Talk me through the alarm, is all well? Houston we have a problem

[Gutley]

If you really want to test the alarm, keep the roof closed and open one of the windows and then lock the car. Then put your upper body in through the window and wave your arms about (but wear ear protectors!)

[Gutley]

9 hours ago, the baron said:

If I leave the car for several weeks without use I have to open the car with the key in the lock as the fob disables, when I do that the lights flash on and off until I insert the key in the ignition but no alarm1

My later 986 behaves differently. After several weeks, all I have to do is turn the key to unlock via the physical key without opening the door. At this point. The IR becomes active again and the fob will work again. So at this point, I just lock it with the fob and unlock it again with it. No worries about triggering the alarm this way.

[charlieboy2608]

12 minutes ago, Gutley said:

My later 986 behaves differently. After several weeks, all I have to do is turn the key to unlock via the physical key without opening the door. At this point. The IR becomes active again and the fob will work again. So at this point, I just lock it with the fob and unlock it again with it. No worries about triggering the alarm this way.

+1....on a 2002

[K.I.T.T.]

The above works the same for all 986 models.

We have already established it's likely to be a siren fault.

[the baron]

So I popped the bonnet to have a nosy around and found the below unplugged (this plugs into the Siren) and also one of the wires going to the plug loose, I will re attach and see what happens later on,

Any ideas why someone would unplug and also leave a loose wire @K.I.T.T. or @map

[map]

8 minutes ago, the baron said:

So I popped the bonnet to have a nosy around and found the below unplugged (this plugs into the Siren) and also one of the wires going to the plug loose, I will re attach and see what happens later on,

Any ideas why someone would unplug and also leave a loose wire @K.I.T.T. or @map

Possibly to stop the alarm going off whilst resolving some other problem. No idea beyond that. 

[the baron]

1 minute ago, map said:

Possibly to stop the alarm going off whilst resolving some other problem. No idea beyond that. 

My thoughts too, this could get loud 😳

[K.I.T.T.]

Looks like that wire's snapped / been cut off. May need to crimp / solder to the existing terminal, if it's still serviceable.

[map]

18 minutes ago, the baron said:

 

A word of caution....

Just looked at the Bentley wiring diagram for what I think is that connector (Alarm Siren 1998-2001 car)

That diagram shows three wires:

Brown 0.5mm

Red/Brown 0.5mm

Grey/White 0.35mm

Based on that info and the photo you’ve shared there’s a cable missing/gone adrift. 

[the baron]

5 minutes ago, map said:

A word of caution....

Just looked at the Bentley wiring diagram for what I think is that connector (Alarm Siren 1998-2001 car)

That diagram shows three wires:

Brown 0.5mm

Red/Brown 0.5mm

Grey/White 0.35mm

Based on that info and the photo you’ve shared there’s a cable missing/gone adrift. 

Thanks for that, I thought the same after looking at a few pictures on line, one is showing 4 wires, maybe a later model, but I think I might leave this to the weekend when Ive got more time to really investigate.

Ive just ordered oil and filters etc so will give it a service too as that should all be with me by Friday

[map]

6 minutes ago, the baron said:

Thanks for that, I thought the same after looking at a few pictures on line, one is showing 4 wires, maybe a later model, but I think I might leave this to the weekend when Ive got more time to really investigate.

If I’m reading the wiring diagrams correctly then.....

2001 on:  alarm siren and tilt sensor integrated and shows 4 wires to that module. 

Pre-2001: separate siren and tilt modules hence 3 wires to siren module. 

[the baron]

15 minutes ago, map said:

If I’m reading the wiring diagrams correctly then.....

2001 on:  alarm siren and tilt sensor integrated and shows 4 wires to that module. 

Pre-2001: separate siren and tilt modules hence 3 wires to siren module. 

Thanks for the confirmation, nice one, that makes it a bit easier, still concerns me why two wires would be disconnected, maybe what ever fault was there has been fixed over the years and its a matter of reconnecting and plugging back in, but I doubt it 😂 

[½cwt]

Wrap a damp microfibre cloth thickly around the siren if you can to preserve hearing.

Had a look at some alarm sirens for salvage, looks like only two wires actually go to the sounder, one red/brown and on grey/yellow which looks to tie up with what you have here.  Best pics I could find are on this one:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PORSCHE-BOXSTER-986-GENUINE-ALARM-SIREN-HORN-T80XSR/291841302649?hash=item43f318e079:g:JTQAAOSwvgdW6oaj

[the baron]

8 minutes ago, ½cwt said:

Wrap a damp microfibre cloth thickly around the siren if you can to preserve hearing.

Had a look at some alarm sirens for salvage, looks like only two wires actually go to the sounder, one red/brown and on grey/yellow which looks to tie up with what you have here.  Best pics I could find are on this one:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PORSCHE-BOXSTER-986-GENUINE-ALARM-SIREN-HORN-T80XSR/291841302649?hash=item43f318e079:g:JTQAAOSwvgdW6oaj

My alarm looks different to that, Ive found a pic on web that looks the same as I have, it has a tilt sensor etc which might mean its been upgraded at some point or maybe that's the reason its disconnected due to it being the wrong alarm if it was replaced at some point

[½cwt]

How early is you car?  You list '97 and I note @map gives wiring for 98-01.  The installation looks OE but could this be a very early spec?

[map]

10 minutes ago, ½cwt said:

How early is you car?  You list '97 and I note @map gives wiring for 98-01.  The installation looks OE but could this be a very early spec?

That’s a really good point 👍

Bentley Manual doesn’t have ‘97 wiring diagrams.

[½cwt]

97 could be 98 model year but I know @the baron's is an early car....

[the baron]

12 minutes ago, ½cwt said:

97 could be 98 model year but I know @the baron's is an early car....

Yes, its an early 97 (Jan) one of the first still in existence in the UK so its a bit special.

[½cwt]

1 minute ago, the baron said:

Yes, its an early 97 (Jan) one of the first still in existence in the UK so its a bit special.

Sounds like a trip to Lee as this could well need specialist know how then as this doesn't seem to be like any of the later models.  I've tagged in @Richard Hamilton who is also very knowledgeable about electrical aspects of many Porsches.

[the baron]

1 minute ago, ½cwt said:

Sounds like a trip to Lee as this could well need specialist know how then as this doesn't seem to be like any of the later models.  I've tagged in @Richard Hamilton who is also very knowledgeable about electrical aspects of many Porsches.

Worryingly you might be right 🤔

[Richard Hamilton]

The photo you found on PCGB (probably from me) is the early siren and tilt sensor you should have on your car.  As has been said, it should have 3 wires attached to the siren.  Green/white, red/brown, and plain brown).  That's from the 1997 wiring diagrams.  The siren and tilt sensor were fitted to UK cars as part of the Thatcham Cat 1 requirements.  The tilt sensor is prone to water ingress, so later cars had a different tilt sensor under the left hand seat.  (Ideally placed to be flooded along with the alarm module if there is a leak).

The eBay link is the alarm HORN, which is on the other side of the battery.  It sounds like that is disconnected too.  It is the alarm horn that gives you the warning beeps.  It also honks intermittently when the alarm goes off, and the sound is pathetic as an alarm device, and completely drowned out by the siren.

[Menoporsche]

14 minutes ago, Richard Hamilton said:

The tilt sensor is prone to water ingress, so later cars had a different tilt sensor under the left hand seat.  (Ideally placed to be flooded along with the alarm module if there is a leak).

  It makes you wonder if Porsche just assumed their convertibles would neither be driven in, nor parked in, rain...

[Richard Hamilton]

27 minutes ago, Richard Hamilton said:

Should be Grey/white, red/brown, and plain brown.

Oops!

[the baron]

43 minutes ago, Richard Hamilton said:

The photo you found on PCGB (probably from me) is the early siren and tilt sensor you should have on your car.  As has been said, it should have 3 wires attached to the siren.  Green/white, red/brown, and plain brown).  That's from the 1997 wiring diagrams.  The siren and tilt sensor were fitted to UK cars as part of the Thatcham Cat 1 requirements.  The tilt sensor is prone to water ingress, so later cars had a different tilt sensor under the left hand seat.  (Ideally placed to be flooded along with the alarm module if there is a leak).

The eBay link is the alarm HORN, which is on the other side of the battery.  It sounds like that is disconnected too.  It is the alarm horn that gives you the warning beeps.  It also honks intermittently when the alarm goes off, and the sound is pathetic as an alarm device, and completely drowned out by the siren.

Ok that makes sense, so Ill get the other cover off and check out the connections.

[½cwt]

2 hours ago, the baron said:

Ok that makes sense, so Ill get the other cover off and check out the connections.

Told you he was good!