car won't start!! alarm problem?? | FerrariChat
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car won't start!! alarm problem??

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by wayne mello, Mar 13, 2012.

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  1. wayne mello

    wayne mello Karting

    Dec 31, 2003
    52
    Huntington Beach
    #1 wayne mello, Mar 13, 2012
    So my 99 360 my battery died...i charged the battery....when this happens normally everything is fine....this time it won't start....the alarm keyfob isn't chirping like normal and the alarm LED on dash isn't lighting....after doing some research on here...i think it must be the immobilizer....I think i replaced this years ago but for the life of me I can't remember where it is located inside the car....behind the seats?....its a little black box correct?
     
  2. Matto

    Matto Formula 3

    Dec 26, 2011
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    #2 Matto, Mar 13, 2012
  3. vrsurgeon

    vrsurgeon F1 World Champ
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    #3 vrsurgeon, Mar 13, 2012
    Behind drivers seat, under metal panel. May be that alarm has become unsynchronized with immobilizer. May need a few presses to become one with the car again..
     
  4. wayne mello

    wayne mello Karting

    Dec 31, 2003
    52
    Huntington Beach
    #4 wayne mello, Mar 13, 2012
    Last edited: Mar 13, 2012
    pulled panel on floor behind driver seat. is that the panel or is it the large one with net between motor?

    could it.be.a.blown
    fuse? I've held down button on keyfob I've replace the battery in the keyfob
     
  5. ronrob

    ronrob Formula Junior

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    Ronald Brown
    #5 ronrob, Mar 13, 2012
    Are you sure that the car battery (that you have apparently charged at least more than once) is up to the job? If, for instance, if one cell has gone down completely it would give you problems. The battery would appear to be fully charged (voltwise) but might not have the amps.
     
  6. wayne mello

    wayne mello Karting

    Dec 31, 2003
    52
    Huntington Beach
    #6 wayne mello, Mar 13, 2012
    well everything in the car comes up normal. dash lights when i turn the key. everything seems like the normal way like when i try and start the car and forget to press the button on the keyfob. ill have the battery checked its kinda new. but i havent started the car in months before this happened
     
  7. ronrob

    ronrob Formula Junior

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    #7 ronrob, Mar 13, 2012
    OK Good Luck. If the car is not used much (and the battery is not on a conditioner) it's not unusual for a battery to be useless after 3 years.
    Let us know how you get on.
     
  8. Ferris Bueller

    Ferris Bueller Formula 3

    Mar 23, 2004
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    #8 Ferris Bueller, Mar 13, 2012
    There is a fuse for the immobilizer located at the main fuse box.
     
  9. FerrariDublin

    FerrariDublin F1 Rookie

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    #9 FerrariDublin, Mar 13, 2012
    This sounds to me like the immobiliser is armed and that the remote isn't communicating with it. You're supposed to be able to re-sync the remote to the immobiliser by pressing it three times inside a 10 second window.

    Obviously you need to be confident that the battery in the remote is in good condition. It should flash it's LED fast when pressed.

    It's likely also that the emergency batteries in the alarm siren (up front behind the back of the bonnet) are dead and you'll have the dreaded red-light syndrome which may or may not cure itself once you're up and running.

    Best of luck.
     
  10. wayne mello

    wayne mello Karting

    Dec 31, 2003
    52
    Huntington Beach
    #10 wayne mello, Mar 13, 2012
    ok good info. do you know which fuse it is? i removed the panels. and there is 2 boxes with 10 or so fuses in them. I guess i can check them all. so the immobilizer is in front. i have a small black box that i replaced a few years ago. it was leaking or something like that
     
  11. FerrariDublin

    FerrariDublin F1 Rookie

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    #11 FerrariDublin, Mar 13, 2012
    The small black box is probably the alarm siren which is up front. It's a roughly a cube of about 2.5" and a regular failure item. Sounds like the most likely item to have previously been replaced.

    The immobiliser is behind the passenger seat of my RHD car, probably behind the driver's seat of a LHD.

    I suspect however that your problem is more likely a failure of your immobilsier to recognise the instruction from your remote and that you just need to re-sync them.
     
  12. wayne mello

    wayne mello Karting

    Dec 31, 2003
    52
    Huntington Beach
    #12 wayne mello, Mar 13, 2012
    Last edited: Mar 13, 2012
    that makes complete sense. i took the panel off behind my seat. all i see is some wires and a couple of fuse boxes. what does this immobilizer look like? so re-sync is just press button 3 times in 1 that 0 seconds? i tried using my second remote that is brand new never used
     
  13. FerrariDublin

    FerrariDublin F1 Rookie

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    #13 FerrariDublin, Mar 13, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    cavlino likes this.
  14. FerrariDublin

    FerrariDublin F1 Rookie

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    #14 FerrariDublin, Mar 13, 2012
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  15. FerrariDublin

    FerrariDublin F1 Rookie

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    #15 FerrariDublin, Mar 13, 2012
    If your second remote has not been used for a very long time I guess it's even more likely to be out of sync. That said I don't think it should make any difference once you're happy it has a good battery (and once it worked in the first place!)

    I recently had my battery disconnected for several days while doing some maintenance . When I reconnected the battery there was a "chirp" from the siren (which is unusual as mine does not make the chirp noise each and every time) and the immobiliser was set. I found I wasn't able to turn off the immobiliser at first and just pressed and pressed and pressed the remote lots of times and after a little while it just worked.
     
  16. wayne mello

    wayne mello Karting

    Dec 31, 2003
    52
    Huntington Beach
    #16 wayne mello, Mar 13, 2012
    well i went over to my car and try the reprogramming procedure on the keyfob....nothing.....so i'm doing some research on the internet right now...there is a GM replacement part #15213135 - GM ALARM for the alarm module...$80...they have an OEM Ferrari one on Ebay for $255....if i replace this unit(which i might do anyways)....this might not fix my problem....i seem to have a immobilizer problem....my question is..... what do i need to do to get the car started?....when i locate the immobilizer do i just unplug it and the car will start?...do i need to replace it?.....geez i don't even really need this alarm...the car is never out of my sight!...i drive it once every 2 months
     
  17. ttdang123

    ttdang123 Formula Junior

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    #17 ttdang123, Mar 13, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  18. wayne mello

    wayne mello Karting

    Dec 31, 2003
    52
    Huntington Beach
    #18 wayne mello, Mar 13, 2012
    well i guess i could try...i found the PIN in my owners manual....i don't have the red keyfob though...do i need that one...i just have 2 black ones
     
  19. ttdang123

    ttdang123 Formula Junior

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    #19 ttdang123, Mar 13, 2012
    The procedure is to be used when you do not have any working fobs but still have a valid alarm PIN. So, no fobs (red/black) are needed.

    If the car can be started w/o the fobs, then we know your PIN and immobilizer are good and working - then maybe your alarm module or the fobs are bad?
     
  20. wayne mello

    wayne mello Karting

    Dec 31, 2003
    52
    Huntington Beach
    #20 wayne mello, Mar 13, 2012
    Oh okay...i can try it tomorrow.....is that an easy procedure to do? ever do try it?
    i think the keyfobs are okay....the alarm box was replaced or modified a few years ago by my mechanic...i have the original one in my garage
     
  21. ttdang123

    ttdang123 Formula Junior

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    #21 ttdang123, Mar 14, 2012
    I have done the procedure before. Not easy but as long as you follow it carefully then
    You should be ok. I got mine to start after the 5th time.

    Good luck
     
  22. wayne mello

    wayne mello Karting

    Dec 31, 2003
    52
    Huntington Beach
    #22 wayne mello, Mar 14, 2012
    so what ended up being wrong with yours?...did you have to replace anything?
     
  23. vrsurgeon

    vrsurgeon F1 World Champ
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    #23 vrsurgeon, Mar 14, 2012
    OK.. just to be on the same page..

    1) Car battery. Charged? Sounds like it has a decent charge.
    2) Battery in the key fob. New? If not, replace it.
    3) Is the red light on the left of the steering wheel Blinking when you turn the key on?
    4) If all the above, then press the fob button a few times and see if the blinking light goes to a continuous "on". Then turn the key and it should start.
    5) If there is none of the above. Could be your alarm immobilizer, could also be the connection to the starter at the starter (loose wire). Is it a US car or a european car? US cars will crank but not start, my euro car will not even crank if the immobilizer is active.
    6) The panel right behind the drivers seat is the immobilizer. under metal panel on the outside. We've debated the immobilizer issue ad-nauseum. The immobilizer sends a signal to the ECU, without this it doesn't start. You'd have to recode the ECU to take out the immobilizer. If you get to a mechanic.. they can put hte car on a diagnostic anyway and tell you whats bad.

    Don't try to put other alarm parts in the car. It's a Bosch alarm system and there are subtle differences between the brands (GM vs Ford vs Ferrari)
     
  24. ttdang123

    ttdang123 Formula Junior

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    #24 ttdang123, Mar 14, 2012
    I got a new set of fobs to program in and needed to go through the procedure as a part of the programming. All worked fine for me.
     
  25. wayne mello

    wayne mello Karting

    Dec 31, 2003
    52
    Huntington Beach
    #25 wayne mello, Mar 14, 2012
    1. car batter charged
    2. new battery in keyfob
    3. the LED isn't on(i think that stopped working months ago)
    4. I've press the keyfob 3 times in 10 sec 10 times in 10 sec...100 times over and over
    5. it is a US car....it doesn't crank....everything comes on dash like normal car starting except for dome light....i press keyfob...the usual sound doesn't happen when i press it
    6. I'm sure i can get a mechanic to troubleshoot but i'm gonna have to have the car towed and its gonna cost money


    I'm headed to the car right now and I'm gonna try the keyfob procedure if i can figure it out...then if that doesn't work i'm gonna bring the battery to get it checked
     
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