A4 Cab Alarm help

[turbocharged]

Hey guys, does anyone know how to replace / fix the alarm backup battery in an A4 Cab (2003 1.8t) I've looked through the forum and found the link to the TT forums but the boot on the A4 convertible is different.
There's a small circular compartment for rear lights, a 12v cig lighter and a couple of air vents (looks like anyways). Under the main mat where the spare wheel is doesn't show anything interesting bar a metal flat object with a wire going to it... not sure what that is though ?

The problem is the alarm / battery backup alarm goes off in the middle of the night randomly and I can never get it to stop . Tried remote fob lock / unlock, key lock and unlock and even starting the car. It sounds as if it's coming from the driver side rear quarter panel. Also - it's a higher tone beeping noise - not that loud but enough to wake the neighbours.
I can't seem to make the actual alarm go off by locking the car with remote fob - unlocking with key and waiting, however the indicators flash signifying that it should be sounding.
Also noticed that the red light on the door that indicates the car is alarmed, flashes at a faster speed and sometimes stays constantly on.

From all the forum posts I've seen it sounds like the backup battery is dying, but just need confirmation, and help on how to fix it!
Any help is much appreciated before I must go to the Main dealer for £85 diagnostics and apparently £100 for a replacement unit.

Cheers!

A

[bez101]

remove the rear panel you will see it i disconected mine all sorted or you could replace with a new unit

[Issac Hunt]

You can just split them open and replace the battery, get the battery from Maplins or somewhere like that. It is quite a cheap fix if you do it this way.

[turbocharged]

remove the rear panel you will see it i disconected mine all sorted or you could replace with a new unit

Hi - which rear panel? (sorry for the stupid questions)
Are you referring to the panel on the right hand side as you look into the boot? Or the main floor panel in the boot?

Couple of pics in links below showing my boot.

http://85.232.60.41/boot1.jpg

http://85.232.60.41/boot2.jpg

Cheers :-)

[bez101]

its in the left or right not sure what side but defo not floor

[Spr0cket]

Don't waste any more time looking in the boot!

On a cab it resides below the right hand side of the roof stowage box - accesible under the roof stowage cover.

Open the roof partially to get the roof storage box top open but leaving teh actual roof assemly mostly closed. You should then be able to remove some trim poppers and locate in side cavity.

[turbocharged]

Don't waste any more time looking in the boot!

On a cab it resides below the right hand side of the roof stowage box - accesible under the roof stowage cover.

Open the roof partially to get the roof storage box top open but leaving teh actual roof assemly mostly closed. You should then be able to remove some trim poppers and locate in side cavity.

Hi - Sorry it's been a while since I've replied. I've now had this problem fixed. You are absolutely right. For those of you who don't know - the alarm unit with A4 cabriolets (B6 2003 style) is in the roof storage box.

As Spr0cket has said (thanks for that) you must lower the roof halfway down and remove a panel. I however am pants with this sort of thing and would end up breaking something, so paid £160 -inlcuding diagnostics to have a new alarm unit put in. Everything is all good now.
Much appreciation for everybodys help!

One other thing i wanted to mention was the actual alarm sound - does anyone else think the beeping noise is rubbish -what sort of an alarm is this? I've confirmed with numerous other people and A4 owners that this is the actual alarm not the backup alarm. It's a quietish beeping noise. How on earth did Audi manage to sell any cars with that? Shame on them for a poor alarm. Not sure if it's been fixed in the newer models though.

Hope this helps somebody who is in the same situation I was.

Amir

[ace2000_uk]

Hi i have the same probs on my a4 cab.. do i replace the siren or all the alarm unit (or is it the same thing) cheers ..Jay

[turbocharged]

Hi i have the same probs on my a4 cab.. do i replace the siren or all the alarm unit (or is it the same thing) cheers ..Jay

Hi - I ended up replacing the whole alarm unit. Apparently sometimes water can get into it... (it's located in the roof storage compartment) and shorts it.

I paid £160 for diagnostics, new parts and fitting, within 2 days.
It's cheaper than taking it to a dealer.

You can attempt to do it yourself by changing some parts, but I didn't want to mess it up.

Kind Regards,

Amir

[Spr0cket]

The alarm control electronics are integrated within the convenience electronics and located under left hand front floor trim, under passenger legs in RHD car.
The sounder located under the roof stowage area is a battery backed siren - which can typically be repaired or replaced.

Not seen water ingress cause damage - though it's not of course to say it's not possible.