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[Old Faithful]

Hi, I'm new to the forum but I have been reading with interest the posts from all those of you who have had problems with their alarm systems.  My 2003 2600 CDX est has had similar probs and I have had the sounder replaced by the local main dealer (at a cost of £230ish) who assured me that it was not possible to simply disconnect the alarm.  Having read all the stuff on this site I am now somewhat cross and wonder if I've been misled??  Does anyone know if any of the late models were designed so that the alarms could not be disabled?  I am particularly annoyed because yesterday the alarm went off again for no apparent reason..........  My next option would seen to be to test the engine bay alarm and then move on to the rear windows.......although using the running man didn't stop the alarm the first time I had the problem........but then again that coincided with the car battery going flat and I haven't tried the running man test again since then. Any comment from anyone about the truthfulness of my main dealer would be appreciated!
Many thanks 

[Alex W]

It is certainly possible to disconnect the power sounder and in fact many have done so permanently because they are known to present a fire risk to the car. Like you I didn't discover this forum until I had handed over at least £2k to the local main stealers, for various minor repairs, including replacing the power sounder. Since joining OOF I only pay VX dealers for genuine VX parts.

In general I have found that main stealers cannot be trusted, in recent years I have been outrageously and willfully deceived by main dealers for both Vauxhall and Fiat. Find yourself an independant with a good local reputation or better still get stuck in yourself using the fantastic maintenance guides right here.

I have found that even with my limited mechanical experience there is always someone online here willing to offer help and advice.

I'm sorry I can't help you with your alarm problem myself, but I am sure someone else soon will.

[YZ250]

When you say the alarm went off, was it a siren noise or a horn. Battery going flat would possibly set powersounder off due to voltage change. The powersounder can be removed if you so wish as already said above. 

[Old Faithful]

It was both the siren and the horn I think but in the heat of the moment I didn't really make a note!!  I know the battery is old but the garage (main dealer) said that it was still fine and holding its charge so I haven't replaced it.  Maybe that once I have checked the bonnet alarm I should replace the battery anyway since the old girl sits on my drive for days/weeks at a time without being taken for a spin.

AlexW,Thanks for your sympathy on the main dealer front.  I do have an independent that I have used for other cars and I think he will be getting my Omega business from now on.  As for getting stuck in myself, nice idea and I might have done it 30 years ago but not today.

[YZ250]

It was both the siren and the horn I think but in the heat of the moment I didn't really make a note!!  I know the battery is old but the garage (main dealer) said that it was still fine and holding its charge so I haven't replaced it.  Maybe that once I have checked the bonnet alarm I should replace the battery anyway since the old girl sits on my drive for days/weeks at a time without being taken for a spin.

AlexW,Thanks for your sympathy on the main dealer front.  I do have an independent that I have used for other cars and I think he will be getting my Omega business from now on.  As for getting stuck in myself, nice idea and I might have done it 30 years ago but not today.

This happened with my Dad's Vectra. It would just sit there for weeks on end and when you went to start it, the battery would be nearly flat. As soon as you put a charger or jump leads on it, the alarm would go off due to voltage change. Maybe you don't have a problem after all as what you have said sort of explains the reason for it. With a decent regular run, you would probably have no issue with it. 

[Kevin Wood]

The alarm stores a history of which sensor has set off the alarm with each activation. Faced with an alarm fault, I would expect a main dealer to read this with a Tech 2 before changing any parts to determine what the problem is. Did they do this or just replace the sounder?

I would go back and tell them the problem is not fixed.

[Old Faithful]

Yes, useful to know that the dealer should be able to tell me which sensor (if any) is at fault so if the alarm starts to play up again without the battery having gone flat I will definitely take it back if only to tell them that they "misled" me when they said that the alarm could not be disabled and could they now please disable it and give me back the £230 they took off me!  Touch wood, it has behaved itself for the last 48 hours so I am keeping my fingers crossed....