Alarm and Superchips = Wacko!

V8EXPLR · #1 (**permalink**) 10-14-2009, 06:51 PM

My truck is in my sig.

When I purchased my truck new in 12/06, I had them leave the PowerCode Security alarm in it. Back in 3/09 or 4/09 my friend gave me a SuperChips Cortex 1950 tuner, which I installed. It was practically brand new, as he only ran it in his '05 F150 for about 3-5 months before trading in his truck.

Now all was fine initially, until about 2 months later the alarm started tripping. The truck would be in the garage and would simply go off. After dealing with the random nature of the trips, the alarm finally stopped arming. So I took the truck to Ford, since it was still under warranty. After 2 visits, they finally determined the alarm module was unresponsive and replaced it.

So now I've had my truck back about 1 month since the module replace. As of Friday (10/09/09), it has started tripping with no reason again. I let this go all weekend, simply turning off the alarm when tripped. But on monday it went off 5 times within a matter of 1/2 an hour so I uninstalled the tuner. It has been 48hrs now and the alarm has not tripped.

Any ideas on why or how the tuner would trip the alarm? Keep in mind the tuner is not attached, simply the program installed. Also, the truck is turned off of course. So I'm wondering how a tuner or this tuner could possibly trip the IT-s, and if it is, what IT-s is it tripping. It's not the door, hood or ignition IT-s.

Thoughts? Suggestions? I have a call into Superchips, but they want me to leave it on stock tune for a week to determine if it trips itself again.

tex25025 · #2 (**permalink**) 10-15-2009, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by V8EXPLR

Now all was fine initially, until about 2 months later the alarm started tripping.

Two months seems like a long time before it would start tripping if it was related to the Cortex. I'm by no means a tuner programmer, so I don't know how "comprehensive" that it is with other modules, but if it was something to do with the base programming, I would figure that it would have started it's strange tripping long before 2 months.

Although I'm also not familiar with the PowerCode alarm system. I have something similar to it with the Viper system, but it isn't tied up with the computer's programming.

I haven't heard of a tuner causing an alarm to behave in that manner. Could it be one of the sensors malfunctioning in some way? I don't know if Ford hooked it up to the computer to get codes from the security module or not, but if it shows what ITs that is tripping, then I would actually start with looking at that sensor to see if there is anything wrong with it first.

It could very well be the tuner, I just haven't heard of that happening, but then again I'm not familiar with the Ford PowerCode alarm system either.

V8EXPLR · #3 (**permalink**) 10-15-2009, 12:23 PM

Thanks tex25025, appreciate the response.

Update: Alright it's been nearly 72hrs since removing the tuner, and guess what. It started tripping again, just randomly. Didn't trip at all on Mon., Tue. or Weds. But was dropping my kid off at kindergarten and locked the truck up. As we were walking away, the truck tripped and went off. Same thing when I got to work, started walking away and not even 30 seconds after arming it tripped.

So it's clearly not the tuner. Must be one of the IT-s being tripped randomly, for what ever reason. Weird cause some times it trips back to back, up to 5 times. Some times it won't trip for 4-5 arms/disarms or 2-3 days.

I'll be scheduling another warranty appointment with Ford to track down which of the IT-s is tripping, why it's tripping and hopefully get it replaced. I've got until 12/01/09, which is when the 3yr/36K warranty runs out. Yes I have an ESP, but it costs me something like $100 each visit/fix.

tex25025 · #4 (**permalink**) 10-15-2009, 03:17 PM

It does sound like it's sensor that is going bad or the main module is sending false signals to trip the alarm.

V8EXPLR · #5 (**permalink**) 10-15-2009, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tex25025

It does sound like it's sensor that is going bad or the main module is sending false signals to trip the alarm.

Well they did replace the main module roughly 3 weeks to a month ago (unresponsive), so unless I got a new module that is bad, then I'd venture to guess it's a sensor.

ReadOrDie_WoW · #6 (**permalink**) 10-16-2009, 02:07 PM

Just a suggestion, did you try replacing the battery in the remote? I've heard of the remote tripping the alarm cause the battery was dying. Other than that, the programmer's re-flash may have burnt something out or was causing interference that might not go away even after you unprogram the truck. I had an issue not half a year ago with an amp actually frying the tippim module just from an ACC wire that has been put into a fuse for a cigar lighter...which astonished me beyond belief and cost me $800 too, I hadn't had any trouble for six months and then it kept blowing the cigar lighter fuse so I unplugged the wire and not two months later I was stranded at a gas station when the truck simply wouldn't start (due to the tippim failing during that driving session). The reason I bring this up is the connector for the programmer might have done the short curcuiting, as I noticed might actually happen with mine when I unplugged it and heard it sparking. so yea, I'm thinking the electronics in today's cars and trucks can be pretty fragile.

V8EXPLR · #7 (**permalink**) 10-19-2009, 11:17 AM

Okay, took the truck in on Friday (10/16), since I had the day off. Of course all they did was lower the sesitivity level after having it all day. Duh, I told them I already tried that. So around 10pm that night, it tripped back to back, 5 times in a row. Got so frustrated with it, I put it in valet mode. Called my service guy at Ford right then and waiting a call back today to see when they can get me in. They stated if it continued to trip they may need it for a couple days to track down the issue. Which isn't good, since I will need a vehicle and don't want to pay for a rental. Damn, I'm almost ready to simply have them remove this alarm.

tex25025 · #8 (**permalink**) 10-19-2009, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by V8EXPLR

Okay, took the truck in on Friday (10/16), since I had the day off. Of course all they did was lower the sesitivity level after having it all day. Duh, I told them I already tried that. So around 10pm that night, it tripped back to back, 5 times in a row. Got so frustrated with it, I put it in valet mode. Called my service guy at Ford right then and waiting a call back today to see when they can get me in. They stated if it continued to trip they may need it for a couple days to track down the issue. Which isn't good, since I will need a vehicle and don't want to pay for a rental. Damn, I'm almost ready to simply have them remove this alarm.

If it is an eletrical issue(a short of some type) I could say why it would take a couple of days, but I would also figure that since it is a ford system and it should be programmed into the truck's computer why it wouldn't show up with a DTC of some type. Ground Short Error, or some type of faulty sensor. Or am I wrong in thinking it's going thru the PCM of the truck? Is it seperate from the trucks computers or do you know?

V8EXPLR · #9 (**permalink**) 10-19-2009, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tex25025

If it is an eletrical issue(a short of some type) I could say why it would take a couple of days, but I would also figure that since it is a ford system and it should be programmed into the truck's computer why it wouldn't show up with a DTC of some type. Ground Short Error, or some type of faulty sensor. Or am I wrong in thinking it's going thru the PCM of the truck? Is it seperate from the trucks computers or do you know?

The Powercode alarm system is made by Audiovox and has it's own module. Nothing is connected to the PCM, so no DTC's will be thrown. So to me, they should just have to track back the multiple sensors and determine which of them is faulty. Not like they have an extensive amount of system to go through.

tex25025 · #10 (**permalink**) 10-19-2009, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by V8EXPLR

The Powercode alarm system is made by Audiovox and has it's own module. Nothing is connected to the PCM, so no DTC's will be thrown. So to me, they should just have to track back the multiple sensors and determine which of them is faulty. Not like they have an extensive amount of system to go through.

Oh ok, I was thinking it was a factory system. Your right, it's not like they are going a crap load of wires as they would if it was a factory system.

There has got to be a way to test individually each sensor on command. If they have that ability and each sensor passes that then I would imagine it being a wiring issue, which it probably would be just easier to re-wire it then trying to "fox and hound" the issue.

V8EXPLR · #11 (**permalink**) 10-19-2009, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tex25025

Oh ok, I was thinking it was a factory system. Your right, it's not like they are going a crap load of wires as they would if it was a factory system.

There has got to be a way to test individually each sensor on command. If they have that ability and each sensor passes that then I would imagine it being a wiring issue, which it probably would be just easier to re-wire it then trying to "fox and hound" the issue.

Well, it is what I guess you'd consider a "Factory System" from Ford, since they don't offer any other alarm systems for the 04-08 model year 150s. It came with a Ford manual and all, but from my understanding, these are a dealer installed option.

And again it's not the door, hood or ignition being tripped. It's an IT-s sensor that monitors some of the electrical system. I wouldn't think there would be too many sensors left after you exclude those three that aren't being tripped.

V8EXPLR · #12 (**permalink**) 10-26-2009, 04:09 PM

Truck got to the dealer at 8am (MST). Just called the service advisor, and of course, the truck has not tripped on it's own since being there. He stated the tech is running some diagnosis and sensitivity tests, whatever that means and how it will determine the problem sensor I don't know.

We'll if it doesn't trip today, looks like I'll be getting a rental tomorrow to allow for another day to trip and for testing. Will want it back tomorrow afternoon, as it sounds like a snow storm is coming in tomorrow night into Tue. morning.

Sorry not much feedback yet, just wanted to keep those following this thread up to date.