Spurious Alarm

[RNeil]

My 2021 Leaf SV will sometimes beep the horn, as if it is being stolen, when I open the door. I can silence the alarm by stepping on the brake and pressing the start button. This happens when I open an unlocked door or press the door handle button on a locked door. I am certain that I am not pressing the panic button. I measured the 12 volt battery, it was 12.3 volts with the car off. The key fob battery was 3.03 volts.

Does anyone know what is going on?

 

[Cameron]

Gidday R, 12.3V is pretty low for a 12V battery. Ideally, it would be at 12.6 as a minimum. You could/should load test battery to confirm health/state of charge. I purchased from Ali E a small cig lighter accessory that displays the 12V battery charge and also has a couple of USB power outlet/charge points. Alternatively, you could check charge state with lights on, heater on, etc to load battery up and give you an idea of its health. Good luck and please let us know how you go.

 

[Bombastinator2]

I wonder if you’re hitting the “old person lost their car in the parking lot again” button which for some reason is labeled “emergency”

As to spurious alarms in general some starlings have apparently learned to mimic alarm clocks, which I’m told can be very confusing.

 

[RNeil]

I agree that the battery was not fully charged. I don't think that it is low enough to cause a problem, but I will do some more checks.

Some people think that you are old if you have white hair, are retired, or are a grand father. I am all of those, but I am young at heart. The honking and light flashing started exactly when I opened the door or pressed the door button. I know I was not touching the key fob and the starlings in our neighborhood are not that clever.

 

[Chad E. Mo]

As long as the hood is open, I'd disconnect the 12v battery for a solid minute, and reconnect. This can reset some erroneous logic states.

Does arming the alarm from the door button or the keyfob behave as expected?

Also there are descriptions of the various "Vehicle Security System" alarm states in the owners manual.

 

[RNeil]

Yesterday I connected the 12 volt charger. A few hours later it said "full". I drove for about 40 minutes, mostly highway. I parked the car for about 90 minutes. When I was ready to go home, the door was unlocked. When I opened it, the horn started peeping. I drove home with the lights on. When I got home I measured 12.3 volts. I plugged in the J1772 charger and went to bed. This morning I checked the electrolyte level. It was a little low on two cells, but not below the plates. There was some debris floating in it. I measured 12.6 volts.

I have a habit of locking the car with the door button when I park away from home. Many times when I get the spurious alarm the car is unlocked. But I can't be sure that I locked it.

I will try disconnecting the battery for a minute.

 

[Bombastinator2]

Yesterday I connected the 12 volt charger. A few hours later it said "full". I drove for about 40 minutes, mostly highway. I parked the car for about 90 minutes. When I was ready to go home, the door was unlocked. When I opened it, the horn started peeping. I drove home with the lights on. When I got home I measured 12.3 volts. I plugged in the J1772 charger and went to bed. This morning I checked the electrolyte level. It was a little low on two cells, but not below the plates. There was some debris floating in it. I measured 12.6 volts.

I have a habit of locking the car with the door button when I park away from home. Many times when I get the spurious alarm the car is unlocked. But I can't be sure that I locked it.

I will try disconnecting the battery for a minute.

The idiot holding the parts cannon thinks your battery is about to go and maybe check the alternator too *also wants an emoji of an idiot holding a parts cannon*

 

[Chad E. Mo]

Someone needs their meds.

 

[Chad E. Mo]

To validate the usefulness of the 12V reset, please see this comment: https://mynissanleaf.com/threads/re...-cant-get-the-car-to-charge.35744/post-648742

 

[RNeil]

Disconnecting and reconnecting the battery did not help.

I now realize that the driver's door is not being locked. I can press the button on the door handle, or the lock button on the key fob, or the inside door lock button and all doors will lock except the driver's door.

 

[RNeil]

The problem was the door was not locking. The alarm sounded when I opened the unlocked door that the car thought was locked. I fixed it by replacing the lock actuator. I did a new post "no electrical lock (fixed)" with details.