7 Reasons Why Your Car Alarm Keeps Going
If you’ve ever had a car alarm that won’t stop going off, you know how frustrating it can be. Sometimes it goes off for no reason in the middle of the night, or even worse, when you’re out and about.
We understand your frustration and want to help you get to the bottom of the problem, which is why we’ve created a comprehensive guide that tells you everything you need to know to fix the problem for good.
Why Your Car Alarm Keeps Going Randomly
There are a few reasons why your car alarm might be going off more often than it should be. Here are 7 reasons why your alarm system might not be working properly:
1) Dead Battery
It may not make much sense at first, but a weak or dead battery can cause a variety of strange problems in your car. It’s not uncommon for a dead battery or a battery with other electrical faults to set off your car alarm. If your alarm keeps going off and you notice that your vehicle needs a jump start more than usual, you should check your battery.
2) Faulty Key Fob
One of the most common reasons why your car alarm keeps going off is a faulty key fob. The key fob is your way of manually triggering the alarm. So if there’s something wrong with him, he can easily set off the alarm when you don’t want him to.
If you suspect there’s a problem with your key fob, try replacing the batteries in your key fob to see if the alarm continues to sound. Alternatively, some key fobs can be reset. Check your vehicle’s manual or contact the manufacturer of your replacement alarm for reset instructions.
3) Clogged or damaged sensor
Car alarms use a variety of sensors to alert you to problems. So if some of these sensors aren’t working properly, it’s understandable that your car alarm will keep sounding. Blocked or damaged door or trunk sensors are often the cause of a car alarm repeatedly false-activating.
4) Wiring Issues
Everything in your car alarm uses electricity, and that electricity flows through wires. If everything works fine, you’re fine. But if some of these wires get damaged and cross over each other, sending current through the wrong places, your car alarm could keep going off. Wiring issues can be hard to track down, but once you find the problem, it’s usually pretty easy to fix.
5) Overly Sensitive Sensors
In addition to door and trunk sensors, your vehicle may use shock sensors to trip the alarm. These sensors have different sensitivity levels for triggering the alarm. The most sensitive sensors will go off if even one cat touches them. If you have an overly sensitive shock sensor, you may be able to adjust it yourself or you may need to take it to a dealer.
6) Control Unit Failure
Each sensor that is part of your vehicle’s alarm system reports its messages to the alarm control unit. It is rare, but not impossible, for these units to fail. If you’ve ruled out all sensors and are sure the correct voltage is getting to the control unit, then the problem may lie with the device itself.
7) Incorrect Installation
If you just bought a new aftermarket alarm system and it keeps going off, there’s a good chance something isn’t connected properly. It could be something as simple as a crossed wire or a missing sensor. Double-check your installation process or take it back to your installer.
