P38A Alarm Fault

Not a big problem but for some reason I am getting the old beep beep and alarm fault as soon as I put the key in the ignition. Everything works fine so I haven't been too bothered, I am assuming something is damp as it has been rather soggo for many days now and there is a lot of condensation in the old girl. Where or what could be the cause?

Chief culprits are the interior volumetric sensor and the bonnet switch....

Cheers Saint, I am assuming that the bonnet sensor is ok as there is no warning on the dash. Is there a way to test the volumetric sensor?

cornishboater said:

Cheers Saint, I am assuming that the bonnet sensor is ok as there is no warning on the dash. Is there a way to test the volumetric sensor?

Click to expand...

I think the best way is to unplug it and see if you get the same response - if so it is not the volumetric sensor - if the problem goes - bingo was his name-o!

Now, I might be wrong - I am sure in the L322 you can unplug the interior sensor and no issue - but I can't remember on the the P38 if unplugging the sensor will still result in an alarm fault (cos it is unplugged) or if, like the L322, it will now ignore the sensor and be merry!

I think it will give a fault if the sensor is unplugged...

I just mentioned in another thread on this same subject that on one I looked at, I swapped the sensor and same thing. Found the problem to be a bad pin in the connector on the vehicle loom side that was causing it. Replaced the pin, and it was happy again.

I also thought that the 'key in' switch can cause alarm fault - and also in the other thread outlined cleaning the lock barrel/re lubricating it with graphite, so if the door that comes across the top of the ignition barrel doesn't always close, then it can think there's a key in permanently even when it's supposed to be locked/alarmed.

Cheers for the info, I had this problem about a year ago but it went away after a few days, not so this time. Marty, I had the key issue a while back but it gave a message on the dash that the key was in, after lubricating with graphite the key problem disappeared. Is there a way to "short" the sensor to test it? I will probably just get another one, I think I will end up with a spare for pretty well everything on the car and will need a trailer to carry them about By any chance do you have a sensor kicking about?
BTW, hoping to get at the HEVAC this week weather and earthquakes permitting