Is Alarm system fitted to the 06 Passat effective?

**mac500** · 13-09-2007,09:35 PM

Does the anti theft alarm system fitted to the 06 Passat provide proper protection?
Since purchasing my new Passat in March 06 I have endeavoured to set off the alarm and have not succeeded and the VW Dealer could not do so either. Apparently all the diagnostic tests carried out on the system are normal yet the alarm will not activate. I am now informed that VW assert that in order to avoid false alarms the alarm system fitted to the 06 Passat is designed to activate by a change of air pressure within the car as would, according to VW, occur if a thief broke a window. Locking oneself within the car and swinging one’s arms about would only move the air about within the cab without changing the air pressure and, therefore, would not activate the alarm. That is what I have been told. The functionality of the system has still not been demonstrated.
Having had a car stolen and written off about 10 years ago I am not happy with this situation.
I would like to know if other owners of 06 Passats are satisfied with the anti theft alarm system fitted and if they have found a way to activate it (without breaking a window) so as to demonstrate that it is working.
Thank you

**Ben** · 13-09-2007,10:47 PM

I to wondered if my car had an alarm and what it sounded like.

I forund this out by accident

To test.. Lock car as normal, then unlock and keep the unlock button on the fob pressed so that the windows open. pretend you've left something in the car and reach in through the window. This is how i found out i had an alarm and what it sounded like.

Do you have the button on the pillar by your right elbow? mine has 2 functions. one is to turn off the anit tow. If the car is being lifted at the front or rear it lets you know about it unless you turn it off. Turn this feature off also when on a ferry as the pitch of the boat may also activate. The second function is if i leave an animal in the car, I can disable the sensors so that the animal does not attract attention.

**mac500** · 14-09-2007,02:46 PM

Thanks Golfmk5GTTDI

The test you describe worked on earlier models and, I am told, on the 07 Passat but it does not trigger the alarm on the 06 Passat. At least not on my car. The VW owners manual lists 10 actions that should trigger the alarm if carried out when the car is locked. None of them appear to work on my car. That is why I am anxious to hear if other owners of 06 Passats have the same problem. If so, are they satisfied that their car is adequately protected?
The two buttons, which are provided to deactivate the interior monitoring system and the anti-tow alarm, light up when pressed but could not be effective on a system if it is already deactivated.
Regards
mac500

**BenR** · 16-09-2007,10:05 AM

Mac500 - does it really matter? If somebody wanted to steal your Passat it would be a professional job for export in a seafreight container or for breaking up, so they would certainly know how to get around the alarm.

Why not lock yourself in and burst a balloon? This would probably produce a shockwave similar to that caused by a breaking window.

**mac500** · 16-09-2007,04:22 PM

Hi BenR
I t does matter to me. I had a car stolen & written off by joy riders who were not professionals. They knew how to defeat/break the steering lock and hot wire the ignition though.
Yes, bursting a balloon inside the car should simulate the effect of breaking a window and for the hell of it I will try it. I’ll be very surprised if it triggers the alarm when waving my arms about and clapping my hands inside the car does not.
I have little doubt that the alarm in my 06 Passat is not working and has never worked. Motion & tilt sensors, Door sensors, Windows & Pressure Sensors & Shock Sensors – None of these are working as far as I can ascertain.
I am still asking other 06 Passat owners to please let me know, whether they have or have not the perceived problems that I seem to be having with the anti theft alarm.
Thanks

sathound · 17-09-2007,09:47 AM

Mac500

I have a May 2007 170PS SEL Estate. In my first week I inadvertently parked the car and locked it with my 2 golden retrievers in the back. Needless to say the alarm triggered within minutes. I realised that I had locked the car by pressing the key twice (deadlocked and alarmed). If I lock the car by pressing the key only once then the alarm does not trigger with the dogs in the car.

**mac500** · 17-09-2007,04:24 PM

Hi Sathound
On the 06 Passat the interior monitoring system is deactivated by selecting a button (provided for that purpose inside the car), before locking the car with the remote control lock button. If the button is not selected one press on the remote control lock button will lock the car and activate the interior monitoring system.
According to VW there were changes made to the alarm system in the 06 Passat range in order to prevent false alarms. I am told that the alarm would be activated if a thief broke a window. I can’t accept that. I feel that I am being fobbed off especially when none of the motion & tilt sensors, shock sensors or Windows & pressure censors appear to be working either. I am also told that these changes to the 06 range were reversed in the 07 Passat range.
I am still hoping to hear from 06 Passat owners.
Thanks for your comment.
Regards

sathound · 18-09-2007,09:48 AM

Certainly I have no internal switch on a May 2007 SEL Estate.

**chrisvw** · 18-09-2007,04:36 PM

Yes, I have the same problem in my 06 Passat. It worked for a week when I had it from new, ie, if I locked it with the window open and reached in, the alarm went off. A week later I locked it with the windows open and later noticed my son and his mate chucking a ball through the open windows. When I tried it, no alarm and nothing I did set it off.

(The alarm does still go off if I lock the door without deadlocking it - press the key button twice- and then open the door).

It went in for the wiper recall and I told them the alarm was faulty and asked them to check it out. When I picked the car up, I was assured they'd sorted it but apparently they haven't as it still doesn't go off with the windows open like it did when I first got it.

I'm planning to tackle VW again when it goes in for its first service shortly.

**mac500** · 19-09-2007,02:09 PM

If your alarm stopped functioning after a week it obviously has developed a fault which may be limited to the interior monitoring system. However, are you sure that the deadlock is not deactivated when checking the alarm by reaching through an open window? As I understand it, with the system working properly, deactivating the deadlock will also deactivate the interior monitoring system and anti tow alarm system but leave the rest of the anti theft alarm system active. That is how it is supposed to work. The alarm being activated by opening a door when the deadlock is deactivated is I believe perfectly normal but the deadlock would have to be activated to enable the interior monitoring system.
I have just checked my car and yes I can set off the alarm by opening a door. I now know that at least there is an alarm fitted in my car. The interior monitoring system is, however, not working whether or not the deadlock is activated.
Apart from the interior monitoring system ,to quote from the VW Booklet 3.1 “The anti-theft alarm triggers an alarm if unauthorised movements are detected around the vehicle” I have tried bouncing my car, rocking it, slapping the roof & doors etc. and I can’t set my alarm off. Motion and Tilt sensors don’t seem to be working. There is something amiss somewhere. Have you any evidence that they are working on your car?.
Many thanks for your reply.
Regards
MAC500