Siren going off, central locking unresponsive!

R

Robin82

Member
Hopefully someone can point me in the right direction.

A continuous very loud siren went off on starting up the zed. I then noticed the central locking was completely unresponsive, key fob did nothing and neither did locking the car manually.

I quickly removed the bonnet sensor knowing they can be a point of failure, this did nothing. As it was 11pm I had disconnect the battery ton stop the siren (which was emanating from the boot right next to the battery)

Low battery? Its not dead as the car starts. Any ideas on the cause?

Cheers!
 
wonkydonkey said:
Sounds like it could be your GM5 module.
Click to expand...

Ok so thats the CL control unit.. what would be the best way to diagnose this for certain? Would this show up on a diagnostic test?
 
I suppose one surefire way would be to swap your module for a known working module to see if everything started functioning properly again. The GM5 modules are a bit of a ticking timebomb on these cars. Repair is cheap (£35 I think, using a well-known service advertised on eBay), but does render your car a bit useless while the module is away for repair. It is a very quick service though.

As for whether it would show up in a diagnostic scan, I'm not sure. Perhaps someone else can shed some light.
 
Preety sure BMW Scanner 1.4 diagnostic software will read the module, thats if its communicating, BMW INPA would also read it. Must say BMW Scanner is far easier to use on the Laptop, connected to the car it will scan all modules fitted to the car and then allows you to explore each one it finds for fault codes and can reset things.
 
Before you spend any money and remove the GM5 check fuse 10. Mine did what yours is doing a few weeks ago & fuse 10 had blown.

Cheers, tug :thumbsup:
 
wonkydonkey said:
I suppose one surefire way would be to swap your module for a known working module to see if everything started functioning properly again. The GM5 modules are a bit of a ticking timebomb on these cars. Repair is cheap (£35 I think, using a well-known service advertised on eBay), but does render your car a bit useless while the module is away for repair. It is a very quick service though.

As for whether it would show up in a diagnostic scan, I'm not sure. Perhaps someone else can shed some light.
Click to expand...

I've just had a look on Ebay, yes not too expensive, seems like a decent service. Thanks.

colb said:
Preety sure BMW Scanner 1.4 diagnostic software will read the module, thats if its communicating, BMW INPA would also read it. Must say BMW Scanner is far easier to use on the Laptop, connected to the car it will scan all modules fitted to the car and then allows you to explore each one it finds for fault codes and can reset things.
Click to expand...

I do have an old windows xp laptop and I did download some INPA software a few years back but never really did anything with it. Providing the learning curve isnt too big I might give that a go.

tug said:
Before you spend any money and remove the GM5 check fuse 10. Mine did what yours is doing a few weeks ago & fuse 10 had blown.

Cheers, tug :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

I certainly will do thanks! Fuse board easily accessible?

Do you know of a way to knock the alarm off in the meantime so I can use the car without driving people crazy with the siren? The only way Ive been able to disable the noise is to disconnect the battery. I suppose that is the point of an alarm..

Cheers
 
The XP laptop will do for Inpa and BMW Scanner 1.4.
Getting INPA working is quite a challenge, BMW Scanner is very easy to install, it comes with a CD.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-Scanner-1-4-0-Diagnostic-Interface-Code-Reader-Scan-Tool-E53-X5-E83-X3/122246511933?hash=item1c7675bd3d:g:46cAAOSw2xRYPQey
Some cheaper sellers on ebay but link is London based the others are usually far East sellers so postage takes a time.
They don't always list E85 or E86 but it works on both models.
Probably best way to temp silence the siren will be to disconnect the actual siren sounder if you can find it, still looking for mine!!. Let us know where you find it located.

Good explanation on the alarm workings here https://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=632177
 
tug said:
Before you spend any money and remove the GM5 check fuse 10. Mine did what yours is doing a few weeks ago & fuse 10 had blown.

Cheers, tug :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

Checked the fuse.. it had blown. Replaced with another 5amp, the siren stopped and the central locking came back to life! Thanks for the tip :)
Felt good to fix something in such a simple and striaght forward manner for a change!

Unfortunately after driving it for about 10 miles the damn thing started going off again! Checked the fuse and it had blown again. So replaced again and the journey home it was ok. I'm not sure why it blew again and whether it will go again as I've not driven it since, although it does seem odd and maybe points towards a deeper lying issue that is triggering it. I cannot think what though.. perhaps one for the scanner.

colb said:
The XP laptop will do for Inpa and BMW Scanner 1.4.
Getting INPA working is quite a challenge, BMW Scanner is very easy to install, it comes with a CD.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-Scanner-1-4-0-Diagnostic-Interface-Code-Reader-Scan-Tool-E53-X5-E83-X3/122246511933?hash=item1c7675bd3d:g:46cAAOSw2xRYPQey
Some cheaper sellers on ebay but link is London based the others are usually far East sellers so postage takes a time.
They don't always list E85 or E86 but it works on both models.
Probably best way to temp silence the siren will be to disconnect the actual siren sounder if you can find it, still looking for mine!!. Let us know where you find it located.

Good explanation on the alarm workings here https://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=632177
Click to expand...

Thanks! Yes a very detailed and logical explanation over on that forum. Thanks for the link to the scanner, I shall give it a go.
 
Fuses dont blow for no reason so there will be an underlying problem somewhere. First place I would check is the wiring in the hinge of the drop down cubby between the seats. The insulation on the wires tends to split and the wires all short out with each other!
 
Might be a long shot, but I think I've read of problems with the switch under the bonnet (right in the middle at the rear of the engine bay). Not sure if a wiring fault here would blow a fuse though?
 
ph001 said:
Fuses dont blow for no reason so there will be an underlying problem somewhere. First place I would check is the wiring in the hinge of the drop down cubby between the seats. The insulation on the wires tends to split and the wires all short out with each other!
Click to expand...

No you're right they don't! Thanks, something I definitely need to check asap.

enzed4 said:
Might be a long shot, but I think I've read of problems with the switch under the bonnet (right in the middle at the rear of the engine bay). Not sure if a wiring fault here would blow a fuse though?
Click to expand...

It was the first thing I ripped out, I should really connect it back up!
 
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