45 degrees, drove three miles downtown, parked, came back three hours later and the key fob would not open the lock. Used the key to open the door (which set off the alarm), got inside, there was a clicking sound and the alarm switch was blinking. Nothing I did would turn it off. The alarm went off when I opened the glove box to grab the manual and again when I opened the hood to see if I could pry the positive cable off of the battery (I could not). Walked home, grabbed the other fob (which I thought had new batteries?) drove the truck back and the second fob did nothing. The car door is unlocked.

Any suggestions?

 

Pull fuse #9, under hood drivers side.

 

I will try that in the morning.

What might be the cause?

 

Has the alarm ever went off by itself, for no reason?

 

Yes, a couple of years ago in my driveway on a Sunday morning...twice.

If I remove the fuse, I assume that the "anit-tow" feature will be disabled?

 

Pulled #9 and the alarm would not stop until I put it back in place, and then it got louder for 30 seconds until it stopped.

Removed positive battery cable and alarm would not stop until I reinstalled it, and then it got louder for 30 seconds until it stopped.

 

Found two other threads about this issue. One had the exact issues as mine and a temporary removal of the battery cable solved it. The other mentioned that the negative cable is to be removed first and also replaced first. I did that and also removed fuse, waited a couple of minutes and reattached the cables and drove the car home.

Removal of the #9 fuse apparently also disables the Roof Light, Horn, Anti-Theft Alarm, Liftgate Light and Tire Pressure Control

Other suggestions was to use a larger ground cable and possible SKREEM issue.

 

It's starting to sound like the alarm itself, is starting to go bad. You can disconnect the alarm by removing the windshield wipers, then the cowl and unplug it. The batteries are known to go bad , then leak onto the control board , making them scream at inappropriate times..lol. I've never heard of one doing the things you say. When you pull fuse #9 the alarm should not sound off at all.

 

Never would have guessed that the alarm had batteries.

Wonder why the fob's did not work?

 

Have you checked the hatch area for water? You have to pull the foam in there, out. Are there any other symptoms or strange things going on , other than the FOB not unlocking/ locking the doors? Do the lights flash when you set the alarm?

 

That would apply if he has a srt-6. Ive never heard of the regular xf's having their trunks flooded?

I know mine was setting off the alarm but since the siren had died it would just randomly flash lights on and off without the noise. I would still be able to unlock the car etc, until it killed the module in the trunk which I believe is for security and other stuff.

Either way my trunk had flooded due to the seal failing on the spoiler.

 

The little drain hoses, under the spoiler can fail on the NA, also causing water to get into the hatch. Rim seal failure , loose hatch.. Im just covering bases..

 

No other issues on this 29,000 mile car.

The lights always flash when I unlock or lock the doors with the fob.

No leaks from the spoiler area that I know of.

I believe that I will attempt to remove the cowl and disconnect the alarm battery (no wonder the alarm went off with no positive cable attached to the main battery). I was wondering how to remove the wipers then I thought about using my faucet handle puller, which has a weight on a shaft that kind of thumps the handles off.

 

You can usually just remove the nut and just rock the short arm with the wiper raised and they will release.

 

Guess that I should have actually looked at the wiper before figuring out how to remove it! I figured it was pressed on.

 

No, they are splined on a tapered shaft. Mark the wiper position on the windshield with masking tape before removal.

 

Or you'll do it a couple of times...

 

Mark the position of the tip of the steel arm and not the rubber. Draw a U on the tape around the arm tip.

 

The fibs will not work if the security module in the trunk is ruined by water and does not supply the vacuum or air pressure to open the locks or the fob batteries are dead.
If the alarm is going bad it can cause problems, so disconnect it.

 

Finally removed the cowl and am not sure what to unplug.


I also noticed a reservoir on the drivers side that had water and other crude built up. I tried to unplug the drain line with a coat hanger but it only went in a couple of inches. Anyone know how to unplug it?



We had a torrential downpour on Wednesday of about 2" of rain in 45 minutes. The passenger floor is soaked and I have let the windows open for the last two days and nights which is not ideal.