Long-ish, but an interesting problem...

So I've had my SRT-6 for just about 3 days and I'm loving it. My drive into work along some windy back roads this morning was a blast. Heading out to grab something for lunch provided a little merging fun. Then, when leaving my office at around 7:10pm, the last one to depart, I go out to the parking lot and try to open my Crossfire with the key fob. Nothing... I click Lock...Unlock...hold in the Panic button...Nothing...

OK, try the key. Door unlocks fine, I open it and BAM! The single most irritating noise I have ever heard in my life...the alarm. I put the key in the ignition and turn it (thinking that alone should probably deactivate the system), it sparks the starter, and...Nothing... The key won't even go back to the right to attempt another start unless I remove the key and try again...a sign of an Ignition Kill system at work.

I also noticed that the lights were still blinking for a good while, 3 minutes or so. In addition, all of the power items worked, so there was no dead battery. I did notice, however, that the red light on the "Tow Alarm" button was consistently blinking. I followed the instructions from the manual to turn it off, but all that kept happening was that the alarm kept going off. Every power feature worked except for the locks (would lock, but not unlock), and the tow setting just kept blinking throughout.

Pulling the fuse for the alarm system, ironically, triggers the alarm system on a loop...word to the wise and lesson learned.

Another thing I learned tonight is that the alarm system apparently has an independent power source. Oh, and it may actually be the most irritating noise in existence.

Here's where I got some fortunate advice from searching through these very forums; after trying to reprogram the key fob, letting it sit and rearm the alarm, pulling the fuse, and checking the battery in the key fob (appeared functional, lights blinking, but no replacements available), all suggestions I read on this forum for various maladies, I saw a suggestion to disconnect and reconnect the battery. Alas, I had no tools to do so, but it is an excellent idea, since that would possibly reset any sensors that have gone batty.

So I had to wait for the Flatbed, which, to the Credit of CarSense and particularly one of their Internet Sales Reps named Mike Keyser, had a loaner car strapped to the back of it. Even though I am very disappointed in the issue, I am impressed with the way this was handled. I called Mike toward the end of the day with my situation and not only did he have a mechanic try to troubleshoot with me over the phone, he arranged for the flatbed and loaner, delivered, at no cost to me. The loaner was a wine red Ford Escape Limited 4WD. It's no Crossfire, but it could be worse. Multiple friends of mine had good experiences and recommended CarSense, I can see why.

The end result is that the battery disconnection, while setting off the alarm for an earsplitting encore, did reset whatever was wrong. All of the sudden the key fob worked, the tow light was no longer flashing red, and the car started up. I was soooo tempted to just drive it home because I really don't want to be without it, but the smart thing to do is let their mechanics take a gander so I took the loaner and they took my baby.

I don't know if they'll find anything though since the battery reset likely cleared the issue. So does anyone know what this could be? It sound like the kind of thing that happens when the key fob is dead, but it worked, even from a 60ft distance after the battery reset on the car. The system that engages the alarm and kills the ignition is the likely culprit, but what part of it?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated and thank you all for the accumulated knowledge that provided me with a lot of solid insight into the workings of this technological beast. It's always a pain when something that is supposed to be a feature ends up biting you in the rear wing.

My enthusiasm is not dampened, though, this thing is simply too fun to drive )


Note to self: buy a wrench for the car capable of removing the battery contacts in case HAL decides to go haywire again and needs a reset.

 

A while back, when I had some body damage from a rock, I had my car taken to a bodyshop on a flatbed. I was following in my other car, and my Crossfire's alarm kept going off. So I had to keep turning it off with the key fob as I followed it.

 

Check out this thread it might be something to look for.
https://www.crossfireforum.org/forum...913#post251913

 

Not totally sure what your problem is.

As a informative thing only......on Crossfires, if you turn the key to start the car, and it doesn't start, you have to remove the key before you try again. This is standard, and not part of the locking system.

When you stall a manual trans car in traffic, you have to remove the key and then restart the car. (Don't ask me how I know this! )

 

correct....well almost... you don't actually have to remove the key from the ignition you just have to compeltely turn it to the 'off' position and then you can start the car again...you have to do this when/if you stall, or if you simply turn on the accesories and then want to start the car (dumb, i know). but oh well...

 

The Crossfire has a gyro sensor that detects if anyone attempts to steal the vehicle by lifting it or towing it in any fashion. Pretty smart.

To the OP, this sensor or some other part of the anti-theft system may have been affected when the vehicle was repoed originally.

 

Pulling the fuse for the alarm system, ironically, triggers the alarm system on a loop...word to the wise and lesson learned.

probably one of the funniest things I've read on this forum.

 

Thanks for all of the suggestions, everyone. I had actually read that one thread about water damage while awaiting the flatbed. Once I was able to get the rear hatch open, I looked for any sign of water damage and couldn't see any.

The suggestion about the gyro-sensor being disrupted by the repo from the original owner is interesting, especially considering that I suspect the anti-towing system as the culprit.

As an interesting side-note; one of my co-workers has this same issue occur with his 2008 Infinti FX-35 in this same parking lot, just a few months ago. It too was taken out on a flatbed and had the alarm module replaced. The lot was completely ripped up, regraded and repaved about 6 months ago, so I doubt its anything to do with the actual lot, just an odd coincidence.

I'll update you with any progress and, hopefully, a fix from the dealer.

 

......check plat maps for any Indian burial grounds !

 

Heh, I'll have to prepare some incantations. Any excuse to don a feathered headdress...I'm there!

 

UPDATE: I have my SRT-6 back and in working order. The service slip says that the battery voltage was low and according to the tech that I spoke with he said that low voltage does "some very odd things" to more modern security systems.

The battery was new as of mid-April. He charged it and said it held the charge with no issues. I am not convinced it was the battery, but I'm really hoping it was.

 

Awesome!

Hope it turns out well for you.

 

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

 

[quote=PhillySRT]...Another thing I learned tonight is that the alarm system apparently has an independent power source. Oh, and it may actually be the most irritating noise in existence....[/quote

You do not want to ever trip the alarm in an enclosed space.

Did the tech load test the battery? The battery may be able to take and hold a charge but fail under load.

 

Holy cow, this thread just saved my bacon! I'm from Dallas TX... but I'm in Pittsburgh, PA with my XFire but with no spare key (it's in the apartment in Dallas). I had this EXACT problem when I got up this morning!

I was completely panicked, as was my fiancee, as we are scraping and saving every single penny for our wedding and can scarcely afford to drop a few benjies on a stealership trip.

Fortunately for me, there's something wrong with my alarm speaker, so the excruciating noise for the original poster was a mere cricket's chirp for me. I'll have to get that fixed at some point, but it sure was nice to not have an ear-splitting alarm going off in the middle of my apartment's parking garage at 12:30 in the morning...

Anyway, I disconnected the battery, waited for the alarm to stop, and then hooked it back up, and lo and behold my fob worked again and the car turned right over!

I'm going to go ahead and replace my battery as soon as I can, as it's an 18 month battery according to the label and the car is an '05 that I've had for almost a year! I can't believe the dealer let it sit on a lot or in storage that long without swapping the battery, but this one appears to be the original.

 

Glad to hear that my experience helped you out. That's what this forum is all about

I haven't had that problem since, so it does appear that the battery was the culprit.