Broadway alarm problem

Since last week our alarm has started going off randomly. After a re-set it can be fine for a few days then will go off again.

I’ve checked no Windows’s are open.

Anyone had this issue and know how to resolve short of contacting an auto electrician?

I have a similar issue in that my alarm will go off in mid morning every day if we have bright sunshine 

Solution close windscreen blinds using a rubber band so they don’t stick together 

Problem solved - Cost £0

The blinds were closed. Was wondering if it was just the heat but it’s not ideal and not sure what else I could do about that

We had this problem in the house in summer. Turned out to be spiders building or starting webs and moving across the field of view of the alarm sensors.

We made sure we dusted those areas daily.

Just to let you know it is apparently the bonnet sensor that has either moved and is not working properly or is faulty and needs replacing - will be worth the £40 spend if it fixes the issue

Forty pounds!! 

It's most likely a mercury switch and they rarely go wrong.

Try changing its angle before prising open the wallet. It may just be too near horizontal, and therefore over sensitive.

Gromit wrote:Forty pounds!! 

It's most likely a mercury switch and they rarely go wrong.

Try changing its angle before prising open the wallet. It may just be too near horizontal, and therefore over sensitive.

More likely to be an old style courtesy light switch which needs its contacts cleaning - or replacing with a new one which should be just a couple of pounds from Halfords.  These are normally mounted close to the bonnet catch.

Could be Ron. I would certainly be reluctant to fork out 40 quid for a simple switch!!
It would have helped if the OP had told us which alarm he has.   

Van Bitz fit mercury switches because they are so reliable and virtually foolproof. If he has one of those, it probably only needs a quick tweak to raise the "live" end a bit

It's a Cobra alarm but don't have any other details with me.

That will help a lot. 

I don't know what they use, but lots of our members have a Cobra, so someone will soon advise you.

If they don't use a mercury switch, you may want to consider fitting one. They are so easy to fit and adjust, and there's no need for finesse on a bonnet switch.

Cobra tend to use the old style courtesy switches. I've had two Cobra alarms, both with that type of switch.

Thanks Paul.

The reply I promised him exactly one minute later!!!  

We had the same problem with our Cobra on a Broadway but it is still under warranty. Apparently it was the sensor/switch on the locker. The technician said that when we armed the alarm there was an audible beep from the system and this should not happen. The hazard lights should flash once with no audible signal.

Now you say that I have started noticed an audible beep when we set the alarm ... I didn’t think it had done that before but when you try to remember it’s difficult to decide if it didn’t beep or if you just hadn’t noticed it. There’s clearly a faulty sensor somewhere and hopefully the guy coming will be able to tell.

Thanks for all your input and advice guys. Fingers crossed it’ll get sorted and I can stop worrying about setting if and annoying fellow campers if it goes off and we are out!

Cobras don't automatically beep or flash when set. It has to be programmed at installation to do either otherwise it just sets silently. I had the Cobra installed locally on the Nuevo and that didn't beep or flash, whereas it was already installed on the Sussex and that flashes but doesn't beep (unless it has been disturbed and then it needs to tell you that it has been triggered in my absence).

Hi  

Gromit wrote:Could be Ron. I would certainly be reluctant to fork out 40 quid for a simple switch!!

So would I. Silly price for a switch but if that includes fitting it’s OK, 40 quid would probably be a minimum labour charge.

Just one point if it’s a mercury switch surely it would need to be fitted to the bonnet so there is the possibility of the cable breaking where it flexes as the bonnet opens and closes (or have I missed something)?

inspiredron wrote:More likely to be an old style courtesy light switch which needs its contacts cleaning - or replacing with a new one.

I agree If, as seems likely it’s a courtesy (plunger) type switch it probably needs cleaning but in my experience once you need to clean them it usually means the plating on the contacts is “ker-knackerd” which means once you start you have to clean them regularly.

For the price I’d replace it.

Brod

brodco wrote:

Gromit wrote:Could be Ron. I would certainly be reluctant to fork out 40 quid for a simple switch!!

So would I. Silly price for a switch but if that includes fitting it’s OK, 40 quid would probably be a minimum labour charge.

Just one point if it’s a mercury switch surely it would need to be fitted to the bonnet so there is the possibility of the cable breaking where it flexes as the bonnet opens and closes (or have I missed something)?

I don't think you've missed anything Brod.

The cable to our mercury switch, which is mounted on the bonnet as you say, is quite long and almost droopy so the likelihood of it breaking due to flexing is virtually eliminated.

Had a similar problem on my van with the old style bonnet switch, apparently the sound proof material stretches and as it does the contacts in the switch become closer together then in the early hours of the morning the moisture that builds up on the contacts arches and sets the alarm off.
the Auto electrician charged me around £25.00 to fix it but what your really paying for is his expertise in finding the fault.
Pete

By way of an update it seems that the courtesy switch under the bonnet was seated a little too low so any expansion in the bonnet (presumably in the heat that we have had recently) was lifting the bonnet off the switch and setting the alarm off. The switch didn't need replacing and he just raised it slightly so even pulling on the bonnet doesn't activate the alarm - seems to have done the trick so we'll see.

Thanks again for all your comments - all very useful