to twist all the indicators to the minimum level, after which you need to reconnect the shock sensor with a screwdriver and slightly twist the indicators to "plus".

Then you need to move away from the car, putting it in the security mode. Typically, it takes 30 seconds to activate this function. After that, you need to lightly hit the body (it is better to do it on the central part of the body). A small physical impact should cause a first level reaction, which will cause a short beep. If it does not follow, then the device is poorly adjusted, which needs to be done again.

This is how a front impact sensor or any other type of sensor is configured. Similar actions are carried out with the second level of sensitivity. True, a more significant physical impact will need to be applied. After the shock sensor and device functions have been adjusted, you need to check its attachment. It should be fixed and not "slip", because this can cause false positives.Regardless of what device is used in the car and on what budget it was purchased, its accuracy always matters. Only this indicator determines how correctly the shock sensor was configured. Its performance allows preventing breakdowns in the car and notifying the driver about a collision of the car, even if it was not possible to notice it on its own.Those who have noticed irregularities in the operation of the shock sensor should adjust it. This is necessary, because it will work even from noise, which greatly distracts from driving. If you cannot do this yourself, you can contact a car service.Car alarms, like any other car system, can sometimes fail. If you are not an expert in the field of electronics, then it is better to entrust the repair of an alarm on a car in terms of its brains to a professional auto electrician.There are situations when the malfunction of the alarm is not related to the operating system, and in this case it is quite possible to eliminate the breakdown with your own hands. In order not to panic ahead of time, not to transport your car to a car service, you need to have an idea of the typical malfunctions of car alarms.In this case, self-carried out repair of the car alarm will save you from unnecessary worries and unforeseen blows to the budget. To repair an alarm on a car, the traditional driver's tools should always be at hand: screwdrivers, wire cutters, electrical tape, a couple of wires, a tester (a light bulb with two wires for "ringing").

Nutrition. The alarm does not respond to your clicks, or performs actions that you did not order. We start checking with the keychain, namely with the battery. Disassembling the keychain and replacing the battery will not take much time. A characteristic sign of a low battery is that the LED becomes dimmer, or the remote control range of the remote control decreases. Another reason for the failure of the remote control may be the ingress of water on it (when used in the rain).
Wiring. No matter how complex or advanced car alarms, whether it is a conventional AOC buzzer (car security alarm) or a GSM alarm - under the influence of external factors, contacts at the connection points are always oxidized. That is, car alarm repair always begins with ringing the contacts.
The LED lights up brightly, and the alarm does not respond to pressing. In this case, we start repairing the alarm on a car by finding out the reasons for this phenomenon. The "brain" of the AOC could freeze, because in any case we are dealing with a mini-computer. Restart required. It is necessary to remove the terminal from the battery (any), i.e. de-energize the system and put it on again after a couple of minutes. If the alarm has started, you can fix the terminal, no - try rebooting 2-3 more times. If it does not work out, then we proceed to the next stage of repairing an alarm on a car - checking the fuses.
Circuit breakers. If from the positive terminal of the battery (or from the wires with a constant "plus") there is a separate wire with a separate fuse block - check the fuse. Since we have already begun, at the same time, we need to check the serviceability and operability of the main power consumers of the car (standard fuses): emergency gang, sound signal. During this test, the power supply is called by "minus" (this type of testing can be carried out if you know where the central AOC unit is located). In this case, the AOC is reset by the following method: remove the connector from the unit and reconnect it. If the beep sounds, it's okay.

If your efforts to repair the alarm on a car are not successful, then you will have to contact a car service, the cause of the malfunction turns out to be deeper.

There are many factors affecting the fact that the car alarm may not work. Electronics is a delicate thing. Do not panic in these cases. Test the system and most likely, repair of the car alarm may not be needed. Most often, when you press the key fob, the arming (disarming) function does not work. Why and what should be done?

Bring the key fob closer, preferably to the location of the central unit, and try to press it again.

It did not help, restart the system by manipulating the battery terminal.

This may be due to the presence of powerful industrial facilities in the parking lot. The key fob signals are simply "clogged".Another option: the car stalled or you turned off the ignition, and when you try to start, the alarm starts to work. Most likely, you have lost the battery charging, it is discharged, the car will not start. And the alarm reacted to a voltage drop below 8V (this is a precaution for attempts to steal a car by removing the terminal from the battery). In this case, you need to disconnect the siren and start troubleshooting the battery.

Video (click to play).

Actually, these are the reasons for a car alarm malfunction.The most important thing is not to despair, but to try to repair the alarm on the car yourself, if it is not under warranty or is not a super-sophisticated GSM alarm system. We hope that the information will help you not only to repair your alarm, but also save money.