Panic alarm

Chthornton · 04-22-2009, 10:40 AM

The panic alarm on my 2005 Prius has been spontaneously going off. This happens when the car is locked, whether I am nearby with my fob, or miles away (unhappy neighbors have reported). I've taken my car in twice for this problem, but the service dept doesn't have a clue.

qbee42 · 04-22-2009, 10:44 AM

Most likely you need a new 12V battery. When was it last replaced? If you say it hasn't been replaced, then there is your answer.

Tom

richard schumacher · 04-22-2009, 12:56 PM

As jdenenberg notes:

"There is a simple procedure to test the health of your 12v battery. I have documented it in several of these discussions. You can see the procedure at:
Checking 12v Battery Health - Hybrid Car Forums
It is also documented at
12 Volt (12v) Toyota Prius Auxilary Battery for 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 with installation kit and free shipping
which sells high quality replacement batteries for the Prius."

If you have a voltmeter you can also check "12V" battery voltage at the jump point under the hood. With the car OFF a perfect battery will be in the range 12.4 to 12.6 V. If it's less than 12.0 V it is near the end of its life.

Chthornton · 05-07-2009, 12:46 PM

The 12v battery was indeed low and Service replaced it. Problem with Panic Alarm still unsolved. Service then adjusted the sensitivity on the alarm system from 8 to 6. Alarm still is going off spontaneously when car is locked and doesn't seem to be related to vibrations by heavy vehicles driving by as suggested by Service. Aararrrgh! Don't know what to do.

Tchou · 05-07-2009, 01:20 PM

is this alarm perimetric or volumetric ? or both ?

richard schumacher · 05-08-2009, 12:45 PM

Is this the factory-installed alarm, or some dealer-installed or other aftermarket junk?

firepa63 · 05-08-2009, 01:08 PM

Is it the glass breakage alarm? If so, have it disconnected. I had it on my 04 and my brother-in-law had it on his 06. We both had them disconnected because of false alarms.

qbee42 · 05-08-2009, 04:35 PM

The OEM alarm doesn't have a seismic sensor, so I suspect it is an aftermarket alarm. You can buy a glass breakage sensor for the OEM system, but I can't see how that would cause any trouble if no glass is broken.

Tom

04-22-2009, 10:40 AM	#1
Chthornton Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Santa Monica, CA Posts: 3 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: N/A Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Panic alarm The panic alarm on my 2005 Prius has been spontaneously going off. This happens when the car is locked, whether I am nearby with my fob, or miles away (unhappy neighbors have reported). I've taken my car in twice for this problem, but the service dept doesn't have a clue.

04-22-2009, 10:44 AM	#2
qbee42 My other car is a boat Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Northern Michigan Posts: 17,657 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: N/A Package: #7 Thanks: 1,348 Thanked 2,774 Times in 1,859 Posts Friends: 18	Re: Panic alarm Most likely you need a new 12V battery. When was it last replaced? If you say it hasn't been replaced, then there is your answer. Tom

04-22-2009, 12:56 PM	#3
richard schumacher shortbus driver Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: United States Posts: 7,376 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: #6 Thanks: 582 Thanked 754 Times in 306 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Panic alarm As jdenenberg notes: "There is a simple procedure to test the health of your 12v battery. I have documented it in several of these discussions. You can see the procedure at: Checking 12v Battery Health - Hybrid Car Forums It is also documented at 12 Volt (12v) Toyota Prius Auxilary Battery for 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 with installation kit and free shipping which sells high quality replacement batteries for the Prius." If you have a voltmeter you can also check "12V" battery voltage at the jump point under the hood. With the car OFF a perfect battery will be in the range 12.4 to 12.6 V. If it's less than 12.0 V it is near the end of its life. __________________ "I like paying taxes. With them I buy civilization." - United States Supreme Court Associate Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Republican "A nation is not in danger of financial disaster merely because it owes itself money." - US industrialist Andrew W. Mellon, Republican

05-07-2009, 12:46 PM	#4
Chthornton Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Santa Monica, CA Posts: 3 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: N/A Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Panic alarm The 12v battery was indeed low and Service replaced it. Problem with Panic Alarm still unsolved. Service then adjusted the sensitivity on the alarm system from 8 to 6. Alarm still is going off spontaneously when car is locked and doesn't seem to be related to vibrations by heavy vehicles driving by as suggested by Service. Aararrrgh! Don't know what to do.

05-07-2009, 01:20 PM	#5
Tchou Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 161 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 1 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Panic alarm is this alarm perimetric or volumetric ? or both ?

05-08-2009, 12:45 PM	#6
richard schumacher shortbus driver Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: United States Posts: 7,376 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: #6 Thanks: 582 Thanked 754 Times in 306 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Panic alarm Is this the factory-installed alarm, or some dealer-installed or other aftermarket junk? Last edited by richard schumacher; 05-10-2009 at 01:41 PM.

05-08-2009, 01:08 PM	#7
firepa63 Former Prius Owner Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: SE Pennsylvania Posts: 1,738 My Car: Other Hybrid Model: N/A Package: N/A Thanks: 9 Thanked 185 Times in 153 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Panic alarm Is it the glass breakage alarm? If so, have it disconnected. I had it on my 04 and my brother-in-law had it on his 06. We both had them disconnected because of false alarms.

05-08-2009, 04:35 PM	#8
qbee42 My other car is a boat Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Northern Michigan Posts: 17,657 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: N/A Package: #7 Thanks: 1,348 Thanked 2,774 Times in 1,859 Posts Friends: 18	Re: Panic alarm The OEM alarm doesn't have a seismic sensor, so I suspect it is an aftermarket alarm. You can buy a glass breakage sensor for the OEM system, but I can't see how that would cause any trouble if no glass is broken. Tom

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