Service theft alarm on SID

[stevetreacy]

Hi all,  it's been a while, but the Griffin is still sailing down the road happily at 165000, except I now have Service theft alarm message appear today on SID. It's the second unit fitted to the car and replacement was genuine fitted 8 years ago!!

Only serviced 2 months ago so don't really want to pay for Tech 2 session although this probably will happen as I don't have inclination to remove and start changing capictors and batteries etc.

My question is how long does it usually take before the unit starts malfunctioning and going off randomly or the like? Should I pull fuse until she's next in the garage?

Thanks for any thoughts

Steve

[TomPaine]

Depends on the cause I guess. It's generally failing batteries at that age but I believe it could also be something like tilt sensor failure, in which event you could just have that disabled. So yes, Tech 2 unavoidable I fear.

Of course if it is the alarm unit and you don't want the hassle and expense of another one, you can always have it disconnected and the Service Theft Alarm message disabled.*

* small print: that would I assume technically oblige you to tell your insurer...

[Audax]

I'd say that's about right for life of an alarm unit, if the first one lasted 6 years then the replacement lasting 8 is good.

Anyhow, as already said it could be something else. I'd advise just removing it and sending it away to have it reconditioned and put it back in. This will be somewhere near the same price as the Tech-II session. If it fixes the problem then great, if not take it for Tech-II and if it's the tilt sensor have that programmed out rather than replacing it.

[stevetreacy]

Thanks chaps,

Message has yet to reappear , but will get it refurbed to prevent future issues. Where is best to get it refurbished?

Thanks again

Steve

[sgould]

www.saabdisplayrepairs.co.uk  have a very good reputation.

And www.sidmaster.co.uk are also good.

Be careful.  There is (or was) a similar company www.saabdisplayrepair.co.uk - without the "s" on "repairs" who have a dreadful reputation.

[stevetreacy]

Hi,

Well its still behaving itself so hopefully was just a glitch. She is going for service on 22nd, can TECH 2 tell me the  state of the  alarm batteries?

Thanks

steve

[Audax]

I don't think you can read the battery voltage with Tech-II but if the battery is out of spec then a fault code will be raised however this fault code will also display "service theft alarm" on the SID (unless someone has disabled that).