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MG MGF Technical - Alarm system question

Hello,

I have a 5mth old MGF 2001 1.8i. In relation to the alarm system, the manual talks about a volumetric alarm.

My question is this. Is this model meant to have some sort of motion sensor for the alarm inside the car itself? So far I've only been able to get the alarm to sound when I lift the bonnet after activating it.

But when I reach inside the car with the windows down, open the glovebox or cubby hole etc, nothing happens. I can even raise and lower the hood.

My understanding would be if it was volumetric it would sound when there's a disturbance inside the car itself.

Can someone please clarify exactly what the alarm on my model should be doing?

thanks,
David Crawford

The sensor for the volumetric alarm is based just under the T-bar in between the two seats.

Some person already said that the sensor seem to be inactive. It's has to be tune because it's problably not enought sensitive.

Contact your dealer in order to sort that.

Just a warning prefer closing the windows when park with hood lowered. Indeed in this position the alarm is set off each time a person try to get in.

maxime
mabonnet

The Volumetric sensor would not be present if your car is a Jap import.
Kingsley

are you doing both stages ie pressing the button twice to get the old deadlocks down, as i think the early models only activate the vol alarm when deadlocks are activated

Paul
P Durrant

I am sure my 2001 mpi alarm only works when deadlocked. It is not to sensitive so it can work when the hood is down. Try deadlocking with the hood down, and after the little red light has stopped blinking fast, reach in and try to get something off the seats. This sets mine off. The only other thing that has set mine off is opening the garage door occasionally - it is an up and over metal type job, and this being pulled up and over the car has set it off a couple of times.
Steve

Alarm sensitivity can be adjusted by a dealer with the testbook - many have to be de-sensitised a bit, perhaps your's needs the opposite IF it has the unit fitted.

Try leaving a mobile phone in the car with the alarm set and calling it. That'll set the alarm off if anything will!

Neil.
Neil

Never tried this myself but it is mentioned in the MGF electrical manual:

Alarm system test
The alarm system can be tested by following the procedure described below:
1. Ensure doors, bonnet and boot lid are closed.
2. Sit in the drivers seat and close the door.
NOTE: The next three actions must be carried out within 2 seconds.
3. Depress the driver’s door sill button.
4. Switch the ignition on, off and on again.
5. Raise the driver’s door sill button.
If the test mode has been entered correctly, the horns will give a short beep and the engine
immobilisation buzzer will sound.
Opening either door, the bonnet or the boot lid, or operating the driver’s door sill button, will
cause the alarm LED to illuminate for approximately one second. If the LED does not
illuminate, there is a system fault.
The volumetric sensor can also be tested while in test mode. To test the volumetric sensor,
press the unlock button on the remote handset several times. The alarm LED will illuminate
for approximately 1 second each time movement is detected in the vehicle.
The test mode is cancelled by switching the ignition OFF.



Spyros
Spyros Papageorghiou

Spyros

Be just my luck to loose my place in the instructions and find myself locked in the bloody car with the alarm going off.

Cheers

Mike
Michael Williams

Spyros,

Tried your tip on the alarm test mode. Excellent.

Any other little gems like that you could share with us?

Which electrical manual are you talking about? I only have an electrical wiring diagram and a Workshop Manual.

Bruce
Bruce Caldwell

I too have a 7 month old 2001 MGF 1.8i.
Not an import.
Again, the volumetric aspect of the alarm doesn't seem to work.
Where (exactly) is the sensor, can you see it (to check it is present) and can you adjust it yourself?
(liitle trust in MG dealer).

John.
John

John,

You can see the sensor if you remove the big black T bar from the front of the parcel shelf. The sensor is mounted in the middle of the shelf, basically between the passenger and driver's shoulder blades. The compartment for the sensor is above the rear cubby box. If there is no sensor then you will find a small plug lying free in the area, maybe tucked down the back of the console behinf the cubby box. The T bar is removed by undoing the screws in the press studs on the top and prising it off the six fasteners holding it to the rear bulkhead. Move the seat backs forward first.

OR you could try Spiros's method described above.

HTH

Bruce
Bruce Caldwell

Sorry,

Spelt his name wrong...

Spyros's method

Bruce
Bruce Caldwell

Oh sorry John,

I don't think you can adjust it yourself but your MG dealer should be able to do it with a Testbook.

finally

Bruce
Bruce Caldwell

Thanks Bruce,
I had assumed there had to be a visible sensor in the T bar and I can't see one. I'll give Spyros' method a go, but I suspect I'll be back at my MG dealer in due course. Unfortunately, I think they know even less about MGFs that I do (and I 'aint kidding!)
John

David,

First of all, did you check if the volumetric sensor is build in. It should be a white box 10 cm x 10cm under the T-Bar. (behind the seats in the middle of the car)

I checked the alarm today as followed:
Opened the roof and the windows
superlocked the car (push 1x on the button and after that 2x in a second, the lights go 3x.
then I put my arm into the car and waved. after a few seconds the alarm goes.

good luck,

Allard






A. de Graaf

This thread was discussed between 28/05/2002 and 03/06/2002

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