The alarm fitted to all Clio's is made by Cobra it can be Renault branded though. Also the Cobra alarm can be modified by dealers so although the notes below hold true if the alarm has been modified by Renault then some of the times etc may not be the same.
How to tell if there is one fitted
There should be a sensor on each of the front door pillars and a light down by the gearlever. The alarm is integrated into the normal key fob. If you have a separate remote for the alarm (mk1 Clio's excepted) then this isn't a Renault alarm its been fitted by someone else not Renault UK or dealers.
The alarm (so long as it is standard UK spec i.e. all 172/182s or a DCI 80/1.6 16V) is fitted when they come into the country at a dock side yard. If you have opted to have an alarm fitted to a car, which doesn't have one as standard, then the dealer fits this.
Locking the car note
The alarm is set up so that only 60 seconds after its been locked are all system locked. That's why you can find the alarm going off after you've locked it as its only a while afterwards that the alarm is going active.
Switching off the interior sensor
If the interior sensor is causing the alarm to set off there are a few things you can do to reduce this happening.
1) Ensure all windows are completely closed before locking the car
2) Ensure all air vents are closes and angled away from the sensors also select the option so air comes out of the normal air vents not to the windscreen if possible.
3) Put the car in a garage.
4) Deactivate the ultrasonic sensors. This is done by sitting in the car with the doors closes switching the ignition key to the on position then off then on then off again in under 7 seconds. Then get out of the car and use the remote locking the car should flash the lights twice and beep 4 times. You need to do this every time you lock it though to deactivate the interior sensors
Problems with the alarms
The interior sensors are very sensitive it depend how the sensors on the door pillars are connected. There are two wires to each one and if there connected one way round the sensitivity is 80% if you swap the wires round it's reduced to 20%. Many alarms are fitted so that the interior sensors are very sensitive so the fix done under warranty is to swap these wires round. If your cars out of warranty its probably already been done as the interior sensors are to sensitive to last 3yrs without any problems.
When you go to unlock the car if the indicators flash 4 times then you can be sure the alarm has gone off.
If the alarm does go off then if you look at the light down near the gearlever, as this will tell you what set the alarm off. It will continue to do this until you put the keys in the ignition and turn it to the ON position.
How to interpret the flashing light after the alarm has gone off.
1 Blink. Either the doors, bonnet or boot have been opened. The sensor for the bonnet is mounted down by the front headlight on the passenger side it's a commonly failing sensors it can get water in it and rust. If it is going off then you'll probably need a new sensor or attempt to take the present one to pieces, and fix it. The sensors on the doors are the normal ones used to set off the interior lights so if the interior lights work of the doors then these won't be at fault. The sensor on the boot is the same as the door ones and so if the boot light works then this sensor should be fine.
2 Blinks. Additional sensor triggered. This shouldn't be an issue on a normal Clio alarm as the only sensors are on the bonnet doors and boot and the volumetric ones. This maybe set of if an approved alarm installer has added the alarm not from the factory i.e. Motor point etc.
3 Blinks. Ultrasonic sensor triggered. These are the little sensors on the front door pillars. If this is the reason for them being set off then you can either turn them off (as written about above) or apply some of the other ways quoted above.
4 Blinks. Someone has attempted to start the car with the wrong key.
6 Blinks. Someone has attempted to tamper with the alarm system in some way i.e. cutting wires.
7 Blinks. Serial line error. This is a problem with the alarm unit itself best go to Renault or a Cobra installer to get them to analysis the problem.
Another problem with the alarm seems to be the cars habit to unlock itself randomly. Some friends and I have had this in the past you wonder if you did lock the car and maybe your to blame. Renault garages will have trouble finding the problem, as it's so random. The best fix seems to be to check the cars locked very time (after a bit it becomes a force of habit) and to get the earthling leads for the alarms and central locking checked as this seems to have stopped mine happening.
Another common problem is when you lock the car the alarm beeps 2 or 3 times.
Reason: The alarm system has received a signal from the vehicle ECU that the ignition is 'on' causing the alarm to beep. This signal is only received by the alarm for 3 to 4 seconds, after this time has elapsed the alarm stops beeping.
Solution: It can only be resolved at a Renault dealer. Ask the dealer to contact the 'Renault alarm help line' and quote reference
'RS+15'.
How to tell if there is one fitted
There should be a sensor on each of the front door pillars and a light down by the gearlever. The alarm is integrated into the normal key fob. If you have a separate remote for the alarm (mk1 Clio's excepted) then this isn't a Renault alarm its been fitted by someone else not Renault UK or dealers.
The alarm (so long as it is standard UK spec i.e. all 172/182s or a DCI 80/1.6 16V) is fitted when they come into the country at a dock side yard. If you have opted to have an alarm fitted to a car, which doesn't have one as standard, then the dealer fits this.
Locking the car note
The alarm is set up so that only 60 seconds after its been locked are all system locked. That's why you can find the alarm going off after you've locked it as its only a while afterwards that the alarm is going active.
Switching off the interior sensor
If the interior sensor is causing the alarm to set off there are a few things you can do to reduce this happening.
1) Ensure all windows are completely closed before locking the car
2) Ensure all air vents are closes and angled away from the sensors also select the option so air comes out of the normal air vents not to the windscreen if possible.
3) Put the car in a garage.
4) Deactivate the ultrasonic sensors. This is done by sitting in the car with the doors closes switching the ignition key to the on position then off then on then off again in under 7 seconds. Then get out of the car and use the remote locking the car should flash the lights twice and beep 4 times. You need to do this every time you lock it though to deactivate the interior sensors
Problems with the alarms
The interior sensors are very sensitive it depend how the sensors on the door pillars are connected. There are two wires to each one and if there connected one way round the sensitivity is 80% if you swap the wires round it's reduced to 20%. Many alarms are fitted so that the interior sensors are very sensitive so the fix done under warranty is to swap these wires round. If your cars out of warranty its probably already been done as the interior sensors are to sensitive to last 3yrs without any problems.
When you go to unlock the car if the indicators flash 4 times then you can be sure the alarm has gone off.
If the alarm does go off then if you look at the light down near the gearlever, as this will tell you what set the alarm off. It will continue to do this until you put the keys in the ignition and turn it to the ON position.
How to interpret the flashing light after the alarm has gone off.
1 Blink. Either the doors, bonnet or boot have been opened. The sensor for the bonnet is mounted down by the front headlight on the passenger side it's a commonly failing sensors it can get water in it and rust. If it is going off then you'll probably need a new sensor or attempt to take the present one to pieces, and fix it. The sensors on the doors are the normal ones used to set off the interior lights so if the interior lights work of the doors then these won't be at fault. The sensor on the boot is the same as the door ones and so if the boot light works then this sensor should be fine.
2 Blinks. Additional sensor triggered. This shouldn't be an issue on a normal Clio alarm as the only sensors are on the bonnet doors and boot and the volumetric ones. This maybe set of if an approved alarm installer has added the alarm not from the factory i.e. Motor point etc.
3 Blinks. Ultrasonic sensor triggered. These are the little sensors on the front door pillars. If this is the reason for them being set off then you can either turn them off (as written about above) or apply some of the other ways quoted above.
4 Blinks. Someone has attempted to start the car with the wrong key.
6 Blinks. Someone has attempted to tamper with the alarm system in some way i.e. cutting wires.
7 Blinks. Serial line error. This is a problem with the alarm unit itself best go to Renault or a Cobra installer to get them to analysis the problem.
Another problem with the alarm seems to be the cars habit to unlock itself randomly. Some friends and I have had this in the past you wonder if you did lock the car and maybe your to blame. Renault garages will have trouble finding the problem, as it's so random. The best fix seems to be to check the cars locked very time (after a bit it becomes a force of habit) and to get the earthling leads for the alarms and central locking checked as this seems to have stopped mine happening.
Another common problem is when you lock the car the alarm beeps 2 or 3 times.
Reason: The alarm system has received a signal from the vehicle ECU that the ignition is 'on' causing the alarm to beep. This signal is only received by the alarm for 3 to 4 seconds, after this time has elapsed the alarm stops beeping.
Solution: It can only be resolved at a Renault dealer. Ask the dealer to contact the 'Renault alarm help line' and quote reference
'RS+15'.
