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

[Ilya]

So...a few days ago my alarm went off at 7:30AM and then again at 7:35AM. I was pissed lol. I disconnected the battery in anger and left it off for like 12-13hrs. Later that evening, at like 11PM, it went off again. This time I yanked the 'alarm horn/de-icer' relay from the relay box in the motor (it's been in the arm rest for like a week).

Well, yesterday at 4AM the alarm went off again.

HOW!? THERE IS NO ALARM RELAY!!!!

Can someone explain this to me? WTH is going on with my car? Car has been a model of reliability since I purchased it with 42kmi on the clock (it now has 111k).

I feel like if I go to Infiniti they'll charge me to diagnose only to tell me there is nothing wrong with my car. All of the door jam 'switches' work (push in, lights go off, let go, lights go on)...

[stm37s]

Sorry to hear about the Blair Witch project you got going on their, lol. If you take it to the dealership, TRUST ME, you will get CHARGED. Besides everything you have done already, I don't know what else to tell you except call a PRIEST!!

[Larz]

Scratches his head .... Well, let's ASSume that maybe there is a way for the alarm to still function when the relay is missing. Possible secondary power supply. If the alarm is sounding, it has to be an electrical issue. I would go about the engine bay and check battery connections, look for loose fuses, maybe loose wires, no idea where the alarm connects, but check that for a loose wire or harness, etc. Failing that, maybe hang a wreath of garlic from the rear view mirror and shove a bible in the glove box, LOL. You may need to bite the apple and take it in for the techs to poke at it. Probably about $100 charge if not more, but getting a sound sleep might be worth it.
I'm very curious to see how this ends up.

[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? can you make the alarm go off using the panic button on the key fob?
can you stop the alarm with the key fob?

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

[pedsemdoc]

BTW, looking at the FSM for the security system, an impact sensor was not listed for the M

May want to check HOOD and TRUNK switches as well...
if those are okay, could be a prob with BCM or IPDM E/R based on FSM

[Ilya]

My battery is 2.5 years old (replace on 3/5/16 @ 72kmi, car is now at 111kmi). My keyfobs seem to work fine and those batteries are probably a year old. Usually the key is too far from the car so I can't imagine that's malfunctioning and triggering the alarm. I CAN however stop the alarm with my fob.

I'm 99.8% sure we don't have any type of impact sensor.

If I push in the door jam switches the lights behave as expected so I think those are okay. Not sure how to test the hood switch or trunk switch though...

BCM should be relatively new as that was replaced by Infiniti as part of my LED harness meltdown issue...

I locked the car last night and it was fine. Gonna leave it locked tonight and see. It rained last night so I don't it's weather related (someone mentioned it could be cause of moisture/rain).

I'm getting close to just having to fork over the diagnostic fee but I can probably guarantee they'll just tell me they can't replicate the issue. That's about all the good the dealer is good for with issues like this. Probably might get more benefit of just lighting $100 on fire...

[DoN_BLaZe34]

I wouldn't take the car in until you can definitively say when the alarm is going off. To your point from earlier, they will likely tell you that they cannot replicate the issue, total waste of money. I know it's not the answer you want, just my opinion.

[Ilya]

Just went off twice in 20 minutes while I was working...ugh lol. I mean there is an outside chance my car battery is bad. Don't they only last like 3-4 years?

[DoN_BLaZe34]

Insane.

Have you gotten your battery tested lately? I can't see how the two are related but it doesn't hurt to get it checked to rule it out.

[EdBwoy]

Just went off twice in 20 minutes while I was working...

What were the conditions - what time of day, ambient temperature, rainy, windy... etc?
Also, do you have the technology package? Where do you park your car?

[Ilya]

Insane.

Have you gotten your battery tested lately? I can't see how the two are related but it doesn't hurt to get it checked to rule it out.

I have not had it tested lately. I'm leaving for Europe on Saturday so I'll likely store the car in the garage with the battery disconnected as to not piss of the neighbors while I'm gone for 3 weeks...

I wonder how long it'd stay beeping if left unattended lol...surely not the entire 3 weeks

Just went off twice in 20 minutes while I was working...

What were the conditions - what time of day, ambient temperature, rainy, windy... etc?
Also, do you have the technology package? Where do you park your car?

It was around 4:15PM EST. Car is parked outside to the side of my building (I live in an Apartment) about 50ft from my unit (2nd floor, first floor is all garages - my bike is in my garage so car stays outside lol). Plenty of walls from where the fob usually sits near the entrance and I'd have to walk over to a window in order to trigger the alarm or lock the car, etc.

It rained earlier but has been pretty breezy all day with a few gusts.

As far as I know, I have all of the packages available. Tech, Premium and Deluxe Touring (ICC, 16 speakers, special java interior, AFS, etc.).

[EdBwoy]

Would you say there is a lot of traffic in front of the car around that time? Foot, vehicle... Whatever. Wizardry like what you're experiencing will be attacked from any angle possible. Lol

[Ilya]

Would you say there is a lot of traffic in front of the car around that time? Foot, vehicle... Whatever. Wizardry like what you're experiencing will be attacked from any angle possible. Lol

hahah...nah, it's in a quiet part. So far this has happened today at 4:15 and like 4:25 and then a few days ago at 7AM and one or two times at like 3AM. It's been fine for a few days prior to today.

It's the strangest thing...I plan to dig into it after I get back from vacation but dang...

[Ilya]

I. DO. NOT. UNDERSTAND.

Car woke me up 4 times in 20 minutes today starting at 7:30AM (2nd time this has happened at 7:30). I finally got pissed and went outside and disconnected the battery.

I don't understand how the horn still works considering I pulled the "Alarm Horn De-Icer" relay like 2 weeks ago. Is there another fuse/relay for the alarm that I missed?

[Ilya]

Does anyone know where hood switch is located? I don't recall ever seeing one...but maybe I did something to it when I removed my bumper to switch my HID ballasts?

It's referred to in the SEC section of the FSM but I don't know where it actually is located.

[RonnyMills]

https://youtu.be/9aU5l2e9YlQ

[Ilya]

lol...now I'm worried.

[CRV_33]

My battery is 2.5 years old (replace on 3/5/16 @ 72kmi, car is now at 111kmi)....BCM should be relatively new as that was replaced by Infiniti as part of my LED harness meltdown issue...

You had an LED harness meltdown?

[Ilya]

My battery is 2.5 years old (replace on 3/5/16 @ 72kmi, car is now at 111kmi)....BCM should be relatively new as that was replaced by Infiniti as part of my LED harness meltdown issue...

You had an LED harness meltdown?

Yeah fam. **** was wild lol. Cost like $5,500 in damage but luckily I still had warranty. I shorted out the BCM, harness, subharness and melted a connector trying to install some LED bulbs in the footwell lol.

someone-help-i-keep-breaking-my-new-car ... D#p6679002

[CRV_33]

You had an LED harness meltdown?

Yeah fam. **** was wild lol. Cost like $5,500 in damage but luckily I still had warranty. I shorted out the BCM, harness, subharness and melted a connector trying to install some LED bulbs in the footwell lol.

someone-help-i-keep-breaking-my-new-car ... D#p6679002

Looks like I know what I am doing this holiday weekend, removing all the interior LED bulbs i installed when i first bought the car.

[Ilya]

Lol you're fine. Just if you do any work, ALWAYS DISCONNECT THE BATTERY! lol.

[brandish]

I'm not sure if this will help but maybe watch this video and give it a shot
https://youtu.be/vmOY-fygOrA

[Big_Tone]

I had this issue with my car back in January. It started just like yours with the alarm going off for no reason. Then one day I got into the car and the ignition sensor wouldn't recognize my key. It was very odd. I was a good 50 miles away from home and had to have the car towed to the nearest dealership. I was told that I needed to have the ignition sensor replaced. Thankfully it was under warranty. Then, about a month or so later the sensor that warns you that the door is open wouldn't turn off when the door closed, even though it was. I took it to a different dealership, but they couldn't figure out what it was. after a couple days it stopped and hasn't happened since. I think with the last issue the car was probably still in some program/diagnostic status that wasn't properly closed from the original ignition sensor problem.

[Ilya]

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!

[Ilya]

I'm not sure if this will help but maybe watch this video and give it a shot
https://youtu.be/vmOY-fygOrA

I'll try lubing all of the switches but I asked earlier if anyone knew where the hood switch was located...anyone?

This issue seemed to start right around the I removed the bumper to replace my HID ballasts...wondering if I did something to the hood switch in the process but I have no idea where it's located.

[Larz]

I'vs been searching EVERY category of the 2009 FSM that I downloaded. It wasn't included in the alarm the body, the int / ext, or instrument panel sections. Now I'm searching less likely sections of the FSM hoping that if I can locate the switch for my year, yours may be in the same spot or nearby.
I also tried to find it at infiniti parts online but they have no listing for a hood switch and nothing shows up under hood. I'm looking thru parts for engine compartment to see if maybe it's listed in there.
This is a compete head scratcher !

IF you have the FSM for your year ... check under "BL" - body lock and security system.

Meanwhile. I was able to find pics of the hood switch / sensors in other Infiniti models online. It might need cleaning or replacement - not an expensive part.
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[Ilya]

The 11 FSM seems to mention it but I have never seen such a switch in the engine compartment of a Y50 or Y51. My Nissan Maximas had the kind in the images. I'm starting to think there isn't one in the M so when I get back in town I'll lube the door ones and trunk one and hope that does it. Otherwise I'll have to investigate maybe it being the battery, ignition sensor, etc.

[Larz]

You may be right. In my FSM, it talks about checking voltage in the 'hood switch' but shows no pic or location for it. The pics above are from a G325 and a Z350.
On our GM SUV, it was attached to the underside of the actual hood latch with it's own clips and if you didn't know it, you'd never find it. The dealer replaced it cuz the 'hood open' light kept coming on.
I think it best to follow your suspicion and check the trunk and doors.
Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

[Ilya]

That's another good point...we don't have a hood open notification, just trunk and doors so this is another sign that we don't have such a switch. Weird that the FSM references it.

[EdBwoy]

There might be a hood switch integrated into the latch like the trunk & maybe rear doors. I am almost a thousand miles from my m56 to confirm.

There might be no light/alarm warning for it based on the assumption that it should be visibly evident.
One way to check if there is one is roll your window down and lock the car... wait till the security light comes on. Reach in and pop your hood then go to the front and open it.
You should know very loud and clear if the hood is integrated in the security system.

... If it does alarm based on the hood, I'd now test it. Lock and wait for the car to arm, then push/pull on the hood to see if something is loose/sensitive enough to cause intermittent issues when it's windy outside.
PSA: No need to ever slam the hood. It can be gently placed down and pushed firmly over the front corners and it will lock.