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[rich2766]

Hi there,

This is my first post so please be gentle. I have 2001, Vauxhall Omega, 2.2 petrol, CD, Automatic, Estate.

I've found the forum very helpfull and have generally found the answer to any question I've had in the posts, but now I have a problem I simply can't resolve.

Over the past 2 years I had the age old issue with the alarm going off whenever it decided to. I got past this by simply locking the car when I'd parked up by opening the rear drivers side door and depressing the button catch in the door to engage the central locking then closing the door and the car would be locked without using the remote key fob or engaging the alarm.

Then I read about the power sounder on this site and figured this must be the problem. So I set about disconnecting it and once the deed was done the alarm system worked perfectly once again. I could use the key fob to lock the car, engage the alarm/immobiliser and I no longer had any troble with the alarm going off at silly hours and for no reason.

However about 2 month ago I decided it was time to sell my beloved Omega and move on to something else. The car sat on my friends drive while I waited for a buyer to come along and the car was turned over, but not driven (as I had transferred my insurance NCB) on 2 to 3 week basis. Then about 2 weeks ago when I locked the car, the alarm went off almost immediately. I didn't think more of it as I put this down to lack of charge in the battery.

Anyway, I've decided to keep my Omega and got it re-insured and took it out for a drive today, confident that the run would resolve the alarm issue as the battery would get a decent charge. When I parked up I used the key fob to lock the car and the alarm went off straight away. I can't find any issue with the bonnet catch and the battery seems fine. As I said the power sounder is disconnected and still the alarm goes off. There isn't a delay of more than a minute or two from the key fob being used to lock the car to the alarm going off.

Can anyone help?

I'm back to using the back door locking method once again as I simply can't find the fault.

Many thanks,

Richy.
 
(I loved the Omega so much that I've decided to keep it and sell the Audi A6 3.0 tdi V6, Quattro, SE, Tiptronic, Saloon I bought to replace the Omega with. Does that make make me mad? I just find the Omega more refined and more practicle with it being an estate. The Omega has better seats, driving position and visibility than the much more expensive Audi.)

[freecall666]

sounds like the power sounder battery has gone flat, can disconnet it and still have alarm working on just the horn next to it. there is a form that shows how to remove it and if want to replace the battery in side it.

[VXL V6]

sounds like the power sounder battery has gone flat, can disconnet it and still have alarm working on just the horn next to it. there is a form that shows how to remove it and if want to replace the battery in side it.

Power sounder has already been disconnected as per the original post!

Might be worth checking the bonnet switch which on a facelift is located on a bracket between the engine and n/s strut mount, unplug it initially to see if it stops the problem. If it does you need to bend the bracket up slightly and plug the switch back in.

Failing that I would press the internal sensor disable button and see what the result is.

[Andy H]

I think I saw a reply on the forum to a similar problem with an estate.

IIRC it turned out to be the sensors on the rear windows that were playing up.

HTH

[dbug]

sounds like the power sounder battery has gone flat, can disconnet it and still have alarm working on just the horn next to it. there is a form that shows how to remove it and if want to replace the battery in side it.

Ops disconnected it - c'mon Rusty keep up 

[rich2766]

Thanks to all,

I'll check the bonnet switch and if by the sensor on the back the window you are refering to the sprung loaded electrical pin contacts I'll give them a rub over and check the contacts. If this isn't what you mean by sensor on the rear windows could you enlighten me please?

I'll see what happens with this first and then I'll try the internal sensor disable button. Are there any tips for this? Should I just press the button before I get out and lock the car? I don't want to sound dim, but there is often a method that works better than others. (As in: quarter turn key, press button, turn key back, put your credit card pin number into the radio, sacrifice first born son and stand well back sort of thing.)

It's not a major problem and I can overcome it by using the back door technique to engage the central locking, but it's a real pain and I'd like to be able to use the key fob again as once I'd disconnected the battery from the power sounder it was really nice to be able to open and lock the car normally.

Once again thanks to all who replied and without forum sites like this I don't know where we'd be. I've spoken to pals who are mechanically minded and they just went blank when I mentioned the power sounder battery problem. Without "Omega Owners" I'd still be stumped.

Kind regards,

Richy.

[Andy H]

Thanks to all,

I'll check the bonnet switch and if by the sensor on the back the window you are refering to the sprung loaded electrical pin contacts I'll give them a rub over and check the contacts. If this isn't what you mean by sensor on the rear windows could you enlighten me please?

I'll see what happens with this first and then I'll try the internal sensor disable button. Are there any tips for this? Should I just press the button before I get out and lock the car? I don't want to sound dim, but there is often a method that works better than others. (As in: quarter turn key, press button, turn key back, put your credit card pin number into the radio, sacrifice first born son and stand well back sort of thing.)

It's not a major problem and I can overcome it by using the back door technique to engage the central locking, but it's a real pain and I'd like to be able to use the key fob again as once I'd disconnected the battery from the power sounder it was really nice to be able to open and lock the car normally.

Once again thanks to all who replied and without forum sites like this I don't know where we'd be. I've spoken to pals who are mechanically minded and they just went blank when I mentioned the power sounder battery problem. Without "Omega Owners" I'd still be stumped.

Kind regards,

Richy.

I hope I am not feeding you misinformation (I don't have an estate so I cannot go and check).

I thought I read something about 'glass break' sensors being stuck to the side window glass but I might be mistaken. I was hoping that someone who knows for sure would chip in with a definitive answer.

[Bionic]

Foe what use the power sounder is I did what many other did and I have removed it completely. I then substituted the standard normal car security alarm horn with a far louder piezo one and have not had any problems since.
May be that is the solution you are seeking.
The power sounder only detects when the car battery is disconnected and as the bonnet has to be lifted to access it and that would set the main alarm off it made sense to me.

[Brikhead]

I thought I read something about 'glass break' sensors being stuck to the side window glass but I might be mistaken. I was hoping that someone who knows for sure would chip in with a definitive answer.

That is correct, estates have sensors on the side glass in the load area...

[Arpy]

are we saying that the break glass sensors could set the alarm off if so does anyone know how to disable them

[Andy H]

Yes, we are saying that the glass break sensors could be causing the alarm to go off.

Yes, someone does know how to disable (or fix) them.

Unfortunately all the techies who would usually jump in with the answer are busy playing building a superior website but you will get an answer soon(ish)

[Arpy]

been away so not been able to update on alrm problem
as mentioned it was the rear breakglass sensor it was slightly loose on the nerside connector I just tightned the connector with pliers and it seems fine so I may reconnect the sounder now well done guys

[Dodge]

Ah, this sounds like the same problem as I had on 2 of my omegas. I believe that the problem is with the alarms own battery (yes it has one)
in that is has run out of juice!  My mate (vauxhall auto electrician) took the whole thing out and threw it in the bin.

He then got his vauxhall computer thingy plugged it in, did something with that and now when the alarm goes off, just the horn sounds!  I'm fairly confident that this is the same thing just dont ask me why he didn't change the battery!

[rich2766]

Hello again,

It seems like problems come along in groups. My computer took a fit and I haven't been able to log back into the owners club site to update.

I've already disconnected the power sounder battery as I'd said in my first post. This stopped the alarm going off "for no apparent reason" for a number of months.
Then the alarm began to go off again after the power sounder disconnection.

I've checked, cleaned and reconnected the break glass connections on the rear (estate) windows. I cannot see any "obvious" fault here.
The alarm continued to go off.

I disconnected the bonnet switch.
The alarm continues to go off.

So I ruled this out. I've removed the bonnet switch bracket, filed and slotted the holes. I made sure the switch made a good contact with the bonnet when closed and I refitted the bonnet switch.

I've closed all the climate control vents, engaged the internal sensor disable switch. Re-checked the break glass connectors and re-checked the bonnet switch. I've blown the dust out of what I assume to be the cabin ultra sonic sensors. I've made sure all the windows are closed and that the boot lid is shut properly.

And... Halfway through writting this post (seriously, I was and it has)

The alarm has just gone off again. Although this time it took about 3 hours from arming the alarm to it going off.

I honestly haven't got a clue what on earth could be causing this. Do I need to take the car in to a dealer?

Can anyone help?

[Jimbob]

Sounds like it is time to get the alarm log read by anyone with a capable code reader.