Cabin interior motion detectors

[Fangster]

Hi there, I had my alarm screaming at a motel at 1am not long back. Didn't I get some comments when I packed up to go. I believe a cricket got in the car when we had stopped that evening and was jumping around inside at 1am. I read a US post by a guy who had a moth inside the cabin that triggered the alarm.
My question is that can the sensors be deactivated using FordScan (as I have it on my laptop)(and the required USB to OBD cable) or would it be simpler to cover them with tape? I am aware of the centre screen message prompt to isolate them if someone is sitting in the car, but this is no good when crickets get in and jump around at 1am. TIA. Cheers Rick.

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[PKs]

You may know already but if you select reduced guard when turning off the car you won't have that problem. I do this whenever I am leaving the car. I too learnt the hard way early on.

 

[Fangster]

Ok thanks PKs. I just thought that the reduced guard when selected was for when say someone wanted to sit in the locked car and this selection isolated the sensors until the driver returned and opened up. Mind you, I don't particularly want to park and lock my car without full security but when what happened to me at the motel could've been at 10am or some respectable hour. Thanks again.

 

[PKs]

Rick. The reduced guard still allows the sensors to alarm if there is a break in or the car is lifted or bumped.
You never know when a fly, moth or spider enters until that full guard alarm goes off.

 

[Fangster]

Yep. The Mustang is the first for me with its security, especially the interior motion sensors. I kind of figured that, hey hang on, if reduced guard is selected, the door open will set if off anyway. (The thief has to get in somehow to drive off). Someone has to get inside and move around to set the inside motion detector, so maybe it's an overkill? Am I right or does the reduced guard deactivate the door opening also. I could try it but would have to go out of town as I live in the quietest flat complex in town.

 

[petronix]

I've had the alarm go off in my garage several times when walking closely past it with the windows down with the car not even locked. I then have to run for the remote to stop it. Kind of annoying.

 

[Fangster]

Having said that it makes me think to try the putting tape over the sensors to see what happens as I don't usually select reduced guard before exiting the car. I still think they are another gimmick as I stated that the perimeter alarm will sound when the door is open.

 

[PKs]

Having said that it makes me think to try the putting tape over the sensors to see what happens as I don't usually select reduced guard before exiting the car. I still think they are another gimmick as I stated that the perimeter alarm will sound when the door is open.

I know that on reduced guard the alarm will go off if the car is jacked up. I have not tried to "break" in to test. I don't know how to do that without actually breaking anything.
I accept having to switch it to reduced guard same as I have to accept switching the drive mode each time the car is restarted.
If you come up with a solution let us know.

 

[Fangster]

G'day PKs. I've read the Owner's Manual and have come to the following conclusions which may solve the dilemma of the alarm.
In my (Ecoboost) book (possibly different to the GT one) but even so in the index under Anti-theft Alarm, Vehicles With - (pg 42) it states that Full and Reduced Guard only applies to the interior sensors. The Perimeter Alarm (doors, bonnet, boot) is separate and will sound irrespective of the Guard selection. Like I said, a thief would have to open a door to get in and the perimeter alarm will sound first. The way I figured it was that it wasn't advisable to lock the car with passengers, animals or other moving objects (moths, crickets) whilst in Full Guard (has that written under the warning triangle on the page). They got that right! So at the end of the day, I still think the motion sensors are "novel". Yeah sure, the more anti theft devices the better to stop our cars getting stolen but it seems like a second line of defence thereafter the doors. I think if anything, that when the car is turned off that it should stay in reduced and not full. Then if the car is parked in a dubious place, the choice should be to select it to full and have the extra protection. The page also mentions to "do not cover up the interior lamp unit sensors". I still may try when out of town next where I can make some noise, not here at home. Also not related to the interior sensors, whatever you do, don't disconnect the main battery with the car locked and the bonnet open. Man that's noisy as the alarm system runs on its own separate battery. Did that once when we were going away for a few months and didn't want the battery draining, so had to leave it unlocked in the garage. (My Ecoboost's battery drains if the car isn't driven for a fortnight and don't want to leave a trickle charger on and return to a burned down house!).
Oh also, my book makes no mention of a levelling or jacking up alarm. Maybe the Ecoboost isn't worth towing away lol. Cheers Rick.

 

[Ozcraig]

I've had the alarm go off in my garage several times when walking closely past it with the windows down with the car not even locked. I then have to run for the remote to stop it. Kind of annoying.

Yes, can confirm that this definitely happens.

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