Paging the car/bike Clifford alarm gurus

So I made the mistake of letting the Westco battery on the MX5 go flat
again. TBF I had been warned that it just wouldn't be up to coping with
drain from an old Clifford alarm if left for too long without some
outside assistance.

Disconnected it and charged it up again in the approved manner.
Reconnected, resulting in the expected wail from the alarm siren. WTF?,
the plip for the alarm won't disarm it this time. Hastily disconnect
battery again. Aha, the little green LED on the plip isn't flashing when
the buttons are pressed (I never usually use it anyway but they did last
time I tested it).

Off to Maplins this morning for a new 23A 12v mini alkaline battery (and
a LED magnetic inspection lamp as mentioned in another thread, plus a
magnetic pickup tool with a LED light built in[1]).

Install new battery in plip. Still no life from the little green LED.
I'm pretty sure these old style (1997) jobs don't forget the code, and
if they do I would still expect a bit of impotent flashing. Oh ****, the
worst of all worlds. Can't even drive to a Clifford specialist to have
the sodding thing ripped out, as I should have done weeks ago. So I'm
looking at a home visit from a vehicle security specialist, unless
anyone has experience of successfully removing or permanently disabling
one of these. Not even sure which model it is. Just a simple two button
plip, plus a plastic 'key' with three contacts which goes in to a socket
on the dash. Presumably a valet key, but fucknose if it ever worked.

I successfully neutered the horrible OEM alarm/immobiliser on the old
Pug 306, but I was able to find simple and explicit instructions for
that. Attention with an angle grinder might easily render the siren
silent, but probably leave the car immobilised. I'll take the plip to
the nearest Clifford dealer on Monday, but I'm not expecting an easy
fix. Rats! I just fancied a bit of a spin tomorrow.

[1] Natty, but as a result of the LED in the end too big for really
intricate pingfuckit extrication. Handy for old gimmers with bad backs
though.

--
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Pete Fisher at Home: |
| Voxan Roadster Yamaha WR250Z/Supermoto "Old Gimmer's Hillclimber" |
| Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 Morini 350 "Forgotten Error" |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+

 

surely you have AA Homestart or similar on your shonky old fleet?

If not, joining up is probably cheaper than a call out from a specialist.

 

I did somehow fix a spare Clifford 'plip' as you call it. I *think*
the power for the circuit (or maybe just the keyboard) went through
the LED, or something bizzarre like that, so re-flowing a couple of
dodgy joints on or near the LED fixed it.

The one I had was a tad different to the one you describe though: it
had a pracically a small keyboard on it with more functions tha I
could remember how to use.

That alarm was rather more than the tiny battery in a Vitara could
reasonably cope with, too.

 

Hmm, hadn't thought of that. I'll have to check the fine print on the
personal RAC cover. The Footman James insurance policy includes
breakdown cover, but I'll have to check regarding home start.

It would help if I could identify which of the 100+ types it is so that
I could obtain a wiring diagram. At least it hasn't got central locking
to factor in. The nearest dealer is only walking distance, so I'll start
by seeking confirmation that the fob/plip is fubar and seeing if they
can ID the system for me from that. Otherwise a quick google suggests I
could probably get someone to do it at home for 60 quid. Given that I
would have to work on it outside I might well go for that. Anyway, it's
only a toy, no real rush to sort it.



--
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Pete Fisher at Home: |
| Voxan Roadster Yamaha WR250Z/Supermoto "Old Gimmer's Hillclimber" |
| Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 Morini 350 "Forgotten Error" |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+

 

It may be an ACE 100. The manual for that has no illustration, but the
description of the buttons on the plip or fob is similar. Seems it may
be dual channel and that only one of the buttons does the
arming/disarming function. Unfortunately, it doesn't confirm that what
looks like a little green LED should illuminate when pressed or not. I
really can't remember now.

I don't know why the previous owner bothered having it fitted. It has a
coded key immobiliser anyway. Having had my Civic with an alarm broken
in to, in broad daylight on a public car park, I don't really see the
point, except presumably reduced insurance. More trouble than they are
worth on cars that otherwise age gracefully.

--
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Pete Fisher at Home: |
| Voxan Roadster Yamaha WR250Z/Supermoto "Old Gimmer's Hillclimber" |
| Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 Morini 350 "Forgotten Error" |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+

 

I had a Clifford Concept on my MX6. It was a royal PITA, it was ultra
sensitive, and annoyed the street with its vairous pips and beeps from
the proximity alarm.

It never actually went wrong, but I had the fob code to activate
"silent warnings only" off pat after a couple of years of
ownership ...

Paul.