I am a new owner of a gorgeous '04 ... having some alarm issues. initially i thought the alarm module was bad so i stopped locking it; turned out the battery did need replacing (found that out the hard way!) ... that was put in yesterday. last night and today i have had no alarm 'chirp' going off like before, but the lights go off for hours (if i don't notice immediately). they flash as if the alarm were silently going off.

i would love to have some light shed on the issue .... if it is the alarm module, im wondering if that is something i can replace myself or not. any ideas?

 

How's the condition of the car's MAIN battery?

Weak/old batteries cause all sorts of weird stuff with these cars, even "cranks but won't start" at times.

 

I think that is the battery she is in reference to.. since the alarms battery is not readily accessible, and she is wonder how hard to change alarm out. Just wondering though "chirp" was not an 04 original was it? Sounds like someone already replaced once..

Don't have time to search for you, but there is a write up on replacing the alarm..and someone has gone as far as replacing the batteries in it..

"gorgeous" ... sounds like she bought an alabaster! Welcome to being an owner and the forum..

 

I think when a LADY uses that term, she means her car is red.

 

the battery is brand new as of yesterday. and yes, she is beautiful .... but not alabaster ... anthrocyte! best color!

i will have to look into the searches ... thanks for the warm welcome!

 

So is that Black or Graphite?

 

I think that is the battery she is in reference to.. since the alarms battery is not readily accessible, and she is wonder how hard to change alarm out. Just wondering though "chirp" was not an 04 original was it? Sounds like someone already replaced once..

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From what I understand the alarm is stock. It is the unbelievably loud and very different sound. There is no chirp upon locking; the chirping i was referring to was when the alarm randomly goes off.

**Le sigh**

I don't want to go to a dealership .....

 

The car battery has been changed by the OP. I think that we need a clarification on the original noise heard, was it the screaming siren or the chirp that is on the new alarms but not on the OP's original alarm.
As the lights flash when both sounds are heard, it gets confusing.
If it is the siren then I'm guessing the problem lies in a wet trunk well.

 

It's the screaming siren ..... and no wet trunk.

 

Actually the "wet trunk" would be referencing under the mat back there.. and down under the foam inserts.. not easily recognizable without pretty much removal of. There is a rubber plug on the bottom of the car that goes into that compartment area, that you could use an exacto knife to slit and see if you get any water.

 

"Cricket on Crack" alarm.. LOL.

Dealership.. not a place to hang out and make friends..

Location?
We do have some respectable members willing to lend a hand.. I won't name the dis-respectable ones for arguments sake..

EDIT: 180.. when the on board battery gets weak.. doesn't the alarm start acting flakey on you? I don't think I've really seen any way to test them out to be sure though..

 

it IS the cricket on crack!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

oh and i'm in sw virginia

 

I've been dealing with this issue, and the first thing I did was pull Fuse #9 out from the fuse box in the engine bay on the drivers side. If you pull it while the lights or alarm is going off, just wait till it stops. After pulling the fuse, you will not be able to lock/unlock the car with the fob, the interior lights won't work, and the TPM system won't work. But at least there will be no alarm or lights flashing. My situation has been narrowed down to the Siren itself. I pulled it from the car (procedure is here somewhere) by unhooking the electric to it, and removed it. After putting everything back together without the siren and replaced fuse #9, everything returned to normal, except for the siren going off. Able to lock the car with remotes, interior lights and TMP are back. Just no screaming.... LOL I then cut apart the old siren carefully using a dremel around the seam (don't cut deep, many wires are close) and found that the two rechargeable batteries in it had leaked all over the circuit board. They will not last indefinitely and I have ordered a siren to replace it, and hopefully I'll be screaming again.
removing the siren is not too bad, but you will need a small gear puller for the windshield wiper arms and some torx bits. Someone may list the link for the procedure....... I don't know how to do a linky. Good luck .... doing it yourself will save you a ton of $$$$. Most dealerships will start replacing everything one at a time, and hope they find the problem. In the mean time most of what they replace by process of elimination costs you.

 

wow, iblubyu - sounds like you really got your hands dirty with that one!!!!!

 

Here is how to (click) get to the siren, it shows the shroud removed and shows the siren. That will be half the job done anyway.
The how to shows pics under the shroud and the siren is under the silver cover. The how to is for some other problem but shows what is there anyway.

 

Thanks Dave ..... firedUPgirl, just an FYI....Dave is considered the godfather of information on the forum as far as I'm concerned. He may seem "crotchety" at times, but he's a real pussycat. (I'm sure I'll hear about that one. LOL) We really enjoy his humor? eventho he's a foreigner.......

 

foreigner ?
He's a English gentleman who wanted to come to the colonies, but got stuck in Canada .......

 

i feel overwhelmed. always had european .... but VW is so different in comparison. and since this is a higher dollar vehicle ... i don't want to end up costing myself more $$$ by messing something up!!!

 

Let's see if anyone disagrees with this.. Cricket on Crack isn't from water..
Doors locked and unlocked fine with fob.. probably wouldn't with water
Weak failing alarm batteries are known for erratic behavior
I'd probe the rubber plug for water.. and if none found would give a best guess of replace the alarm.

Bueller? Bueller?