Help please ! - QPV Dead battery and alarm going off

[Harvey_Tim]

Hi All

I recently purchased a QPV (am planning an introduction thread soon), since a faultless 200 mile drive home after purchase it has sat outside for 5 days. Yesterday I was in the process of arranging an outside socket for a trickle charger when I realised that the car was completely dead, not even the door lock leds were flashing.

So obviously I thought I would charge it. I disconnected the battery and (too my surprise) the alarm went off, I reconnected the battery and the alarm continued to go, I connected the battery charger and the alarm continued to go off, I thought maybe it needs the key in the ignition to switch the alarm off - the dashboard lit up like a Xmas tree and the info panel basically said every module had failed (I pray to god I have not fried anything) and the alarm continued to go off. I disconnected the battery charger and alarm was still going off, I not sure why I did this but I then connected the trickle charger and the alarm stopped and has stayed quiet since.

The trickle charger has been on overnight but I doubt it would have put much charge into a totally dead battery. So I still need to charge the car. Although I have a small driveway I live in a busy residential area so having the alarm going off all the time is an issue. How do I charge it if disconnecting the battery causes the alarm to go off or simply connecting the charger to the battery in situ also causes the alarm to go off?

Any tips / advice / help - please?

I have often read about these cars needing a battery reset but how do you do that if disconnecting the battery causes the alarm to go off?

I am away on holiday for 2 weeks from Sunday although I plan to leave the car on trickle charge during that time. I am however worried about the alarm going off whilst I am away as I don’t want to fall out with the neighbours (any more than I have bringing a straight piped QPV) home!. I am considering removing the siren unit from the car, I know that it is located behind the arch liner in the drivers side wheel arch. I assume that there is no connecter exposed in the wheel arch? - if not then I assume that there is a module in the cabin that the siren unit connects to, can anyone advise where this module is and if there is any issue with disconnecting the siren temporarily (other than the car not having an alarm) ?

I really appreciate any help or advice?

Many thanks,
Tim

 

[CatmanV2]

Yes, the alarms do that, to stop people shutting them up by taking the batteries out

Disarm the alarm before disconnecting the battery. If it goes off again when you connect your charger, just disarm again with your key fob (should work if you're getting enough power to the systems.

There's no need to disconnect the battery to charge it. Not quite sure where you are right now, but assuming you've got some charge in your battery, see if you can start the car.
Siren has a battery in it. Best thing if you're worried is to lock the doors with the key and leave the alarm disarmed when you go away.

Hope that makes some sense

C

 

[Harvey_Tim]

Hi CatmanV2,

Thank you very much for your rapid reply.

Doh - of course it makes sense that it goes off when the battery is disconnected !

At the risk of sounding extremely thick (bear in mind I’ve had the car less than a week) when you say to disarm the alarm with the key fob, is there a special way to do this or is it just the same as opening the car?

Thanks again for your help.

Tim

 

[Tallman]

Welcome, pics and details (year, mileage, gear box, colour, interior) appreciated! In general, if a battery is completely discharged so quickly after a trip, it means there is a problem. Either it is not charging (alternator) or the battery is gone. The QPV is very sensitive to low voltage, so get the battery tested but my guess is that you’ll need to replace anyway which will sort out a lot of potential random gremlins that you may otherwise run into. A cheap fix too, but get a good one, preferably an AGM.

The straight pipes may be a problem…the sound with normal pipes is already reason for head turning so you might consider alternatives for peace of mind with the neighbours.

 

[CatmanV2]

Hi CatmanV2,

Thank you very much for your rapid reply.

Doh - of course it makes sense that it goes off when the battery is disconnected !

At the risk of sounding extremely thick (bear in mind I’ve had the car less than a week) when you say to disarm the alarm with the key fob, is there a special way to do this or is it just the same as opening the car?

Thanks again for your help.

Tim

Just like unlocking the car.

C

 

[Harvey_Tim]

Thanks Tallman - I will definitely do an introductory thread with plenty of pics etc. but it will have to wait until I am back from holiday!

Hopefully it is not the alternator, I assume if it was that there would be some sort of warning light?. I will replace the battery as you say that is a relatively cheap fix.

Re. the straight pipes, they will not be staying - cold starts can wake the dead !!!. Fortunately the car came with its original silencers so these will be refitted.

 

[CatmanV2]

my guess is that you’ll need to replace anyway

Mine too, but I was going one step at a time

C

 

[Tallman]

Hi CatmanV2,

Thank you very much for your rapid reply.

Doh - of course it makes sense that it goes off when the battery is disconnected !

At the risk of sounding extremely thick (bear in mind I’ve had the car less than a week) when you say to disarm the alarm with the key fob, is there a special way to do this or is it just the same as opening the car?

Thanks again for your help.

Tim

Just press the open button on the fob - so don’t open with the key. Also there are buttons near the rear view mirror that allow you to switch off the alarm. Here is a link to a manual for the car - it’s for the Facelift US LHD version but most stuff is the same. The only other one I have is Italian.

Maserati-Quattroporte-Owners-Manual-MY09-US-2ed-1.pdf

Shared with Dropbox

www.dropbox.com

 

[CatmanV2]

Just press the open button - so don’t open with the key. Also there are buttons near the rear view mirror that allow you to switch off the alarm. Here is a link to a manual for the car - it’s for the US LHD version but most stuff is the same

Maserati-Quattroporte-Owners-Manual-MY09-US-2ed-1.pdf

Shared with Dropbox

www.dropbox.com

Actually switch it *off* or just the movement and ant-lift sensors?

C

 

[Harvey_Tim]

Thanks for confirming that Catman. I am pretty sure that I tried using the fob whilst the alarm was going off, but maybe in my panic I did not!

The car has been on trickle charger overnight and the alarm stayed silent - but I doubt if it has put much charge into the battery. I will check it and have another go at charging it later this morning.

 

[Harvey_Tim]

Thanks all. I will let you know how it goes !

 

[Tallman]

Actually switch it *off* or just the movement and ant-lift sensors?

C

Yes, only deactivating the motion and lift sensors - worth trying if the problems persist.

 

[Harvey_Tim]

Just an update …

Car was on trickle charge overnight but battery was still dead (as expected) but alarm did not go off overnight which was the most important thing. At lunchtime I was able to connect a proper charger without it triggering the alarm so i gave it 3-4 hours charge.

I started the car but it had multiple failures, including EPB so I was unable to drive it.

I disarmed the alarm and disconnected the battery for 20 minutes then reconnected, result no alarm and apart from lost settings everything was working again. Took her for a 20 minute drive and all was good.

I have the car home again and have connected the trickle charger. I think I have disabled the alarm (?) (unlocked car with key fob but manually locked it with the physical key) so hopefully now I can safely leave it whilst I’m away knowing the alarm won’t be going off. Thoughts ?

I will buy a new battery when I am back.

Anyway thanks again to those who replied and gave advice.

Tim

 

[CatmanV2]

You should be good but I suspect you'll need a battery on your return.

Safe travels

C

 

[Harvey_Tim]

Thank you CatmanV2

 

[Scaf]

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.

 

[Brendan]

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.

Didn't know that

 

[Gazcw]

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.

Didn't know that either. Thanks Sam.

 

[TridentTested]

if you lock the door with the key (in the lock) the alarm does not “arm” , useful on car ferry etc,

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.

 

[Scaf]

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.

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