following this find many pages into a search currently running at 2.5 hours
tells me exactly where the alarm module and fuses are so for any one that need to know where the fuses are then its under the dash and then under the air bag on passenger side
a guide to remove the dash can be found here
mk 2 ph 1
mk 2 ph 2
and ill try and up my own post on removing the air bags hope this helps any one with alarm problems
DEEP JOYI FEEL CLEANSED.
I have deep sixed the Cobra cat 2-1 alarm system on my Sons 172.
He had to borrow a car to get to work today, after finding his battery was flat when he finished work last night, then having to drive all the way home from work with the hazards flashing. How embarrassed was he then.
I found the cause this morning, water in the siren. sending the module mad, as well as the driver. It has been playing up since he got the car, and Renault were about as much use as a chocolate fireguard.
The problem seems to stem from the fact the dockside fit at Southampton was done badly. There is a plastic protection cover clipped on the wiper motor arm which is supposed to keep the siren dry. This was not fitted properly and water running down the windscreen had made its way into the siren unit which has the back up battery, anti tamper and charging module inside. The result was predictable.
Having removed the siren, the alarm and ultra-sonics modules, the car still works as it should. The doors lock the transponder immobiliser works and the passive locking and drive-away locking all still work. So as I suspected this is just a cheap and nasty cat 2 to cat 1 upgrade using the cars locking module to signal it. :dead: YUK! Bloody frogs...
The alarm is a Cobra 0144 and the siren is a Cobra 5370.
All the postings about pulling fuses and moving the ultrasonics I am afraid are based on wishful thinking as the system is basically poor quality components, badly installed.
I measured no less than 10 mtrs of loom that was in excess of the installations requirement, simply bundled up and taped right under the moving parts of the wiper motor. The same amount again under the dash and a hole drilled between the engine compartment and the dash area that didnt even have a grommet in it. There are two fuses one close to the module and one on it, and you will never get to them without removing the dash. They are under the passenger airbag, the ultrasonics sensitivity adjustment is in the same place.
The installer should hang his head in shame. CHEAP AND NASTY.
THE GOOD NEWS is that all the wires are in place (and when shortened up are easy to) connect to a Clifford alarm module to provide a better all round system with control from the Clifford fob which gets round the problem of someone banjo-ing the locks and turning the alarm off, which I proved I could do before I ripped it out..(using the key)
It is a very simple job and the Clifford siren fits the bracket where the old Cobra unit came off. I will of course be fitting a better rain protector before refitting the covers.
This is not a job for the faint hearted, as you need to remove the wiper motor assembly and the dash top and passenger air bag, but it can be done if you work carefully and methodically.
I will work up a chart giving the colour codes and functions of the wiring loom so you can convert to whatever make of alarm you want to change to.
The space for the alarm module is limited as it sits under the passenger airbag, so dont buy anything with a module bigger than 35mm deep and 150mm by 100mm.
The clifford unit fits with room to spare. The siren needs to be a compact type.
If anyone is interested in how I did it, I will be happy to write a report when I have finished. I will try to take some pics of the major steps and post them.
If you even THINK you might want to have a go, then get out there now with the PlusGas and soak your wiper arm fixing nuts. It took me more time to get those off than the rest of the work.
I have fitted, (nearly, got rained off and tired and cold and p----- off with phonecalls) a Clifford Matrix RS2 with a glass break detector, microwave unit and window closer.
If you wanted to, you could just use the alarm part of the Clifford and not bother with the alarms immobiliser circuits as the oem transponder system is very good and not prone to failure like the Cobra crap alarm. This makes the job very easy.
I went the whole hog, belts and braces and also fitted the remote start option of the RS2. A pair microswitches on the gear lever to detect the neutral position, is really important if you do this.
MORE ANON......
tells me exactly where the alarm module and fuses are so for any one that need to know where the fuses are then its under the dash and then under the air bag on passenger side
a guide to remove the dash can be found here
mk 2 ph 1
mk 2 ph 2
and ill try and up my own post on removing the air bags hope this helps any one with alarm problems
