2014 sr5 alarm "false alarm"?

[SR5_Limited]

I was laying in bed when I heard my alarm start going off. I grabbed my gun and ran down to the garage. What was weird was it wasn't a typical alarm noise sequence. It would go through the typical alarm once and then it would honk like it was being disarmed. The lights would flash in a weird sequence as well, not the typical on and off.

I did confirm my dome light was off. It is somewhat cold, maybe 10-15 degrees but I doubt that had anything to do with it. It is garaged so no animals jumped on it or anything.

Also I was unable to turn it off with my key fob and had to unlock it with the key to get it to turn off.

Any ideas what this might be?

 

[gm350reratliff]

Is the battery fully charged and able to hold a charge? My other guess is there could be a bad door trigger. Do you arm it in the garage?

 

[SR5_Limited]

I would think the battery was fully charged. I never have a problem starting it and it was -20 here the other day.

I do arm it in the garage. Just out of habit.

 

[Lester Lugnut]

On a Tacoma forum someone recently complained about the trucks alarm going off without reason. Dealer replaced a relay.

Not saying this is your problem - just pointing it out.

Your '14 is under warranty. I wouldn't hesitate to get it to a Toyota dealership service dept. asap.

 

[gm350reratliff]

On a Tacoma forum someone recently complained about the trucks alarm going off without reason. Dealer replaced a relay.

Not saying this is your problem - just pointing it out.

Your '14 is under warranty. I wouldn't hesitate to get it to a Toyota dealership service dept. asap.

Yes, do get it documented.

A battery's voltage can take a pretty good dip when temperatures drop below zero though. Also, just because a vehicle or battery is "new" doesn't make it good.

 

[oljedi11950]

All I got is your house is haunted ! On another note after I purchased my 11 , guys had left key on to lower & close rear window & drained the batt.(orig panasonic) jumped no problem but autostart wouldn't work when I went to do the seat bell & key fob they checked it & low voltage so.....^^ but I still think your haunted probably live next to old mine or burial ground ?

 

[Randyman...]

Did you leave any interior light on by chance (map lights did it for me!)? My alarm was falsing as well when the truck AUTOMATICALLY turned off the light after 20-30 minutes. Rear-Hatch lights might do this as well?

See here and my lovely experience with this on my '13:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-g...ystem-false-alarms-check-interior-lights.html

Since I made that post back in 2012 (!), it hasn't falsed once. Happy neighbors indeed

It is odd that the alarm is not flashing the parking lights in a normal fashion - so maybe there are some gremlins in yours?

How long from the time you exited the vehicle to the time of the false alarm?

 

[SR5_Limited]

Did you leave any interior light on by chance (map lights did it for me!)? My alarm was falsing as well when the truck AUTOMATICALLY turned off the light after 20-30 minutes. Rear-Hatch lights might do this as well?

How long from the time you exited the vehicle to the time of the false alarm?

No my interior lights were all off. My headlights and Fogs were on but I always forget to turn those off since they turn off by themselves.

It was probably 2-3 hours after I exited the vehicle when it went off.

Also, I did start it for the first time this morning since Saturday and it definitely sounded like the battery is bad. I'm at 9300 miles so Ill be in the dealer soon, ill bring this up and have them replace the battery.

Think they will give me the warranty amount for a battery and let me put that toward an optima or similar?

 

[Lester Lugnut]

I have to LOL !

Shortly after posting my comment above yesterday, my wife heads out the door and jumps in her '06 Avalon. Tries to start car and alarm goes off. I get involved and hear a very sluggish engine trying to turn over - each time setting off the alarm. Reset alarm - try to start car - alarm goes off again. Reset alarm - etc/etc

Voltage meter reads 12.36V. Not a conclusive test, but battery connections are good and clean and battery is 3 yrs. old - Toyota TrueStart. For me, the slow crank is a failed load test.

This is the 3rd TrueStart I'll be replacing under warranty for this car. Think I'll try another brand, but then I have to remind myself there are only about 3 companies that make car batteries, so I'll likely end up with the same thing I'm going to remove.

Too bad you can't buy the OEM Panasonic's in North America.

Onward.

 

[Randyman...]

For me, the slow crank is a failed load test.

This is the 3rd TrueStart I'll be replacing under warranty for this car.

Agreed - A 'dragging' starter always leads me to check all battery and solenoid connections, followed by alternator function. Then, pretty much know it's the battery once you check voltage while cranking.

Sounds like both of your issues may be more than just an unusual pre-mature failure of your batteries?

I'd look into parasitic current draw while the car is off (causing deeper drain/charge cycles than a normal starting battery is designed for), and possibly an over-charge condition from the alternator (I've killed numerous 4D car-audio batteries in the 90's by inadvertently overcharging with a manual battery charger, and severely shortened expensive battery lifespans by running higher voltage on an aftermarket Lestek alternator).

3 batteries in 3 years does not seem like a battery fault (rather the fault is being caused by something else), but anything is possible.

FWIW - DieHard Platinum 31M (AGM) FTW! That thing is a monster