One For The Electrical Gurus...

[CharlieFarlie]

I should point out this is not for the Rav... Its the Wifes wee Fiesta... Sorry...

The problem...

The information screen keeps displaying bonnet open when its firmly shut....

The alarm keeps going off due to the sensor / Switch which is integral to the actual bonnet catch being at fault ....

Several time today I have left messages at the local ford dealer whose entire service parts department relies on customers leaving messages which they fail to ring back about ..... Well is Ford not Toyota I suppose..

So the thought occurred what if I pull the two wires off and either leave them taped up Or tape them together ? Well this leaves the bonnet open on the info screen along with the wee orange warning light to indicate a general fault ...

Tonight we will have to leave the car unlocked as the alarm going off in the wee small hours must be peeing the neighbours almost as much as us...

Sorry its not a Toyota but I would appreciate if anyone could advise what to do with these two flipping wires ? They obviously are part of the alarm system as well as warning of an open bonnet...

Im happy to run with no alarm on the bonnet so long as we can lock the car...

Thanks in advance... CF.

[Davrav]

Have a read here Charlie:

http://www.talkford.com/topic/111117-bonnet-open-warning/

I guess it's remove the fuse until you can get it sorted.

It's a known problem apparently..........

[CharlieFarlie]

Have a read here Charlie:

http://www.talkford.com/topic/111117-bonnet-open-warning/

I guess it's remove the fuse until you can get it sorted.

It's a known problem apparently..........

Thanks David !! Yes I realise its a common problem with owners swapping the whole mechanism on a regular basis... To remove the fuse will still leave the indicators flashing and they flash for ages or so Ive read... So if I can I would like to fiddle the wires so the bonnet is not alarmed anymore therefore getting rid of the problem once and for all... I have parked the Jag in front of the car for tonight but of course its still unlocked..

I have noticed there is another wee junction box near too but not attached to the sensor so wonder if those wires come into the equation...

[Big Kev]

Couple of Scotchlocks, wan on each wire, bridge the two wires, Charlie.....?

[CharlieFarlie]

Tried connecting the two wires Kev but the light (Orange general warning) remains on and the bonnet open remains on the central display....

I have not tried anything else like earthing either of them in case I bugger it up...

Cheers .

[Davrav]

Have you tried the WD40 Charlie?

[CharlieFarlie]

Yes mate.. First port if call on all the threads is to spray the unit with WD.. I think it's the sensor or whatever it is that is completely ****.. It's not like the usual plunger type switch we usually see on boot or bonnets its a square thing and you cannot see any moving parts at all ..

[CharlieFarlie]

Err I did not type a swear word in the above post !! I typed s h o t ....

[Davrav]

Wonder if a magnet would have any effect?

[FROSTYBALLS]

Will this help - http://www.justanswer.com/uk-ford/4zzv4-ford-mondeo-bonnett-open-light-keeps-coming-when.html

[CharlieFarlie]

Frosty that's ace thanks.. But connecting the wires on this car does nothing.. I get the impression that the text was talking about an older car .. This one is a 2009 if that makes any difference..

David.. Magnet ?? Not sure what you mean ??

Many thanks to both of you. !!

[Davrav]

Just wondered if, as there's no plunger, the switch relied on some kind of magnetic field?

Clutching at straws really but you never know.

[Big Kev]

Called a reed switch, Charlie......if you have a wee magnet, tape it to the switch at the area the bonnet part touches it.....micht just do it.

Bet ye shcm having a giggle at this keich by now....lol.

Edit.......or proximity switch.......

[Davrav]

Called a reed switch, Charlie......if you have a wee magnet, tape it to the switch at the area the bonnet part touches it.....micht just do it.

Bet ye shcm having a giggle at this keich by now....lol.

You read my mind Kev. Scary or what................?

[CharlieFarlie]

After giving this some thought while laying awake in bed as usual.. I don't sleep we'll.. I disconnected the Battery this morning then re taped the wires together.. Disconnecting I hoped might have the same revsetting effect we have on our Ravs .. When connected bak up again the warning lights and messages are now gone..

Wife had 2 medical appointments today so this should give the car time to play up or not ..

Thanks Guys !!!!

[CharlieFarlie]

Wires to that silly sensor now tidily soldered shrink wrapped and cable tied out of sight.....

No problems today so assume its sorted..

OK it no longer has the alarm on the bonnet but so what.. What is under there of value and how would you open it without entry to the car which would trigger the alarm anyway ? OK force could be used but haing never had a cars bonnet forced I aint loosing any sleep over it ! Well a lot less than getting up several times in the night...

So a question.. Are the bonnets of our Ravs alarmed ??

Once again thanks to David and Frosty for the advice and links and Kev.....

[Hoovie]

Does the bonnet on the Fiesta not unlock with a key under the Ford Badge, same as the Focus?

I guess if the bonnet was not protected, and the alarm box was in the engine bay somewhere, then bonnet could be forced without alarm going off, the alarm could then be disabled and then possible forced entry into car without alarm protection could follow? Actual chances of that happening to a standard Fiesta extremely remote I would imagine, and I would do just what you have, Charlie.

[CharlieFarlie]

No mate the older cars had that way of opening the bonnet but this car has a pull handle down in the drivers footwell ..

Looking round the forums the sensors go very often and because they are integral to the mechanism they are expensive.. So as I'm not bothered about the alarm on the bonnet it can stay as it is.. Cheers

[CharlieFarlie]

No mate the older cars had that way of opening the bonnet but this car has a pull handle down in the drivers footwell ..

Looking round the forums the sensors go very often and because they are integral to the mechanism they are expensive.. So as I'm not bothered about the alarm on the bonnet it can stay as it is.. Cheers

[DjRav]

Is it worth putting a multi meter across the sensor (if it works at all) to see what resistance it has?

Perhaps joining the wires as a dead short is seen as a fault, whereas the "correct" resistance would fool the system into thinking the switch/sensor is still there.

Just a thought.

Dave

[CharlieFarlie]

Is it worth putting a multi meter across the sensor (if it works at all) to see what resistance it has?

Perhaps joining the wires as a dead short is seen as a fault, whereas the "correct" resistance would fool the system into thinking the switch/sensor is still there.

Just a thought.

Dave

Dave if you read above after disconnection of the Battery and then soldering the wires together its now solved the problem.. I did this after giving the matter some thought as often with Our Ravs disconnection will do some sort of re set ?? Anyway its working fine now albeit without having the bonnet in the alarm loop which I can live with...

Our Ravs have an alarm and I'm interested to know if the bonnet is alarmed ?