That darn alarm system... | FerrariChat
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That darn alarm system...

Discussion in '348/355' started by JDG16, Jun 8, 2012.

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  1. JDG16

    JDG16 Karting

    Jul 25, 2011
    200
    Houston
    Full Name:
    Justin
    #1 JDG16, Jun 8, 2012
    So i found out last week that one of the fobs the PO sent me actually works. So last weekend I set the alarm (the "I" button) and left the car for the week. This morning I tried to start it and it wouldn't start.

    My first thought was that the battery was dead b/c the alarm had drained it so I just hopped in my DD and drove to work quite frustrated. However, after thinking about it, I think it might be the immobilizer. It made alot of electronic noises and flashed all the warning lights but I don't think i remember hearing the engine trying to turn over. Note that I unlocked it via the "I" key on the remote.

    A couple questions for you guys since this is my first experience with a Ferrari battery/355 alarm.

    1. If the immobilizer is on... what happens when you turn the key? I figured the car would be non-responsive but my perusal of the search function appears that is not the case.

    2. What is the trick for disarming it? I figured unlocking it via the "I" button was the answer but I guess not

    3. When you lock the car with the fob, do they headlights popup and flash the lights? (I think this looks stupid... trying to figure out if its just my car since I haven't seen it before).

    Note that I tried reading the owners manual but I don't have my pin code so I got lost in it.

    Thanks as always for the help!
     
  2. WATSON

    WATSON Two Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Sep 9, 2010
    23,689
    WI
    #2 WATSON, Jun 8, 2012
    What is an "I" key?
     
  3. JDG16

    JDG16 Karting

    Jul 25, 2011
    200
    Houston
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    Justin
    #3 JDG16, Jun 8, 2012
    There's two buttons... one with one bar, one with two. I thought we could refer to them as "I" and "II" for lack of better explanation.
     
  4. greyboxer

    greyboxer F1 World Champ

    Dec 8, 2004
    12,666
    South East
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    Jimmie
    #4 greyboxer, Jun 8, 2012
    I think you may have two issues - a flat battery and an immobiliser that is not the one in the manual - after the first year the Pin related fob only had one button
     
  5. Jmjm911

    Jmjm911 Karting

    Jul 17, 2011
    72
    USofA
    Full Name:
    Jeff
    #5 Jmjm911, Jun 8, 2012
    Think I agree. Until I realized that my 355 in the garage for a few days required a battery maintainer, I dealt with quite a number of "Dead Car days". As far as your Key Fob, mine only has 1 button.
     
  6. JDG16

    JDG16 Karting

    Jul 25, 2011
    200
    Houston
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    Justin
    #6 JDG16, Jun 8, 2012
    Mine is a 95... so it shoudl have two right?
     
  7. JDG16

    JDG16 Karting

    Jul 25, 2011
    200
    Houston
    Full Name:
    Justin
    #7 JDG16, Jun 8, 2012
    So if it were the immobilizer... what would the car do?

    What actually happens?
     
  8. cuneo

    cuneo Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Nov 20, 2006
    2,469
    #8 cuneo, Jun 8, 2012
    I thought 95's didn't have alarms. Mine doesn't.
     
  9. yelcab

    yelcab F1 World Champ
    Consultant

    Nov 29, 2001
    13,567
    San Carlos, CA
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    Mitchell Le
    #9 yelcab, Jun 8, 2012
    I would pay extra for a 95 because it does not have an alarm.
     
  10. X11OUD

    X11OUD Formula Junior

    Mar 22, 2008
    729
    Manchester, England
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    Neil
    #10 X11OUD, Jun 8, 2012
    Sounds like you have an after market alarm fitted. Both Avatar and Clifford used to have 2 button remotes which had "I" and "II" marked on the buttons, others probably did too. Post up a pic of the one you have
     
  11. WATSON

    WATSON Two Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Sep 9, 2010
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    #11 WATSON, Jun 8, 2012
    I think this is correct.....

    All the 355 alarm fobs I have ever seen have the one button on them.
     
  12. fatbillybob

    fatbillybob Two Time F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner

    Aug 10, 2002
    29,006
    socal
    #12 fatbillybob, Jun 8, 2012
    I WOULD TOO!
     
  13. 355dreamer

    355dreamer F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Apr 3, 2006
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    L.C.
    #13 355dreamer, Jun 8, 2012
    Correct. 95s didn't have factory alarms.

    Looks like another item to add to my list! ;)
     
  14. JDG16

    JDG16 Karting

    Jul 25, 2011
    200
    Houston
    Full Name:
    Justin
    #14 JDG16, Jun 8, 2012
    Hmm... well that explains some of this.

    What it doesnt explain is why I have a Ferrari branded alarm guide describing a fob very similar to the one I have.

    I also have a smaller, "Viper" manual in some other paperwork I dont have with me right now. I figured that Ferrari must have produced the cars with this "Viper" system but now I see I am wrong.

    So I guess the crappy aftermarket alarm I didnt know I had drained my battery (in four days).

    I guess I will get one of those portable jump batteries. Really sucks you have to jack the car up if you want to replace the battery...
     
  15. bobzdar

    bobzdar F1 Veteran

    Sep 22, 2008
    6,895
    Richmond
    Full Name:
    Pete
    #15 bobzdar, Jun 8, 2012
    I'm pretty sure my '95 has an alarm. Whenever I turn the kill switch back on after working on the car it goes off and I have to stick the key in the ignition to shut it off. Fob is broken and I never bothered with it because the '95 doesn't have an immobilizer (thank God).
     

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