Why Is My Car Alarm Going Off For No Reason?

Car alarms are an essential security device, protecting your vehicle from being broken into and stolen. However, sometimes a car alarm will go off without any obvious reason why, which can be frustrating for you and annoying for your neighbours.

In this article, we’re going to look at how car alarms work, what might cause them to activate on their own and what you can do to fix the problem.

How Does a Car Alarm Work?

A car alarm system is a complex electronic network made up of five key components: sensors, a siren, a radio receiver or transponder, a battery and a control unit. These components each play an essential role in keeping your car safe.

Sensors

There are various types of sensors attached to a car alarm system, from shock sensors that detect a physical impact on the car to pressure sensors that can tell when a window is smashed or a door is opened. There are also proximity sensors that spot when someone gets too close to your car and even tilt sensors that can identify when someone tries to lift your vehicle onto a tow truck.

Siren

This is the audible warning activated by the system when one or more of the sensors are triggered.

Transponder

This small radio receiver allows your car alarm to be activated or deactivated remotely, usually by means of an electronic key fob.

Battery

This is an auxiliary battery, separate from the car’s main battery, meaning the alarm system can still work even if the main battery is disconnected.

Control Unit

This is the brain of your car alarm system. Its job is to monitor the sensors, identify when they have been triggered and sound the alarm.

Why Does a Car Alarm Go Off for No Reason?

Throughout this article, we’ve been referring to car alarms going off for no reason, but, of course, that’s not really the case. There are plenty of reasons why your car alarm might be triggered without you being aware of it. These are some of the more common reasons:

Bad weather

It’s not unusual to hear several car alarms go off in your street during patches of severe weather. Strong winds, heavy rain and hailstones can batter your car enough to activate one or more of its sensors. Likewise, if tree branches, wheelie bins or road debris are blown into your car with sufficient force, they can also trigger the alarm.

Electrical faults

Your car alarm system is a delicate network of sensors and wires connected to a central control unit. If a fault occurs anywhere in the system, be it a loose wire or a damaged sensor, your alarm can be activated without any outside interference.

Transponder interference

If you turn your alarm on and off with a key fob, it has a transponder chip tuned to a certain radio frequency – this allows you to control your alarm from a distance with your key fob. Occasionally, other electronic devices, including other key fobs, smartphones and even TV remote controls, can be detected through that transponder chip, causing an alarm to trigger.

Attempted break-in

Of course, sometimes your car alarm will trigger because someone is trying to force their way into your car. That’s one of the issues with alarms going off at random intervals—you get so annoyed with the sound that you forget it’s there for a reason.

How to Fix a Faulty Car Alarm

To answer this question, you need to know what the actual fault is. Has the alarm system been calibrated to be too sensitive so that even the mildest gust of wind sets it off? Is there an electrical fault in one of the sensors or the wiring? Is the problem with your car’s onboard computer rather than the alarm itself? Is the alarm’s transponder chip tuned to a common frequency that makes it easily tripped by other electronic devices in the vicinity?

As you can see from this list, there’s a lot that can go wrong with your car alarm system, making it difficult to pinpoint the problem. That’s why we recommend having your alarm inspected by a trusted local expert.

Car Alarm Going Off for No Reason: Final Thoughts

Having your car alarm trigger for no apparent reason is a common phenomenon. While there are many potential causes, once you have identified the problem, it’s normally a simple fix. As with all automotive issues, you’re usually better off having the work done by a professional – someone who can remedy the problem without causing further issues down the line.

Car Alarm Repairs and Installations in Hampshire

If your car alarm keeps going off for no reason and you’ve been unable to fix the fault yourself, TCM Automotive is here to help. We provide a full car alarm repair or replacement service at our Portsmouth garage, available to all our customers across Hampshire. Our team of expert mechanics will quickly diagnose the cause of the problem and offer a fast and effective solution. Alternatively, we can remove the troublesome car alarm you already have in place and install a new one from our extensive range of products.

Call the team today on 07581 033 606 to see what we can do for you.

What is a car tracker?

Car trackers (also known as vehicle trackers or GPS trackers) are small devices that help you pinpoint the location of your vehicle (or, more specifically, the location of the tracker installed in your vehicle) using the Global Positioning System. GPS is a network of satellites used by governments, industries, and individuals around the world to triangulate electronic signals and determine their point of origin with incredible accuracy.

Not only can car trackers confirm where your vehicle is at any given moment, they can also record that information, creating a data record of the vehicle’s movements. They can also transmit that location via a dedicated app on your smartphone.

How does a car tracker work?

Considering car trackers and other GPS devices are masterpieces of electronic precision, the way they work is remarkably simple. Using a process called trilateration, they use the position of three or more satellites from the GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) network to determine the precise elevation, latitude, and longitude of their position at any given time.

How frequently this data is updated varies from model to model but is usually around once every second, allowing for accurate positioning at any given time. This data is transmitted to a dedicated app or server, where it can be translated into a visual image to track the vehicle’s position in real time. Alternatively, the data can be stored and retrieved at a later date to determine driving patterns and behaviours.

What are the benefits of a car tracker?

Now that we know how they work, what benefits does a GPS vehicle tracker offer, besides letting you know where your car is at all times? These are some of the most significant ones.

Lower insurance premiums

Since car trackers can keep a record of your driving behaviour, this can be used to demonstrate whether or not you’re a safe driver. Some insurance companies will even offer lower premiums for drivers that grant them access to their tracker data.

Know where your car is

This doesn’t just help you if your car is stolen. If you lend your vehicle to a friend or family member, you can rest easier knowing that you can locate them on the app at the touch of a button. This makes it easy to get help for them if they breakdown or are involved in an accident.

A cost-effective solution

Compared to other methods of improving engine performance, a car remap is easily one of the more affordable. It doesn’t require that any additional components be added to the vehicle, nor is it a long, drawn-out process that attracts large labour costs. Speak to your local ECU remapping experts today to find out the latest and most accurate prices.

Improve your driving

Having a GPS tracker in your car won’t make you a better driver all by itself. However, by reviewing your driving data through the tracker’s app, you’ll be able to see if there are any specific areas you can improve upon.

How much does a car tracker cost?

Like most additions to your car, GPS trackers are available at a variety of price points, depending on your particular needs and the model of the tracker. You can expect to pay anything from £250 to £1500, but don’t be alarmed by those higher price tags. Some of those might incorporate specialist tools and applications that your family car simply doesn’t need. We recommend speaking to your local car security provider to find the model that offers the best value for money.

How do you install a car tracker?

Most GPS trackers designed for individual use (as opposed to fleet vehicle telematics) are simple, plug-and-play devices that you connect to the OBD-II port of the car. This is normally located near the car’s steering wheel, so you can attach the track firmly above the port using a Velcro tie strip, plug it into the OBD-II, and the job is done. All you need to do then is calibrate it and connect it to your app, as per the provided instructions.

Of course, some drivers don’t like to have their GPS trackers on display. Most of these devices are small and discreet enough to be placed anywhere in your vehicle and attached to the OBD-II port by way of an extension cable. This can be a little trickier to install, as you will need to pin the cable tightly to the inside of the car to prevent it from dislodging from the port or becoming a distraction while driving.

There are also hardwired GPS trackers that connect directly to the car’s battery and ignition switch. While anybody can, in theory, attach these devices themselves, we recommend hiring a trained expert if you’re not familiar with the ignition system.

Do car trackers work with every car?

GPS car trackers are standalone devices that can be installed in any kind of vehicle with minimal effort. They are rarely designed to only work with a certain type of vehicle, since the third-party manufacturers want to maximise their market share. While it’s worth checking, either with the maker of the tracker or a trusted local mechanic, the vast majority of trackers can be fitted to any car.

Should you get a car tracker?

Of course, there’s no obligation to install a GPS tracker in your car, and some drivers won’t see any appreciable benefits from doing so. If you’re thinking about it, these are some of the factors that might make it worthwhile for you:

You live in a high-crime area where car theft is common
Your particular make or model of car is a common target for thieves
You’ve previously had a car stolen from the same address
You own vehicles that you lease or hire to others
Other people regularly use your vehicle
You want to be able to record your driving data; this is a popular choice for delivery and Uber drivers
You want to reduce your insurance premiums

Car Trackers: Final Thoughts

If you’ve decided a car tracker is right for you, TCM Automotive can help you with the next steps. We offer free, professional advice on the best car trackers to suit your individual needs, and our team of engineers will be happy to install them for you at our Portsmouth service centre or at your own home or place of work.

Call us on 07581 033 606 to see what we can do for you.