Just got a phone call from my dad trying to use the Coop for the first time in a couple of weeks.

Now I have the alarm off (it's one of the early ones with the alarm key under the NS headlight, not in the glovebox). When he tries to use the keyfob remote the car doesn't unlock. There's a click like it's trying but nothing else - the light on the dash stays on. On trying to open with the key instead, predictably the alarm goes off, but the door opens.

Does he just need to go through the reset procedure in the manual or is it more likely the remote has lost it's programming or maybe the remote battery is approaching flat (the led still seems to flash but maybe not enough power to send the unlock signal?). I've noticed the range has been getting shorter and shorter, but I haven't use the car for a couple of months, then I get this irate phonecall.

Or the lock is frozen......ask him how cold it is where he is?

Good point. Would that affect the remote but not the key on the lock?

Don't want to alarm you but if it's anything like mine the remote will still arm and disalarm the alarm (that's a lot of alarms)

So if you lock it with the fob and the locks reopen the alarm is still set. Hence when you open the door with the key the alarm goes off.


Re setting it is a matter of p1ssing about, locking it with the keys, opening it with the fob etc. mines been plaing up for a week now

It would indeed: had the exact same problem with mine when she first arrived: operate the remote, the door lock clicks like it's trying to open but it doesn't unlock, so you plip again and the alarm goes off because you've operated the plipper within 40 seconds so it thinks it's an attack (or similar explanation of the panic button).

Best thing to do: lock the car with the plipper. Wait for a minute (at least 40 seconds) then unlock with the key. Should sort it out that way

Cool, but that wouldn't explain why the remote doesn't unlock the doors, or turn the alarm light off on the dash.

Also just got a text saying the 40 sec wait between uses made no difference and it's probably not freezing up there.

So he may just need to follow the reset procedure anyway by the sounds of it?

Can he unlock both doors with the keys?

Funny you should say that, mine opened OK this morning but then the passenger door lock decided to freeze when I dropped my daughter off at nursery.

I opened the car and the alarm went off (I presume it wasn't locked it the first place) and set off. Then the alarm decided to go off as I was driving (normally my route is clear but this morning traffic was crawling ) so I decided to wait until I pulled off onto a side road rather than stopping on the main road and causing a massive hold-up, thus damaging the coupe's reputation even further.

The person behind me started flashing his lights (being in an Alfa I think he was throwing stones in his own glasshouse though ). I had kind of noticed it was going off

Once I pulled over it was doing a very passable impression of a police car .

Turning the car on and off a few times and opening and closing both doors cured the problem. I did spray some lithium grease in last night but it can't have reached the vital spot.

Still it's going to be warmer later in the week

If he were able to unlock the doors with the key (dunno about both doors) and then use the remote inside the car, you would expect that to kill the alarm, if all codes were still working properly?

I don't think he has tried to start the car with the key but I think the code light goes out after the key is inserted though.

It all says to me that the alarm is the problem not the imobiliser/general key battery or a programming thing.

I dunno. This alarm has always been a tempremental pain. I'd rather rip the thing out.

lastest: "there is a clicking noise coming from the far side of the glovebox area." when sat in the car.

I vote a fuse problem.

Isn't the clicking noise just the indicator relay

That would be coming from behind the dash though wouldn't it, not the glovebox(ish), which is kinda close to where the fuse box is in the engine bay...?

Probably. Clicking is usually a relay though.....

I'd go for the "rip it out" option personally.

Is it the old Scorpion alarm or the Meta?

There is a guide on how-to (allegedly) reset the Scorpion in the how-to guides

Norfolk in idea!

It uses the regular Fiat Keyfob thing.

Im having issues too, I just tried this Scorpion Alarm Reset with no joy

The keyfob remote with my Coop is all black, with a concave lock/unlock button and a convex panic alarm. It has a little connect on the side too which I guess is for programming it.

It does sound like the Scorpion

Well you know what bockers would say if he posted on this thread

Update: sounds like user error

I think the alarm was throwing a benny because the car had been unlocked in an alarmed garage for a month. From what I can gather he did what I orignally suggested which was to open the door and when the alarm goes of press the disarm button on the remote.

Seems to be ok now (touch wood).

Reminds me of back to the future - "Only I know how to start this car!"