Dashboard alarm warning light

Dashboard alarm warning light

Author
Discussion

S47

Original Poster:

1,325 posts

186 months

Friday 6th September 2019
quotequote all
Going to view a car for sale - owner says this dashboard light is on permanently, he says its a common problem for Monaro's and not to worry about it.
Anybody got or had this problem on their car?
Is it a common problem? I tried searching online but couldn't find anything
TA
Mal

anonymous-user

60 months

Friday 6th September 2019
quotequote all
Check engine warning message or something else? No it’s not normal for it to be on all the time.

Lincsls1

3,416 posts

146 months

Friday 6th September 2019
quotequote all
Has he not been more specific about the light? Normally it would have a tad more detail.
I'm on my 2nd Monaro and neither ever had a dash light on, so not its not normal.
He needs to get it plugged in and checked out, might be a simple fault. I'd probably look at another.
Is it a standard car? Or a highly modified car?

RipGMH

285 posts

64 months

Friday 6th September 2019
quotequote all
Agree with others, not normal and therefore some risk.

The check engine light can be an O2 sensor which is common enough on higher mileage and if the oil is too thick

S47

Original Poster:

1,325 posts

186 months

Friday 6th September 2019
quotequote all
Standard LS1 - I'll ask for more details he said it was a red light - he also says the alarm works properly though hence my confusion??

selym

9,556 posts

177 months

Friday 6th September 2019
quotequote all
Where are you/is it? Someone might be able to pop over with a scanner or Efilive.

S47

Original Poster:

1,325 posts

186 months

Friday 6th September 2019
quotequote all
Asked seller about this warning light - he says the redLight dash symbol is a 'car with a padlock' on it tits under the Temperature Gauge?? Seller seems genuine, Car is in Wiltshire, was hoping to view it over weekend.
Thanks fior your repliesthumbup



Lincsls1

3,416 posts

146 months

Friday 6th September 2019
quotequote all
Yes, sounds like the immobiliser light. Weird one.
Good luck with the hunt! Keep us posted. smile

RipGMH

285 posts

64 months

Friday 6th September 2019
quotequote all
Try clearing it two ways.

1. Press the unlock button twice in a row prior to starting.
2. Disconnect the battery, wait a few minutes, then reconnect. When doing this check and clean the terminals of corrosion. Then when starting the car check the voltage of the battery. An almost died battery can cause some electrical faults,

S47

Original Poster:

1,325 posts

186 months

Friday 6th September 2019
quotequote all
Owner says he thinks light came on, and has stayed on after he locked the car with the bonnet open - Is this plausible & possible??
Would disconnecting the 12v batttery for a few minutes 'REBOOT' the whole alarm system and switch light off?
I'm no electrical geeek so any suggestions on this one are welcomesmile
TA

S47

Original Poster:

1,325 posts

186 months

Friday 6th September 2019
quotequote all
RipGMH
The double press then starting didn't work, He's gonna disconnect batttery and let me know resultssmile

RipGMH

285 posts

64 months

Friday 6th September 2019
quotequote all

Try the same with the second key. Lock wait 30sec, unlock twice, start.

Disconnecting the battery can reset the fault code in the ECU. The immobiliser is meant to disarm and light come off when you unlock door. It then comes back on after 10sec if car is not started.

Then when you engage the key and turn the ignition the immobiliser should disarm and light stay off.

When did owner last change the battery? If more than a few years old might need replacing. Voltmeter across it should give you an idea of charge.

If you can’t get rid of it as someone mentioned you want the fault codes read, and auto election should be able to. Without one you can hold menu + set when turning on ignition and the display will go into diagnostic mode, then cycling setting to check battery charge and fault codes, google vz diagnostic mode

I’d be worried if not a simple fault it could be a ECU fault.

S47

Original Poster:

1,325 posts

186 months

Friday 6th September 2019
quotequote all
RipGMH
Disconnecting battery and 'reboot' didn't work, car owner is now saying the light was on when he bought car off John Bull? at Elite motors who are supposed to be well known Monaro dealers? John Bull is supposed to have told him when he bought car that it was nothing to worry about??? \not certain I'd have bought a car in these circumstances even though it was a dealer telling me this.
Current owner has had car 2 years and the light has been on constantly during this period without causing him any problems - owner has suggested I phone this John Bull and ask him about it?? Have you heard of John Bull or [with a name like JB do you think it's a windup'.
It's a shame coz I thought I'd found the car that I was looking for, Oh well that's lifesmile
I've told the owner about this PH thread maybe he'll get problem sorted and give me a call.
thanks for your help on thisthumbup

Edited by S47 on Friday 6th September 19:19

anonymous-user

60 months

Friday 6th September 2019
quotequote all
S47 said:
RipGMH
Disconnecting battery and 'reboot' didn't work, car owner is now saying the light was on when he bought car off John Bull? at Elite motors who are supposed to be well known Monaro dealers? John Bull is supposed to have told him when he bought car that it was nothing to worry about??? \not certain I'd have bought a car in these circumstances even though it was a dealer telling me this.
Current owner has had car 2 years and the light has been on constantly during this period without causing him any problems - owner has suggested I phone this John Bull and ask him about it?? Have you heard of John Bull or [with a name like JB do you think it's a windup'.
It's a shame coz I thought I'd found the car that I was looking for, Oh well that's lifesmile
I've told the owner about this PH thread maybe he'll get problem sorted and give me a call.
thanks for your help on thisthumbup

Edited by S47 on Friday 6th September 19:19
PM PreciousMetal, James. He runs Elite.

RipGMH

285 posts

64 months

Friday 6th September 2019
quotequote all
S47 said:
Current owner has had car 2 years and the light has been on constantly during this period without causing him any problems
that would do my head in and need immediate fixing. A failed immobiliser could leave you stranded.

I’m sure I’m not the only one thinking this, but do you want to buy a car of someone who’s happily driven with a warming light for 2 years?


Wizard1975

18 posts

62 months

Friday 6th September 2019
quotequote all
Hello All,

I am the owner of the car in question which I did buy from James at Elite.
He previously owned this car back in 2006ish then sold it before taking it back in as a part exchange on a yellow vxr8 just prior to me buying it in late 2017.
I did question the light being on at the time, I got the impression that it was a common issue and that the alarm/immobiliser still functioned correctly in spite of it and to be fair the car has been faultless in my ownership and has never let me down. It is also clear that these cars do carry their electrical gremlins!
Also to be fair I did buy the car on the spot as I did not want the 120 miles round trip again so I took it without having a new MOT or service as I was wanted to do this myself, possibly the problem may have been fixed had I waited for it to be prepared fully for sale?
I believe that James is a good honest guy and clearly knows his Monaro's, I hope this thread does not make people think otherwise, hopefully he will see this and give his opinion on the problem.
In the mean time and after the reading some of these comments maybe I have been lucky that the car has not let me down, looks like I have some diagnostic work to do, the car will be removed from sale for the time being, hopefully it can be fixed easily.

Thanks

Neil

S47

Original Poster:

1,325 posts

186 months

Friday 6th September 2019
quotequote all
RipGMH
.>
Yep a red light on would do my head in too, Guess he's not gonna sell the car untill he gets it fixed, but as some others have posted and suggested does he really want to sell it - makes you think twice.


RipGMH

285 posts

64 months

Friday 6th September 2019
quotequote all
Wizard1975 said:
Hello All,

I am the owner of the car in question which I did buy from James at Elite.

Neil
Hi Neil, hopefully it’s an easy fix for you.

What’s actually happening? From the previous posts it sounds like the immobiliser light stays on when you start that car?

More info and we’ll help you narrow it down.

Your right these things do have gremlins, and most issues can be found searching Aus forums

Wizard1975

18 posts

62 months

Friday 6th September 2019
quotequote all
The immobiliser light is on all the time (it never goes out), even with the keys out and the car locked up?
Everything functions correctly, my understanding was that the only problem was the light being on?

RipGMH

285 posts

64 months

Friday 6th September 2019
quotequote all
Light should be on with the key out and engine off. Red Radio light should flash

When you first unlock the light should go off for around 10sec, then come on if the car is not started

When you start the car, it should go off and stay off whilst the car is on

If it stays on at all times the immobiliser may been bypassed and is never on - which is why the car starts even with the light staying on.


Have you tried the dash diagnostic mode to see if any error codes are showing? See here

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aWvgT9wUDlg