Ghost Alarms - Help Me Find A Solution (Solved: Passenger Side Hood Latch Mechanism)

[Ilya]

Good tests...I will try this in an empty shop parking lot as to not annoy me neighborhood lol.

[Big_Tone]

Tone, do you recall how much the work was for? Just curious on ball park so I can have that in my back pocket if/when I go to my dealer.

I had the 'no key' issue about a year ago and if I recall the dealer just gave me two new fobs...nothing about a sensor. When I get back from Europe at the end of next week I'll look at that work order to see if they changed anything.

Thank you sir!

I don't recall, but I'll check to see if I can find the paperwork. I try to keep everything repair related.

[Big_Tone]

Unfortunately the actual cost isn't listed on the invoice. See below. Not sure if there's anything useful to you here...

[Ilya]

Looks like they replaced your BCM and only that. Mine was also replaced not that long ago when I had the interior light issue...but maybe it's somehow fubared again? Definitely a variable in the equation.

I'll have to lube and figure out how to test the door switches when I get back. When I pushed the door one in by hand the interior lights went off so not sure how else I can test them without a CONSULT device. Might need to go to Infiniti either way and ask my advisor who I've worked with many times to provide me the results shown on the CONSULT.

[Big_Tone]

Looks like they replaced your BCM and only that. Mine was also replaced not that long ago when I had the interior light issue...but maybe it's somehow fubared again? Definitely a variable in the equation.

I'll have to lube and figure out how to test the door switches when I get back. When I pushed the door one in by hand the interior lights went off so not sure how else I can test them without a CONSULT device. Might need to go to Infiniti either way and ask my advisor who I've worked with many times to provide me the results shown on the CONSULT.

There's definitely a connection. It wasn't long after I had this done that my door open warning light went off. I took it to a different dealer that is closer to where I live. They weren't able to pinpoint the problem, but they suspected that the previous dealer didn't properly program the system. They went ahead and cleared the system and reprogrammed both of my keys. I haven't had a problem since.

[Ilya]

Alarm hasn't gone off in a few days since I've been back from Europe so I thought that maybe...just maybe...it being in the garaged with the battery disconnected for 3 weeks somehow fixed the issue. Nope. Put the relay back in and within 20 minutes the alarm went off lol.

I'm fairly certain spraying WD-40 into the door jam sensors and trunk is going to do absolutely nothing and might make the matter worse after thinking about it.

I did notice that my dash shows my fob battery is low (don't recall seeing that before but maybe I was just subconsciously ignoring it?) so I'll try that...but if that fails then I think the dealer is my only option even though there is a high chance they'll charge me and tell me they can't replicate the issue.

[Ilya]

do you have fresh batteries in your key fob? can you make the alarm go off using the panic button on the key fob?
can you stop the alarm with the key fob?

So before I took it to the dealer I figured I'd replace the fob batteries as that is much cheaper and it's been about 16hrs now with no alarm. I thought they were relatively new, but who knows.

I had spare batteries that I had from when I was trying to fix my key not found issue (which dealer gave me two new fobs for because when I tried new batteries it still didn't find them). Maybe dealer gave me old batteries.

The car is parked closest to my home office (that corner of the apartment) and my spare fob is on a shelf in my office. It's possible that THAT battery was dying and was close enough to trigger the alarm, etc. My other fob is typically on the stand by the stairs on the complete opposite end of the apartment and I can't unlock/lock/etc. from that spot unless I go to the porch.

So...wish me luck. So far so good.

[Larz]

It would such a God-send if this simple fix solves the issue !
Keeping toes and fingers crossed for you, mate!

[Ilya]

It's now more than 12hrs since my last post and still no alarm...lol

[pedsemdoc]

so a quick google search of "infiniti alarm going off randomly" had some G owners with similar issues - possibly key fob issues????
do you have fresh batteries in your key fob?

Good ole’ Google if that was really the problem...

[Ilya]

so a quick google search of "infiniti alarm going off randomly" had some G owners with similar issues - possibly key fob issues????
do you have fresh batteries in your key fob?

Good ole’ Google if that was really the problem...

So far so good...still not a peep lol.

[Larz]

It never ceases to amaze me the shenanigans ours cars can get up to due to car batteries, fob batteries, and loose battery connectors.
I reckon that if Infiniti offers a car that can remotely park, and you go to the office allowing the car to go park itself (available in some cars now), you will leave the office at end of day only to find that your car searched for a space, but gave up and went home without you - because the key fob battery was low.

[EdBwoy]

Strange connection there. I'm glad it's going well so far.
I was scared enough to want to address my blinking battery low light, so I replaced my key fob battery lest my car decided to go nuts.

There might be a hood switch integrated into the latch like the trunk & maybe rear doors...

One way to check if there is one is...

Well, anyone curious to know but not bothered enough to do the experiment, I got you covered.
Yes, the hood is integrated into the security system. The car alarm will go off if you pop the hood while the car is armed.
The trunk as expected, cannot be opened since the button will be dead.

[Ilya]

It never ceases to amaze me the shenanigans ours cars can get up to due to car batteries, fob batteries, and loose battery connectors.
I reckon that if Infiniti offers a car that can remotely park, and you go to the office allowing the car to go park itself (available in some cars now), you will leave the office at end of day only to find that your car searched for a space, but gave up and went home without you - because the key fob battery was low.

[Ilya]

Well...alarm went off at 1:45AM. I unlocked the car and left it unlocked.

I guess I need to get it over to the dealer. Ugh.

[satown210]

After having a massive short and melting of wiring and replacement of the BCM, I'd bet that is where your problem lies. BCM controls the alarm and it has all been messed with....

[Ilya]

After having a massive short and melting of wiring and replacement of the BCM, I'd bet that is where your problem lies. BCM controls the alarm and it has all been messed with....

That was all replaced by the dealer...brand new from factory...I'd be hard pressed to think that it's the BCM again.

[satown210]

Yeah but you had a massive failure of the exact item that controls the alarm. Also a direct short of the wiring that leads to the module that controls the alarm......no one else seems to be experiencing random alarms. I'd be leaning towards faulty wiring, bad programming of the BCM, or failure of the replacement BCM.

[Ilya]

I dunno, seems unlikely but so did the alarm randomly sounding hahaha...but I guess Infiniti will tell me when I finally get around to taking it in. Currently working through buying a house (yo people, MUCH STRESS! lol) so the alarm will have to wait.

[Ilya]

FWIW, my alarm has been behaving the last few days but just as an FYI...the reason my horn was still sounding even though I pulled the alarm/de-icer relay near the driver side headlight is because...there is like 3 other relays/fuses for the alarm in the fusebox by the battery lol. I totally forgot about that fusebox because it's under the cover.

Just something to keep an eye on...

[Ilya]

Okay...closing the loop on this. I had another business trip to Chicago last week and didn't want to come back to a dead car in the airport parking lot so I swapped the battery. Before swapping, I had them test it and it was at 68% charge even though I had been driving it for like 35 minutes which seemed odd to me. Got a new Duralast with 750 CCA's (I think) and the alarm hasn't sounded once since including the week when I was in Chicago (came back to a car that started without issue and alarm wasn't going off lol).

Wish they'd put a light on the dash that has a battery icon that shows you if your battery is no longer good enough instead of having people guess on why the car alarm keeps going off.

[pedsemdoc]

is it time for a new car battery? remember funky electrical gremlins when it starts to get weak...

Yessiree - glad you got that sorted out.

[Ilya]

is it time for a new car battery? remember funky electrical gremlins when it starts to get weak...

Yessiree - glad you got that sorted out.

Yep, you called it man. Good work lol.

[Ilya]

I posted too soon, evidently. Car went off last night in the church parking lot while I was inside the building. It was raining. The occurrences are rare now...so might just live with it. Or do you guys think I should get the new battery tested? Maybe I got a dud?

[EdBwoy]

To hell with all that, disconnect the horns and look the other way.
I kid. Well, it's easier to pull the horn relay. At minimum, it will serve as a troubleshooting step. At best it will silence the car.
[Edit: I recall you having pulled a relay in the past. Was it from the relay box in the front left of the engine bay? If yes, I'm semi-serious about disconnecting the horns]

I might have missed it, but when the system "goes off" do your headlights flash and the car becomes unresponsive?

If yes, then you might still need to keep troubleshooting because my suggestions only mask one symptom of the larger problem.

Interesting read: car-horn-keeps-blowing-t619529.html

[Ilya]

I pulled one of the horn fuses behind the driver side headlight. That made the horn sound higher...I then found more fuses by the battery which completely silenced the car but the lights still go on (which is why my battery died at the airport a month ago). The car is still responsive, I can silence, open, lock, etc.

[EdBwoy]

Would you say the occurrences are rare but not random - any correlation with rain and/or humidity?

Then, how far out of the parts and labor warranty are you with regards to the BCM replacement that was done?
Along with that, it might be worth paying the diagnosis fee to a dealership to look into it. At some point, the cost of replacement batteries and the indirect costs of inconvenience will catch up and exceed any savings you're getting by DIYing this.

[Ilya]

Back again - since I started this thread years ago - has anyone ever experienced and solved the 'ghost alarm' issue?

'11 M56x. I've been suffering with 'ghost alarms' for like 7 or 8 years. Just randomly will go off. The only time it doesn't seem to happen is if I leave the car unlocked.

Happens with new battery, new key fob batteries, fob located far from vehicle, fob located close to vehicle, etc.

I do have a Fortin CA remote starter but this was happening even before that was installed. I also have the ECM controlled alternator 'mod' done but this was happening before that was done as well.

I'm at my wits end on how to track this down or fix it.

[VStar650CL]

Since it doesn't happen when the car is unlocked, I have to think the likely culprit is a door switch that's either wet or worn out. The switches aren't expensive, under $25 for OEM and there are clones all over eBay and Amazon for under $10. Part number is 25360-AD000, I'd start by replacing all of them.

[Ilya]

Since it doesn't happen when the car is unlocked, I have to think the likely culprit is a door switch that's either wet or worn out. The switches aren't expensive, under $25 for OEM and there are clones all over eBay and Amazon for under $10. Part number is 25360-AD000, I'd start by replacing all of them.

Cheap enough and after 14 years, might be worth doing. Will try and report back!

EDIT: Found OEM on eBay for $10.62/ea ($21 shipping). Under $70 for all four shipped. Most dealers want between $22-35 + tax and shipping.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/185446552680