Help please ! - QPV Dead battery and alarm going off

[Gazcw]

Are you sure?

That is how I always locked my Alfas on ferries - for that same reason - but I distinctly remember returning to the QP on the ferry deck, having locked it at the door only, and the alarm told me their had been an intrusion attempt. It caused me to dig out the owner's manual deactivation advice quoted above. I've been using this method since.

Given how temperamental these cars are to low batteries, you really don't want the alarm sounding constantly on a several hour crossing.

I currently use the isolation switches in the roof for the alarm before turning ignition off. Not sure if that is correct procedure but seems to work. Or I take out the valuables and just leave it unlocked.
At the end of the day the car decks are locked off and under cctv coverage and if someone wants to nick my old socks they are welcome to them.

 

[CatmanV2]

Are you sure?

It would be virtually unique in cars if it's not like that. Central locking and alarm are separate systems (certainly on the GT). Simple test would be to lock with the key and see if you get the indicators flash / confirmation beep?

C

 

[Cyclone1]

To be honest, I am not sure (but shared in good faith) was told this by someone else, can’t remember who…….. when on a lemans trip back in 2019, and have been locking my car in this way on Ferry’s and on my drive ever since.

May have to dig out the manual to be certain.

Edit: nothing in the manual and when I checked just now the red “armed” light flashes even with a manual key lock, so my tip, looks like an urban myth

Bloody ****! That’s how I’ve locked my car whilst I am away, I’m sure it’ll be ok……..

 

[CatmanV2]

To be honest, I am not sure (but shared in good faith) was told this by someone else, can’t remember who…….. when on a lemans trip back in 2019, and have been locking my car in this way on Ferry’s and on my drive ever since.

May have to dig out the manual to be certain.

Edit: nothing in the manual and when I checked just now the red “armed” light flashes even with a manual key lock, so my tip, looks like an urban myth

Well that's interesting. Thanks for testing. Not even an option on mine.

C

 

[spkennyuk]

Well that's interesting. Thanks for testing. Not even an option on mine.

C

The true test if locking the car with the key only does not set the alarm is as follows :

1. Smash the drivers side window. If no alarm sounds then the interior sensors are disabled.

2. Shake the car as much ae possible. If no alarm sounds then the tilt sensors are disabled.

3. Steal the car. If no alarm sounds then locking the car with the key does indeed leave the alarm off.



Now to be serious. Im fairly sure that the alarm is still armed if you lock with the key in lock method. It does i believe turn the interior sensors and tilt sensors off. At least it does on the 4200 /GS. The other option on the 4200/GS is to lock with the fob and keep the button pressed down for approx 4 seconds and the car will beep again at you to confirm the sensors are turned off.

If the car is stood and the battery drains once it falls below approx 11 to 11.5 volts the alarm will go off. It will keep triggering and draining the car battery and its own internal battery until there is not enough voltage left to run the alarm.

If the alarm triggers when either changing the battery, using the isolator switch or connecting a charger then use the fob and arm then disarm to cancel. You may have to repeat this step twice.

If the battery is connected to a smart trickle charger then the alarm should not trigger. There is enough voltage being put into the system to keep the alarm happy in most cases as the smart charger will be putting in around 13.5 volts until the battery will hold 12+ volts and then cycle as necessary until it reaches 12.6 volts approx.

 

[CatmanV2]

The counter, of course, is to lock the door with the key. Then unlock it with the remote. Wait a minute. Then open the (unlocked) door. See if the alarm goes off....

C

 

[Motorsport3]

A new battery is the best investment a maserati owner can make, then keep it charge with regular use and trickle charge.

Going back to the point about arming the alarm, if you lock the door with the key (in the lock) the alarm does not “arm” , useful on car ferry etc, but it’s how I used to lock my car on the drive to save the battery drain and false alarms.

I think you are correct. I do that too, when i want to leave the car locked but with the window slightly lowered (say in a strong sunny day). Otherwise the alarm would go off within 5min if the windows are half open.

 

[MarkMas]

I think you are correct. I do that too, when i want to leave the car locked but with the window slightly lowered (say in a strong sunny day). Otherwise the alarm would go off within 5min if the windows are half open.

Yes that's the test. Open a window (not smash), lock with the physical key, then lean in and also rock the car. No alarm noises (IMHO).

 

[spkennyuk]

I think you are correct. I do that too, when i want to leave the car locked but with the window slightly lowered (say in a strong sunny day). Otherwise the alarm would go off within 5min if the windows are half open.

Not if the interior sensors are turned off.

You could drop the window fully and lock the car with the key. Wait for a minute and then lean in and open the drivers door from the inside. If the voltage drop sensors are armed on the alarm then it should trigger the alarm.

 

[RodTungsten]

To be honest, I am not sure (but shared in good faith) was told this by someone else, can’t remember who…….. when on a lemans trip back in 2019, and have been locking my car in this way on Ferry’s and on my drive ever since.

May have to dig out the manual to be certain.

Edit: nothing in the manual and when I checked just now the red “armed” light flashes even with a manual key lock, so my tip, looks like an urban myth

I park and lock and disable the alarm on our 2003 Spyder by pressing and holding the button on the key fob for a few seconds until I get a beep and an indicator flash. I am told that opening the boot after lock-in also disables the alarm (maybe I should RTFM?)

 

[spkennyuk]

I park and lock and disable the alarm on our 2003 Spyder by pressing and holding the button on the key fob for a few seconds until I get a beep and an indicator flash. I am told that opening the boot after lock-in also disables the alarm (maybe I should RTFM?)

Pressing and holding the keyfob button just disables the interior sensors. The alarm system will still arm the voltage drop sensors 25 seconds after you lock the car.

 

[RodTungsten]

Thanks! Our Spyder interior sensors do seem to be sensitive which is why I knock them off. Useful to know that the remainder of sensing is still active. I need to read up more to see if roof down/up affects alarm configuration.