A4 Avant B6 2003 trim removal and alarm siren replacement.

[Boatname]

I posted previously about a problem with my alarm beeping in the boot.

It's a well documented problem but I couldn't find one post that answered all my questions (no disrespect) so I thought I'd start this one.

First of all the problem:

We leave our car for up to 3-5 months with no ability to charge the battery.

In the past we have come back to a flat battery and just had to bite the bullet and buy a new one.

I have always thought that this was caused by the system and alarm monitoring that goes on so have been reluctant to disconnect the battery as I lose the alarm.

I have now decided that no alarm is the least of my worries.

The siren has internal batteries that seem to need continual charge or they go flat. The batteries are non-replaceable.

It's either a new unit at £114 from Audi, take a chance on an old one off EBay, but the batteries inside will probably be as old as the ones causing you a problem, or try the infamous Maplins make-your-own-battery-pack.

VW AUDI Forum - VWAF

The symptoms:

I first knew I had a problem after putting a new battery on. There was a beeping from the boot. That was all. I waited to see if a 200 mile run back from France plus the new battery would breath some life into the old batteries and for a time it seemed successful.

But then one night I was woken by the beeping from the boot AND the hazard lights flashing AND the remote not working! I ended up disconnecting the 12 volt battery but the unit kept beeping!

I tried to to find the siren but it was literally invisible. I tried getting the trim off but couldn't. I left it for a while still hoping and for a while all was well.

Last night the the pattern repeated itself ... beeping, flashing, no central locking.

I just left the car unlocked, muffled the beeping and went to bed.

Right.

its time to sort it.



First, how to get the trim off.

Drop rear seats. Fold floor forward.

Undo four bolts holding on rear trim




Undo the two luggage retaining clips



Undo top bolt



Pull trim off. You will see the siren right down in the corner.





Undo power cable. Undo bracket bolt and you'll see it's impossible to get the siren out



Even taking the bracket off the siren doesn't help





So it was necessary to take out the bolts/release the nuts holding the large plastic cassette









and wiggle it forward enough to get the siren out



Right, still with me?

The part number on mine is 8LO 951 605A

This is different in many ways to the one in the Maplins post ... thin backplate, bolt in the way, power feed etc











... so now I'm undecided.

I am going to try running the car without the siren attached.

So far so good.

The central locking works, the hazards flashed as they should and I tried leaving a window open, waiting 30 seconds, waving my arm inside the car, and the hazards flashed continually.

That will do me short term until I make my mind up.

NOBODY is going to steal a 10 year old diesel automatic so the insurance company will never get involved and if I was stupid enough to leave an iPad on view the determined thief would smash the window and run in anticipation of an alarm going off. I don't believe it's a deterrent.

I'll post again (if I'm allowed) in a few days to let you know if the car behaves itself with no siren.

Well, that didn't last long. 8 hours later hazards are flashing, remote won't work, only way to turn off flashers ... put key in ignition.

Hmmm.

[nevo]

open her up and post some pics,it'll be repairable,you might have to cut round the edges.

[Boatname]

Cut it open but the PCB is wrecked.