Xisthos Posted October 20, 2016 Report Share Posted October 20, 2016 Hi guys, I've owned the car for about a month now, and a problem seems to have cropped up two weeks ago. My alarm would just suddenly just go off randomly. This has happened 4 times in different places, two of which was in my garage early in the morning with no one there to accidentally touch the car. I am able to turn it off by pressing the unlock button, but when I press the lock key, it gives me the 3 beeps, telling me that something isn't right. This is different from the 6 beeps when I try to lock it, with a door or the trunk left open. The first time it happened and it was causing a lot of noise to my restaurant customers, I drove it off to another parking space. I noticed that the central locking wouldn't engage when I tried it. It did after trying again after a minute or so, which I found strange. The 2nd and 3rd times it happened, it was just sitting in my garage. My househelp kept shutting it off when it went off. I noticed that I would get the 3 beeps when I would attempt to lock it. Eventually it just stopped and locked properly. The last time it happened, I immediately got in the car, started it, centrally locked the doors with the button, then shut it off again, got out and when I locked it, still gave me the 3 beeps. After a few minutes I tried again and it locked properly. The dealer says I should shut it off by pressing down the 3rd button when it happens. Am I getting the 3 beeps when I try to lock it because I didn't do this? But the more important issue to me is why is this even happening in the first place. If anyone could shed some light or info on this, I'd greatly appreciate it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hangar 111 Posted October 20, 2016 Report Share Posted October 20, 2016 Ryan. Lock the car and arm the alarm using the button with the Lotus logo. Three triple beeps indicates an issue with either the driver or passenger door. Three double beeps indicates an issue with either the boot or the front service panel. If the alarm has gone off, there is a report back feature of what has triggered it, but it's a bit involved... Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xisthos Posted October 20, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2016 Thanks Dave, that certainly sheds a little more light into it and narrows down the problem. Does the report back feature involve downloading the information at the dealer? After the 3rd incident I brought it in, and they claim not to have seen any errors. That is they were looking at the wrong parameters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gashead1105 Posted October 20, 2016 Report Share Posted October 20, 2016 Have you checked the front access panel is actually properly fitted and locked? Pins need to be in the holes and the lock clicks twice if I remember correctly. That was a common reported 'issue' on the playground when the cars first came out, basically dealers at the 1,000 mile service not re-fitting the access panel properly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xisthos Posted October 21, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2016 I'll go check on it again. Frustratingly enough, it happened again this morning. The common thing is that they all happen early in the morning when the sun starts to hit on the car, so I don't know if it's because of the change in temperature that seems to set it off. When I turn it off and try to lock the car again, I always get the 3 beeps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
French Frie Posted October 21, 2016 Report Share Posted October 21, 2016 Ryan, you do not have anything masking the sensor, which is behind the seat ? I used to have a cloth standing behind the seats, and I couldn't figure out why several times the alarm was screaming, until I took this sweat-shirt out ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xisthos Posted October 21, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2016 Hi, no nothing at all. I have very few things in the car actually. I did check the access panel and it did seem like it wasn't fastened down properly. When I tried to press the lever to open the latch it seemed to stick rather than give me a satisfying click. Having experienced it all during the early hours of the morning would kind of make sense if the heat is making the access panel stretch a little and pop slight out of position enough to make the sensor go off. We shall see in the following days.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sieger Posted October 21, 2016 Report Share Posted October 21, 2016 I've had random alarms like yours too-and it was the access panel. Hope it's all ok now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NW76 Posted October 21, 2016 Report Share Posted October 21, 2016 same for me ... always was the access panel... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sieger Posted October 25, 2016 Report Share Posted October 25, 2016 Xisthos How's the alarm been behaving? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hangar 111 Posted October 25, 2016 Report Share Posted October 25, 2016 (edited) On 20/10/2016 at 14:53, Xisthos said: Thanks Dave, that certainly sheds a little more light into it and narrows down the problem. Does the report back feature involve downloading the information at the dealer? After the 3rd incident I brought it in, and they claim not to have seen any errors. That is they were looking at the wrong parameters. Sorry forgot to come back to this thread. The report back is done using the key and the PIN code provided by Lotus with the car - it's not done using TechCentre. The bleep codes as I mentioned is the first thing to look for. As has been said, access panel is often the culprit. Also you can try setting the alarm with the internal sensor disabled (set alarm using the Lotus button, then press it again within 2 secs to disable the interior sensor, car gives single bleep to confirm). Dave Edited October 25, 2016 by Hangar 111 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xisthos Posted October 25, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 25, 2016 Hi Dave, thanks for the further info. I did try to press the button twice to disable it, but that was before the last time it alarmed a couple of days ago. My alarm seems to be different though, it's 6 for any of the doors and trunk and 3 for the access panel, so that certainly narrows it down to the panel itself. When I have a problem it's always the 3 beeps. I did try to refit the panel last time, but when I tried to lock the car when I made a stop, it gave me the 3 beeps, so I just left the damn car unlocked. I don't exactly know what could be lacking as I tried to fit it as properly as I thought it should, checking the latch lock that it was seated properly. I am out of town so I haven't used the car for a few days. Before I left though, a wrench symbol appeared on the dash and my Airconditioning wasn't cooling, and Aux fans weren't working either. I called the dealer about it so they came over to check on the car. It turned out to be a fault from a 10% difference between the engine speed and AC compressor that could be caused by a belt slippage. Anyway, while they were there, they disengaged the alarm while they're researching about the issue, so I won't be able to observe it under normal operating conditions. I was telling my wife that I wish I could just disengage the alarm while keeping the central locking. No one's going to attempt to steal the car anyway! Thanks to everyone else who prodded me to what seems to be the culprit, which is the access panel. Now to figure out a way as to why it's not detecting it properly closed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LotusPilot Posted October 27, 2016 Report Share Posted October 27, 2016 For info, the PFK 457 Alarm System (fitted to the Exige V6S) has been replaced with a Gemini 7590 with introduction of the Exige 350. Along with other "lightweight" savings, Lotus have deleted the internal volumetric sensor - so you'll NOT find a micowave sensor amidships behing the seats. On this basis, and the OPs desription, if not a Control Unit or wiring fault, it only leaves four Pin Switches - one for each for the doors, tailgate and front services cover. I sugest that you also check your interior light. If the Gemini internal electronics are similar to the PFK, it can be "sensitive" to the interior light being switched to the always-off position. If the switch is set to "light-on" with door opening, the lamp provides a "pull-up" (electronic term) for the associated alarm "sense" lead. The Exige S door sense can be problematic, after a battery disconnection, until the light is (at least temporarily) switched to auto; perhaps the Exige 350 shares this characteristic. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xisthos Posted October 27, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2016 You beat me to it Derek. I was at the dealer yesterday and I tried arming the alarm of a 2015 Exige V6 and the alarm sound was very different from mine, so we realized that it was actually a different system already. Furthermore, we can't even seem to set off the alarm manually. Since we've tried fitting the access panel correctly so many times already, I'm going to do as you say and put the light to the light on position. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hangar 111 Posted October 27, 2016 Report Share Posted October 27, 2016 I did wonder, to the point that I checked on dealer portal for info - there is no suggestion of a different system. So no technical service notes for that alarm system, yet. Apologies if this led to mis-information. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LotusPilot Posted October 27, 2016 Report Share Posted October 27, 2016 (edited) For info, changes to the alarm system are detailed in the Foreword - and sections 10.7, 17.33b and 17.33c of the Service Parts List. Edited October 27, 2016 by LotusPilot 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hangar 111 Posted October 27, 2016 Report Share Posted October 27, 2016 3 hours ago, LotusPilot said: For info, changes to the alarm system are detailed in the Foreword - and sections 10.7, 17.33b and 17.33c of the Service Parts List. Not sure I would use the word detail! Nothing much that would help with the issue experienced here. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LotusPilot Posted December 12, 2016 Report Share Posted December 12, 2016 (edited) New info, now available, detailing the change to the Gemini 7950 system, is now included within the latest revision to Service Note Section 17 (MV) - revised 6th December 2016. Differences between the Gemini and former PFK systems - and their fitment to "350" and S" models (including running change to delete volumentric detection in late "S") - are now clarified. NB: The change to Gemini and deletion of volumetric detection on late "S" build result in reclassification from Thatcham 1 to Thatcham 2. Edited December 12, 2016 by LotusPilot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lotus_exig3 Posted October 17, 2021 Report Share Posted October 17, 2021 Hi Xisthos, Did you end up finding a solution to your alarm fault? Im having the same issue, threes beeps as I try to lock the car. If I walk away it goes off. Checked every door and tried closing the front panel several times. JT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM Paul_D Posted October 17, 2021 Gold FFM Report Share Posted October 17, 2021 It may be that your front panel isn’t making the switch properly. On mine, it was the fact that the rubber stopper had fell off the panel where it contacts the switch. I’d firstly try setting the alarm with the panel removed and you manually depressing the switch fully down. If it doesn’t do the ‘somethings not closed’ triple beep then you know you’ve found the problem. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lotus_exig3 Posted October 17, 2021 Report Share Posted October 17, 2021 Thanks Paul, do you have any photos of your rubber stopper by any chance? Also your front panel, is there a bit of a gap between the carbon panel and the front bonnet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM Solution Paul_D Posted October 17, 2021 Gold FFM Solution Report Share Posted October 17, 2021 Here you go mate, just taken a couple of pics for you. You can see the white sticky pad under my rubber thing where I stuck it back on 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lotus_exig3 Posted October 18, 2021 Report Share Posted October 18, 2021 Thanks Paul! Yeah I found it, it had fallen off. I didnt have any double side tape, so I just got black tape stuck on top of it since it gets really hot in Australia during summer. Really appreciate the pics. Thank you! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM Paul_D Posted October 18, 2021 Gold FFM Report Share Posted October 18, 2021 Ah, excellent. Glad it was a quick and easy fix you mate. Nice when that happens! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.