Thanks to scott t and scoobydoo

[munk]

decided to go over and meet benji today to pick up some parts, whilst there stopped for a chat as you do!! (very nice to meet you aswell by the way!! ) any how pulls up turns off the car and the nattering begins, little while later jump back in..none starter,never had a problem before and deciding after a few checks,a ride to halfords and new fob battery,its an imobiliser issue !! calls the rac.. untill a call to scott where we find out that its no good to park near police stations with sigma alarms!! off to the garage for a tow rope and pulled a couple of hundred yards up the road by benji..she was alive again and on my merry way back home!! thanks very much to you both!! true forum spirit!

[Rdlangy1]

Originally Posted by munk

decided to go over and meet benji today to pick up some parts, whilst there stopped for a chat as you do!! (very nice to meet you aswell by the way!! ) any how pulls up turns off the car and the nattering begins, little while later jump back in..none starter,never had a problem before and deciding after a few checks,a ride to halfords and new fob battery,its an imobiliser issue !! calls the rac.. untill a call to scott where we find out that its no good to park near police stations with sigma alarms!! off to the garage for a tow rope and pulled a couple of hundred yards up the road by benji..she was alive again and on my merry way back home!! thanks very much to you both!! true forum spirit!

Ok police stations and sigma alarms - explaination? Assuming it's something to do with their radio frequency? Glad the guys managed to get u moving again and glad to see the SES Spirit is alive and kicking

[Banstead Stig]

Yeah, it's not just police stations. Other radio masts can cause the same issue.

My 350Z suffered once. Luckily, shoving it 20 yards was enough!

[Rdlangy1]

Originally Posted by Banstead Stig

Yeah, it's not just police stations. Other radio masts can cause the same issue.

My 350Z suffered once. Luckily, shoving it 20 yards was enough!

Well I never knew that!! Learn something new everyday. Glad it was an easy fix

[NL03Scooby]

Never heard of anything like this before, who would have thought such a simple thing would cause such hassle!

I can only imagine your confusion if Scott asked if you were parked near to a Police Station...

[munk]

Its unusaul for me to be outside one rather than inside one..

Serious though its something to do with radio frequencie emitted.

Really glad of the help and advise!!

[Scott.T]

No problem Marcus.
Two hotpots in the area are Bexhill police station which used to cause havoc with Subaru owners filling up when there used to be a petrol station opposite and the repeater mast up by Beachy Head pub. This has caught Keith out a couple of times at Subaru meets.

I know Benji used to live near Hastings police station so that was the first thing I asked. Strange that he has moved to near Bexhill police station. I was pretty sure of the cause once the location was confirmed.

I think the frequency of the mast makes the alarm think it's being scanned, so for security it shuts down the receiver. You can override it with the keypad in the glove box if you know the code.

[Rdlangy1]

Police must think there luck has changed with all these scoobs breaking down outside - pmsl

[scotty]

I would be changing the alarm system now that you know what causes the problem .

[Red Baron]

There's an upgraded alarm module available but it's easier (and cheaper) to just use the keypad if it happens again. There was a guy called Sigma Sam that had worked with Subaru to design the install on the UK cars, I found a load of posts when I had a problem the other day, may have been on SIDC but I can't seem to access them now to post the link.

[Rdlangy1]

I remember reading up about him when I was trying to source new key fobs - couldn't make any contact tho. I'd love to be able to find out the code for my keypad just encase things went wrong with the fob etc

[Red Baron]

From what I could make out he no longer works for them, he was directing people to the company that is now responsible for support in the UK which I believe may be Scorpion.

Found the link:

http://www.scoobynet.com/security-16...m-problem.html

[scooby doo]

No worries glad wasn't a fault with the car itself ,, spoke to another buddy his p1 did the exact same thing in the exact same spot!!! Id never known as the ra was so basic it didn't have even central locking lol ,
Cracking looking P1 too no envey at all

[Banstead Stig]

Originally Posted by Rdlangy1

I remember reading up about him when I was trying to source new key fobs - couldn't make any contact tho. I'd love to be able to find out the code for my keypad just encase things went wrong with the fob etc

You should be able get that from Subaru UK/IM Group if it's not amongst your paperwork.

[555_Si]

Only should happen on classics as newage had the upgraded alarm inbelieve.

[scotty]

Originally Posted by 555_Si

Only should happen on classics as newage had the upgraded alarm inbelieve.

Never had that problem on my 3 classics lol .

[munk]

Originally Posted by scotty

I would be changing the alarm system now that you know what causes the problem .

quite happily say that im not intending on parking there again buddy!! and will dig out the override code, for if it ever happens again,iv only ever had it happend once in this car, and my old RA did similar up in horsham next to the local nick, should have realised i suppose.

[SpecB]

You can program a new code if you have a working fob. I've got the info somewhere!

[thepieman]

Radio Lock Out:
All alarm systems manufactured for use in the UK in ’99 were required to operate on the frequency of 433MHz. Subsequently, in late 2000, the government allowed the introduction of the “Tetra” radio network for telecommunications companies, the military, police, fire and ambulance services etc, which was allocated the 420-430MHz bandwidths.

Although not exactly the same frequency, these “Tetra” transmitters are licensed and so are allowed to operate at around 20,000 watts, compared with the alarm systems 0.5 watt radio key (necessary so that your radio keys remain exempt from annual licensing fees!)

As a result, when you are near a transmitting “Tetra” mast you can get a degree of “bleed over” as their signal is so much stronger and this can swamp the transmission from the radio key.

This problem is not exclusive to this system and can occur on any number of manufacturers systems produced prior to 2001.

The receiver boards were redesigned to focus more accurately on the 433.92HHz frequency as soon as this problem became evident, however, systems manufactured before 2001, with the older receiver boards that may have experienced this problem, are not faulty and were not considered eligible for warranty.
However, as a goodwill measure, customers who suffered from “exceptional” radio lock-out (ie lived or worked below a mast) were offered an upgraded receiver board whilst the vehicle was still within the warranty period.

This goodwill period was extended for a further 12 months after the 3 year warranty period expired, but ended in December 2004.
The later ECUs are available from Subaru, but these are now chargeable (part number SACC 3465 and will be IRO £70). If the problem only occurs occasionally then getting to grips with the PIN overide is your most cost effective option, but if it is a regular occurance then the the convenience may be worth the £70.

Avoidance:
There are a few points that should be remembered:

- All vehicles that passed through the import centre from January 2001 are equipped with the latest receiver boards that are "Tetra Resistant" and so should not experience this problem.

- A keypad is fitted to ALL models with the UK standard fit alarm system (from 99 MY) as an emergency override, in the event of loss, damage, flat radio key battery etc. (The keypad also allows the driver to access a number of features and is a complete programming tool for the dealers) and so pushing/recovery of vehicle’s should not be necessary provided you know your override PIN and ow to operate the keypad.

- The keypad can NOT be affected by "Radio Lock-Out", as it is hard wired into the system and does not rely on a radio transmission.

Keypad Use:
- The keypad allows only THREE PIN attempts and then will "Lock Up" if an incorrect number is entered a third time. This is a secuity feature to prevent random attempts at steeling the vehicle, however, it is also an inconvenience if you are suffering "Radio Lock Out" and enter your PIN incorrectly.

- The PIN number should not be entered too quickly or too slowly - when a digit has been pressed the small LED built into the keypad will illuminate briefly as confirmation and only then should the next digit be entered.

If an incorrect digit is pressed or the delay between entering digits exceeds10 seconds, then the LED above the keypad will flash rapidly and the PIN attempt should be aborted and started again after 30 seconds.

Due to the small size of the keypad some users may find a rubber tipped pencil easier to use. DO NOT use the sharp tip of a ball point pen etc, or press excessively hard on the keypad as this will only damage the membrane and cause a digit to remain pressed, causing a continual incorrect PIN.

Summary:
My advice is to read the alarm system's instruction manual and practice entering the PIN before you need it. If you do not know your PIN, or bought the car second hand (in which case the PIN may have been changed by the previous owner) you can change the PIN to one of your own choosing, using the keypad, provided that you have a working Radio Key.

Changing your PIN:
- Arm and then Disarm the system using a working Radio Key.
- Within 30 seconds of disarming, type into the keypad: *17856*92*wxyz*wxyz# (where wxyz is your new PIN code)
- Arm the system with the Radio Key
- You should now be able to disarm the system using the new PIN code

Ensure your keypad is operational before you need it on a dark night!
If this is an intermitent problem, use of the keypad should overcome the problem. However, if the problem is more frequent it may be worth considering a new control unit - An SACC 3465 should cost in the region of £70 from a Subaru dealer and your existing keys can still be used.
Although installation may take around 30 minutes, do not pay over the odds for programming the system, as this can be done in 5 minutes using the keypad.

[555_Si]

Thanks Ron, thats what i have read before, very useful

[Rdlangy1]

Super! I'll change mine later

[munk]

Spot on that man!! was going to.have a hunt around the paperwork later for a code aswell.

[Scott.T]

Originally Posted by thepieman

Radio Lock Out:
All alarm systems manufactured for use in the UK in ’99 were required to operate on the frequency of 433MHz. Subsequently, in late 2000, the government allowed the introduction of the “Tetra” radio network for telecommunications companies, the military, police, fire and ambulance services etc, which was allocated the 420-430MHz bandwidths.

Although not exactly the same frequency, these “Tetra” transmitters are licensed and so are allowed to operate at around 20,000 watts, compared with the alarm systems 0.5 watt radio key (necessary so that your radio keys remain exempt from annual licensing fees!)

As a result, when you are near a transmitting “Tetra” mast you can get a degree of “bleed over” as their signal is so much stronger and this can swamp the transmission from the radio key.

This problem is not exclusive to this system and can occur on any number of manufacturers systems produced prior to 2001.

The receiver boards were redesigned to focus more accurately on the 433.92HHz frequency as soon as this problem became evident, however, systems manufactured before 2001, with the older receiver boards that may have experienced this problem, are not faulty and were not considered eligible for warranty.
However, as a goodwill measure, customers who suffered from “exceptional” radio lock-out (ie lived or worked below a mast) were offered an upgraded receiver board whilst the vehicle was still within the warranty period.

This goodwill period was extended for a further 12 months after the 3 year warranty period expired, but ended in December 2004.
The later ECUs are available from Subaru, but these are now chargeable (part number SACC 3465 and will be IRO £70). If the problem only occurs occasionally then getting to grips with the PIN overide is your most cost effective option, but if it is a regular occurance then the the convenience may be worth the £70.

Avoidance:
There are a few points that should be remembered:

- All vehicles that passed through the import centre from January 2001 are equipped with the latest receiver boards that are "Tetra Resistant" and so should not experience this problem.

- A keypad is fitted to ALL models with the UK standard fit alarm system (from 99 MY) as an emergency override, in the event of loss, damage, flat radio key battery etc. (The keypad also allows the driver to access a number of features and is a complete programming tool for the dealers) and so pushing/recovery of vehicle’s should not be necessary provided you know your override PIN and ow to operate the keypad.

- The keypad can NOT be affected by "Radio Lock-Out", as it is hard wired into the system and does not rely on a radio transmission.

Keypad Use:
- The keypad allows only THREE PIN attempts and then will "Lock Up" if an incorrect number is entered a third time. This is a secuity feature to prevent random attempts at steeling the vehicle, however, it is also an inconvenience if you are suffering "Radio Lock Out" and enter your PIN incorrectly.

- The PIN number should not be entered too quickly or too slowly - when a digit has been pressed the small LED built into the keypad will illuminate briefly as confirmation and only then should the next digit be entered.

If an incorrect digit is pressed or the delay between entering digits exceeds10 seconds, then the LED above the keypad will flash rapidly and the PIN attempt should be aborted and started again after 30 seconds.

Due to the small size of the keypad some users may find a rubber tipped pencil easier to use. DO NOT use the sharp tip of a ball point pen etc, or press excessively hard on the keypad as this will only damage the membrane and cause a digit to remain pressed, causing a continual incorrect PIN.

Summary:
My advice is to read the alarm system's instruction manual and practice entering the PIN before you need it. If you do not know your PIN, or bought the car second hand (in which case the PIN may have been changed by the previous owner) you can change the PIN to one of your own choosing, using the keypad, provided that you have a working Radio Key.

Changing your PIN:
- Arm and then Disarm the system using a working Radio Key.
- Within 30 seconds of disarming, type into the keypad: *17856*92*wxyz*wxyz# (where wxyz is your new PIN code)
- Arm the system with the Radio Key
- You should now be able to disarm the system using the new PIN code

Ensure your keypad is operational before you need it on a dark night!
If this is an intermitent problem, use of the keypad should overcome the problem. However, if the problem is more frequent it may be worth considering a new control unit - An SACC 3465 should cost in the region of £70 from a Subaru dealer and your existing keys can still be used.
Although installation may take around 30 minutes, do not pay over the odds for programming the system, as this can be done in 5 minutes using the keypad.

Good info that, but mines a UK spec Dutch import, in the days when the waiting list was long and the European prices were cheaper.
Therefore it didn't have a Sigma fitted by Subaru UK.

[Red Baron]

Next time I'll copy and paste the content of the link rather than the link itself.

[munk]

Originally Posted by Red Baron

Next time I'll copy and paste the content of the link rather than the link itself.

maybe a plan.. i totally over looked the fact youd put up a link...

[iPond]

Originally Posted by 555_Si

Only should happen on classics as newage had the upgraded alarm inbelieve.

Applies to Bugs also. Suffered this problem on a daily basis due to a mast near my house, used to have to use to the keypad pretty much whenever at home as the fob would only work once in a blue moon! Real pain the arse.

So happy when I bought the Blob and discovered I no longer suffered this!