Alarm going off, been sat for 12 months

[ft101]

Hi

04 plate 1.6 vvti, was laid up about 12 months ago and the battery removed. The handbrake was left off with the car in gear.

I've decided to flog it, as it surplus to requirements, so today tried installing battery - the alarm goes off immediately and the fob(s) buttons do not deactivate it. Inserting card into slot does not help either. Disconnecting the battery is the only way to stop the alarm and even then it keeps going for a while as presumably there is a second alarm-specific battery somewhere, which is also flat (it eventually fades out).

The second problem i have is that attempting to push the car to move it to rotate tyres - something is seized, cant budge it. As handbrake was off, and when in neutral what on earth could be siezed to stop it rolling?

Any ideas on these problems please, would be much appreciated.

Thanks
Mike

[davelowe]

Jack up all wheels and check to see if the callipers have seized. Hit them with a blunt instrument if they have. If you cannot get one front wheel to turn while the other rotates in the opposite direction, you have a problem. Starting the engine and pressing the pedal several times might free stuck components.

There will be a constant whine if the bonnet is up and car locked.

Let us know how you get on.

[ft101]

Thanks Dave

Good idea on jacking it up. Its not in an ideal place (brick blockwork driveway) but i'll sort something out.

Any idea on the alarm please? Computer not likely to have erased all its codes is it? The battery was off the car for about 5 months I would say.

Before starting I was going to poor some fresh oil into the oil filler, so the top of the engine at least has a bit of oil - sound sensible? Its at least 12 months since it last ran!

Thanks again
Mike

[tomalamix]

12 months is time to service the car insteed of just top up the oil and put some oil on the filter...

[ft101]

12 months is time to service the car insteed of just top up the oil and put some oil on the filter...

Sort of agree with you. It might get a service if it behaves itself!

What are they worth these days? 04 plate 1.6vvti, privilege, 48k ish, lots of features incl leather, key less etc. £1500 ? Has a few dings. Regulators done by Renault.

Anyone know about the alarm fault though please, is it ok to leave the battery out of these for extended periods? I remember the rover 800 iirc had a problem with that, but surely a '04 would be ok?

Thanks!

[ft101]

Surely somebody knows if its ok to leave the battery out for a long time?

[lee00069]

i dont think there is any issue if u leave the battery out for a long time.
I bought a megane that had been standing with no battery for about 8 months and all was fine .
Put in a new battery and it started up with no issues

[ft101]

i dont think there is any issue if u leave the battery out for a long time.
I bought a megane that had been standing with no battery for about 8 months and all was fine .
Put in a new battery and it started up with no issues

Great, thank you

I'll get a different battery and see if that helps.

Cheers

[lee00069]

i dont think it can be a problem with the battery if its producing 12 Volts.
Maybe try put the key in the ignition and start the car while the alarm is going off?
might go away... unless your key card has stopped working. Also check the battery in the key.

hope that helps!

[davelowe]

I obtained a 4 year old battery and left if for a year. It measured 0.99V without charge. Needless to say, it was dead.