What to do if the car alarm light is constantly on

Most modern cars are equipped with an alarm system, which is necessary for peace of mind of the driver. The security system allows you to securely close the doors, hood, and trunk from potential intruders. Most often, the driver purchases a car already with an alarm system, rather than installing it separately, which is why he does not know about all the features of the system. A problem such as a constantly burning alarm light can confuse the car owner. If the alarm light begins to light constantly, whereas previously it blinked when the security system was activated, this may indicate a malfunction of the system, but most often the reason is much more trivial, and you can restore the normal operation of the alarm without contacting a service center.

Mechanical damage to the alarm

Mechanical damage, manifested by a constant lighting of the indicator, is usually associated with limit switches (limit switches) of the doors, luggage compartment or hood. Limit switches are the simplest opening-closing sensors, which are buttons connected to an alarm system. In the closed position they are pressed and close the electrical circuit; in the open position they open. Damage to the limit switches can be caused by:

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oxidation of contacts in conditions of high humidity or in winter;
loose fit as a result of deformation of the body part due to an accident or improper installation;
failure due to mechanical impact or impact.

When the electrical network is disconnected, the alarm perceives the body part as open. As a result, the alarm indicator light lights up continuously.

On modern cars equipped with a display, identifying the problem of an inoperative limit switch is quite simple. In a graphic image of a model car, a door or body part with a non-functioning limit switch will also be displayed as not closed.

To solve the problem, you need to visually inspect all the limit switches of the car for contact oxidation. If an oxidized limit switch is detected, it must be disassembled and the contacts cleaned.

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If the cause of the limit switch malfunction is mechanical damage, then it needs to be replaced with a new one. If incorrect positioning of the limit switch is detected, the position of the limit switch must be adjusted to that required for proper operation.

Solutions

In a situation where the alarm light constantly blinks when driving in Starline, it is necessary to take some measures. Let's take a closer look at them.

Check the hood and door switches

A common reason why the alarm light blinks when driving on a Starline A91 is problems with the contact on the hood. To check, follow these steps:

If the LED blinks while driving, press the third button on the key fob.
Look at the display and note the cause of the problem.

The Starline alarm will show why the LED blinks while driving. If the cause is one of the limit switches, adjust it and ensure normal contact connection.

Inspect the temperature sensor

The next explanation for why the LED on the Starline A91 constantly blinks while driving is a problem with the temperature sensor. First, try reinstalling it from the pipe to the engine bracket. In most cases, this option helps solve the problem. After that, check whether the light is blinking or not.

To check, discard one of the wires (orange or orange-gray). If, after turning off the sensor, the LED no longer blinks while driving, this is the reason. Replace the device with a new one. Please remember that autostart based on temperature depends on the operation of this device.

Return the system to normal mode

If the LED blinks while driving on Starline A93, follow these steps to solve the problem:

Open the doors using the key fob and remove the car from the security system.

Insert the key into the ignition and turn it.
Apply the foot brake.

After completing these steps, the LED on Starline blinks in standard mode. In a situation where these actions do not produce results, proceed to the next step.

Enable Slave

Sometimes, if the LED in Starline A93 blinks while driving, try turning on the Slave option. Two methods are used for this.

Using the service button:

Enter CAN programming mode. To do this, press the service button and hold it until five siren signals appear. While they are triggered, keep the button on. After this, release the key.

Use buttons 2 and 3 to enter program mode (AF). Press the 3rd button first for a long time, then briefly. Go to parameter #9.

Set to 1 - Enabled.

Enter the CAN settings via the programmer.
Activate the Slave option.
Save your settings.

Check brake ground contact

In a situation where the Starline LED blinks while driving, check the operation of the mass. To do this, do the following:

Have a helper apply the brake.
Walk around the car and check all the STOP lights, as well as the contacts in the sockets and the operation of the frog on the brake.

If contact is lost, do not be surprised by the light blinking while driving. Due to the fact that the defect is floating, the LED will blink periodically.

Check weight

Pay attention to how the ground is connected on Starline A91. It is advisable that this wire be securely fastened to the car body. It is better to solder it to the pink wire on the ignition switch. Alternatively, the cause may be a bad ground on the battery.

Now you know why the LED blinks while driving on the Starline A91, whether this is the norm, and how to proceed to fix the problem. Let us know in the comments how you managed to resolve the issue.

The operating modes of the vehicle's car alarm are controlled by the alarm indicator light. The alarm status is monitored without using a key fob with an LCD screen. Depending on the mode the security device is in, the alarm light is on, blinking or at rest (not lit). The article presents a brief analysis of LED indicators of several types of alarms.

What to do if the alarm indicator is constantly on

There are three possible situations for such car alarm operation:

1. The car is locked and does not respond to signals from the working key fob

If the car is locked, you should use the key to open it and disarm the alarm using the Valet button. Most often, a constant glow of the diode indicates a software failure of the security system.

Modern security systems are complex microprocessor-controlled complexes. They, like a computer, can freeze. You can try to restore factory settings using the Valet button. Sometimes it helps to disconnect the alarm from power by removing the fuses that serve it. It is safer to disconnect one of the battery terminals for 15 - 20 minutes.

The Valet button is usually located near the driver's left knee or in a hidden place no further than 50 centimeters from this area.

technical issues

Another reason that gives rise to a constant light on, indicating problems with the alarm system of your car, is a malfunction of the “limit switches” of the doors and hoods of the engine and luggage compartments. They are called small plastic push-button sensors that are connected to the security system circuit. When the car is closed, they are pressed, closing the electrical circuit. If the sensor fails to detect a short circuit:

Oxidation of contact in conditions of high humidity and winter time.
Loose fit due to poor installation or deformation of body elements as a result of an accident.
Sensor failure as a result of mechanical impact or shock.

The alarm will perceive this door or hood as being open and send signals to the key fob and light bulb located in the interior of your car.

This malfunction can be eliminated by visual inspection and checking the “limit switches”. Their contacts can be treated with an anti-corrosion agent and lubricated with a special lubricant. If these preventive measures do not eliminate the defect, contact a specialist who will conduct a more accurate diagnosis using special equipment.

Additional functions

There are a large number of offers from manufacturers to equip car alarms with additional options and capabilities. The most popular and frequently used include:

Feedback to the owner, which allows, in case of unauthorized opening, to block the engine from starting.
Shock and mechanical impact sensors.
A device indicating which door or hood has been opened.
Remote engine start will allow you to warm up the engine and interior without the presence of the driver.

Installation of additional functions on the car is carried out in specialized service centers. The sensors are connected to the on-board computer and electrical system, with the ability to operate autonomously even when the power supply is turned off.

Limit switches

Before writing about limit switches, it is necessary to separately mention a feature of the Starline security system. At a good speed, in some cars the air flow, running onto the hood, can lift it slightly. But the Starline hood contacts are located in such a way that the alarm light will light up while driving, indicating that the hood lid is “not closed.”

You can also note the limit switch on the trunk of cars in which the Sherkhan system is installed. While the trunk is not tightly closed (for example, due to non-standard cargo), the blue light on the Sherkhan alarm will be constantly on.

This is what a trailer might look like.

If the owner has checked the “immobilizer” functions and is sure that the service mode is not enabled, it is necessary to check the limit switches of all doors, and not just the hood. If the contact is oxidized, dirty, or the cover presses on it with insufficient force, this is the second reason why the light on the alarm is on. Checking and cleaning usually solves the problem, after which the light goes out.

About the dashboard or dashboard

“Tidy”, as the instrument panel is colloquially called, shimmers in different colors and shapes. Moreover, the better the car is technically equipped, the more indicator lights there are on the dashboard.

Which lamps should light up when the ignition is turned on?

Indicators of certain test systems are present on modern cars. It is noteworthy that dealers deliberately or out of ignorance misinform customers about the purpose of this or that icon on the dashboard. And this is not a joke, because a burning light can indicate not only a malfunction in the general system, but also specify the problem. For example, inform the driver about a malfunction of the fuel pump or brake pad.

Unfortunately, as numerous tests and studies have shown, modern drivers (most of them) ignore warnings that they do not understand.

Other reasons

Sometimes it happens that the alarm indicator stops blinking for the following reasons:

failure of the mechanical impact sensor;
problems with the volume change indicator in the cabin;
failure of the program that determines the position of the body.

It is almost impossible to cope with such problems on your own. You will have to seek help from specialists in the workshop.

Diagnosis of the security alarm indicator can be carried out using the on-board computer. And having found out the reason for the continuous glow of the light bulb, contact a service station.

Malfunction of programs or sensors

A fairly rare, but possible reason for the indicator to be constantly on is a software failure or malfunction of individual sensors. Special security system meters include sensors for mechanical impact (shock), changes in volume in the cabin, body position, etc. If one of the sensors breaks down, the system perceives the situation as an emergency, which notifies the car owner using an indicator. In this case, to diagnose the faulty sensor, you will have to contact a specialized service.

Also, a constant indication may be caused by a software or hardware error in the electronic alarm control unit. You can try to reset the alarm by turning off the battery power. If the problem persists, it is difficult to solve it yourself, so it is better to contact a service center

In any case, the constant burning of the indicator light is a sign that the car is not under reliable alarm protection, therefore, the safety of owning the car is reduced. By finding the reason for the constant light of the indicator and eliminating it, you can restore reliable protection for your car using a car alarm.

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Re: Warning light comes on while driving

escudovod1972 on 1/13/2017, 04:32 Well, I definitely wouldn’t trust service station workers. – Repeated (permanent) life experience. They could have made a mistake. The difference is one letter, but the systems are different.

I have a non-standard signaling system and a standard signaling system. work in parallel (independently). Those. I can open the car with both the alarm and the key. When I lost the key, I opened the car with the signal and put an empty blank (without an imo transponder) into the ignition switch.. As a result, I got what I described above.

If you open the car with the button of the standard key, and then insert a blank into the ignition switch, you will probably get the same result as you did.

And yet, based on everything you wrote, I see a problem with the transponder reader imo. – a block with a round coil located around the ignition switch. – You need to disassemble the steering column trim and you will see it.

Valet mode in alarm

Various manufacturers of security systems for cars include several lighting modes for the alarm indicator in their software. In different modes it flashes, is at rest or is constantly on. Most security system manufacturers provide a Valet service mode when the car is unprotected.

Valet is primarily intended for car maintenance and repair, when the security system may interfere with car service workers. Valet can be accidentally or intentionally turned on by the car owner, in which case a constantly lit alarm indicator indicates that the car is unprotected. In this mode, the car owner can only remotely open and close the doors, luggage compartment and hood.

On some alarm models, it is enough to simply accidentally turn on the Valet mode, since it is activated from the remote control by pressing a key combination. On other models of security systems, it can only be launched from a button in the car interior.

Flashing light in popular alarm models

Sherkhan

So, our Sherkhan alarm light is constantly on. How to check whether service mode is enabled, and if so, disable it? Note that not only Sherkhan, but most systems have the key combination written on the back of the key fob. The owner should also remember that the service mode indicator is blue. In other words, if the blue light is on on the Sherkhan alarm, the first thing you need to pay attention to is the accidental activation of the maintenance mode. Sometimes, in the case of a key fob with an LCD display, it may display a symbol that resembles one or more Latin “Zs”.

To disable (or enable) the maintenance mode, the owner must press buttons “1” and “3” simultaneously, holding them down for one second.

If everything is pressed correctly, the light goes out. Sometimes, depending on the modification of the security system, the car may respond with sound signals or flashing headlights.

Sherkhan can illuminate almost every event with light bulbs. Sometimes the light bulb will not be blue, but red. A red light anywhere requires attention. If the red light on the Sherkhan 5 alarm is constantly on, you definitely need to pay attention to this. The security system indicates the presence of one of two problems:

The battery has discharged below the mark for normal engine starting. Most often, it is no longer possible to drive away in such a car;
The car requires a visit to the service center because the faults are of an extraordinary nature.

We will not dwell on these options in detail. If the car starts, you need a center; if it doesn’t start, you need a new battery. However, Shere Khan 5 is just an example. Everything described is also suitable for other models of this system. In any case, if the Sherkhan alarm light is on, it means something needs adjustment.

Starline

If your car has the Starline system, then everything described above is, in principle, suitable in this case, with the exception of one little thing. In the latest Starline alarm models, the light blinks and does not stay on constantly, like Shere Khan’s.

Shutting down Valet will also look different.

And if in normal mode we turn off the alarm, then open the car, then under normal conditions nothing will blink. However, when you turn on the service mode of the Starline alarm “car is open”, the light will continue to blink. Let us repeat that this is not a problem. You can use the car and move around the city, but the blinking alarm light when driving will remind you that the security functions are currently deactivated.

To turn off the valet in the Starline alarm system, just press the “2” button once (in the figure, the middle button at the top). In this case, the light should go out, and the “VALET” mark will disappear on the key fob display.

The principle of operation of a modern car alarm

In the last few years, it has been difficult to find a car that is not equipped with a security alarm. Its presence is designed to reliably protect the car from burglary and theft.

The following main types are distinguished:

The simplest and most inexpensive option - the limited budget and economy class of the car forces car owners to install it.
Provides notification of tampering or attempted theft at a distance not exceeding 200 m in open areas.
Equipped with two-way communication with the owner, it provides notification at a distance of up to 4 km, with information about problems being transmitted to the key fob display.
The most modern and reliable one today is satellite, it has no restrictions on the range of action, uses dialogue encoding of a signal that cannot be recorded for hacking.

Additional improvements allow you to display information about alarm activation on the owner’s smartphone using a special GSM module.

Service mode

A common reason why the alarm light starts to light is when the jack mode is activated. In this case, only the remote closing/opening sensors work. The rest of the anti-theft system is disabled.

In this case, the light is constantly on or blinking. This function is necessary for repair work, but sometimes it works independently due to accidental pressing of the remote control buttons in an activation combination, increased sensitivity of the keys, malfunction of the electronic system due to high humidity or sudden temperature changes, especially in winter.

Methods for exiting the “jack” service state and activating the alarm system on the most common security devices:

Star Line Twage B6 and Star Line Twage B9 are deactivated using key 2, the corresponding inscription will no longer be displayed, the signal light will go out. Scher Khan Magicar 5 and 6, turning off the “jack” is done by simultaneously holding keys 1 and 3 for a second. After entering the operating mode, the LED in the cabin stops blinking.
The tomahawk is disconnected from the preventive mode by repeatedly (2 - 3 times) pressing the key fob key “Z”, a combination is possible: 1 hold, 1 short-term, depending on the model.
Pandora independently checks the connection with the owner through the key fob. If it is missing, the red light in the cabin lights up. Try replacing the batteries; if the result is negative, due to the complexity of the system, you should contact service. The jack mode can be turned on/off with the help of a specialist.
Sterline, to turn it off, press button 2 once, and the light in the cabin should go out. Systems that do not use key fob buttons to exit the service mode are equipped with special buttons located in the vehicle interior. By default, in the absence of the owner's wishes, they are mounted under the steering column. Holding this button for 10 seconds will deactivate the “jack”, which will be accompanied by several short beeps from the car and the warning light in the cabin will turn off.

After these procedures are completed, the car is ready for use. In case of repeated, unauthorized cases of switching to the service mode, you must contact the service center for diagnostics.

How to disable Valet

The option to disable Valet mode depends on the possible ways to enable it. It is deactivated either by pressing a button inside the car, or using the alarm remote control by pressing a combination of buttons.

Button to switch to mode

The “Valet” button can be located anywhere in the car: both in the cabin and in the luggage compartment or even the engine compartment. It is often hidden in a particularly inconspicuous place so that potential car thieves are not tempted to disable the entire security system with a simple press of a button.

As a rule, when installing an alarm, service workers check with the car owner about the desired location of the button to turn on and off the Valet mode. If the car owner does not know where such a button is located, he will have to look for it. The most expected button locations are the following places.

Under the steering column is the most commonplace location of the button, which is also the most unsafe. The area under the steering column is convenient as the driver can press it without leaving the driver's seat. However, potential hijackers look for it first of all there. As a disguise, the button can be covered with an ordinary plug, which will also prevent accidental pressing.
Under the driver's seat is another convenient but banal option, which is also often masked with a plug.
In the driver's door - a dubious option, since in this case it can be accessed from outside the car.

In general, the placement of the button is limited only by the imagination of the person on whose initiative the alarm was installed. Therefore, in order not to waste time on empty searches, it is better to carefully study the technical documentation of the alarm system.

Disabling Valet mode using a button looks the same for almost all car alarm manufacturers.

You need to start and then turn off the car engine.
After 10 seconds, you need to press the Valet button and hold it for several seconds, or turn the switch to the “Off” position.
The driver is notified when the mode is turned off by a double horn sound, after which the indicator light goes out.

Combination to turn on Valet

Another option for disabling the Valet mode of the car alarm is possible using a remote control, that is, a key fob. To do this, you need to press one of the key fob key combinations, and the key combination, as well as the sequence and duration of pressing, can vary significantly among different manufacturers of security systems.

The exact combination for disabling the service mode in a specific security system model can be found in the car alarm user manual. The key combination for the most common car alarms is as follows.

For security systems of the popular Scher-Khan brand, turning on and off the Valet mode is done by simultaneously pressing and holding buttons 1 and 3 for one second. You cannot overpress, since pressing these buttons for 2 seconds will turn off the shock sensor.
The Valet mode in the StarLine family of alarms is disabled by pressing button 2 once.
In Tomahawk car alarms, the mode is turned off by pressing the Z button; usually you need to press it twice - once once and once while holding the button. For some alarm models of the company, the method of disabling may differ, so you should first study the manual for using the specific security system.
For Alligator brand alarms, the mode is turned off by simultaneously holding buttons 2 and 3 for 3 seconds.

Why the alarm light is constantly on: program failure

This problem does not occur often, but it also causes the interior alarm LED to light up without blinking. This may be a sign of a faulty:

Mechanical impact sensor.
Indicator for volume changes in the cabin.
Programs that determine the position of the body.

The listed faults can only be corrected at a service center. Independent attempts at repair and adjustment will not give the desired results and will only lead to serious damage to the entire security alarm system.

The presence of on-board computers on modern cars helps control the operation of security alarms, the reliability of which, every year, more and more pleases and satisfies the needs of motorists. If the lamp indicating a system malfunction is activated, try resetting it and inspect the circuit sensors. Leave all other diagnostics to professionals.

The center’s specialists will help you choose a reliable and inexpensive service for servicing security alarms, following the application you left on the Uremont.com website.

The alarm is faulty due to software problems or sensors

Another reason, but quite rare, which can lead to the alarm light constantly burning, is a software failure. Most often it is associated with a malfunction of one or more sensors (impact, volume, body position, and so on). It is unlikely that you will be able to determine on your own, without diagnostic equipment, which specific sensor has failed and correct its operation. Therefore, in such a situation you need to contact a service center.

Failures in the operation of the control unit software are even less common. Only service specialists can eliminate them.

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