Alarm system triggers immediately when the tailgate is opened

Hi everyone,

After having sifted through the search results in two forums, I'm still no closer to finding an answer. Perhaps you can help me with my problem:

My brand new Golf IV Variant TDI, model year 2005, with an anti-theft system including interior monitoring, has the following problem:

1.) Lock the car (using the key in the passenger door or with the remote control).
2.) Unlock the car using the key via the trunk.
The car is then completely unlocked, but the LEDs continue to blink red (so the anti-theft system is obviously still active). If I manually open the tailgate, the alarm system immediately goes off.

When I unlock the car using the driver's side door, the alarm system doesn't immediately trigger; instead, it gives me about 30 seconds to insert the key into the ignition. (That's how it's supposed to work.) But what's wrong with my trunk lock?

What could be the reason for that? What's the best way to proceed?
I'd rather ask you all before the workshop foreman starts telling me fairy tales.


Regards,
Sure, here is the translation of the text from German to English:

'Micha'

Quote:

When I unlock the car using the driver's door, the alarm system doesn't immediately go off, but gives me approximately 30 seconds to insert the key into the ignition.

Huh???

Okay, I can't do that. I wouldn't be able to quickly crawl through the car in 30 seconds to get something from the trunk and then put the key in the lock.

Furthermore, "putting the key in the lock" cannot be considered an "authentication" because ANY Volkswagen key will fit in the lock; you just can't turn it!

Are you sure you understand the expected behavior of the DWA correctly?

My original VW DWA (on the G3 variant) only opens the trunk and disconnects the tailgate from the sensor circuit for the duration. The trunk will only work again after it has been reset.

The doors remain closed (and I think they are also locked).

m;

Bee wrote:

... What could be the reason for that? What's the best way to proceed? I'd rather ask you all before the workshop foreman starts telling me fairy tales. ....

That's because someone at VW is too incompetent to correctly modify the software for the driver assistance systems.
My G4 from 2002 does the same thing.
The best part is when you have guests over and you leave the key in the trunk, then close the trunk. At that point, you should start thinking about how to get a spare key. The car is completely locked. The only solution is to open a door and then open the trunk. This will only delete the DWA (Diebstahlwarnanlage - anti-theft alarm) and the Autolock function.

Hello,

Your alarm system is functioning perfectly correctly! I once had a company-owned Passat from 2001 that had the exact same "phenomenon," which is supposed to represent an additional safety feature.

Alarm systems manufactured around the year 2000 can be deactivated using the remote control code, provided that you also used the remote control to activate them.
However, if you use the VW emergency key (which doesn't have a remote control, but only a transponder) to manually unlock the car on the driver's side, you then have those aforementioned 30 seconds to start the car. In this case, the alarm system will be deactivated using the immobilizer code.

"On my Audi from 1996, the alarm system can be deactivated via the locks or central locking system without requiring the correct ID code. This is actually a security vulnerability, and for many car thieves, it's not a problem to manually open a lock, along with the central locking system, without any issues. However, I'm looking for ways to potentially address this, perhaps by using a modified remote control in conjunction with other security measures. I currently have an infrared module installed."
By the way, I always keep a small spare key attached to my house key; it's helped me out of a tight spot twice already.

Regards,
John.

Goldhuhn wrote:

.... However, if you use the VW emergency key (which doesn't have a remote control, but only a transponder) to manually unlock the car on the driver's side, you then have those aforementioned 30 seconds to start the car. In this case, the alarm system will be deactivated using the immobilizer code. ....

Opening the driver's door (even with the emergency key) will deactivate the vehicle's alarm system.
But the trunk lock does not deactivate the alarm system.

@Bertil: How do you know that this is supposed to be like that and not a defect? Do you work at VW? (Sorry for the personal questions; I'm new here and need to get to know you all first...)
I was just at another dealer. There, I unlocked the trunk using the key and opened the tailgate. The car's alarm system didn't trigger there. I'm getting completely confused: If I ask 1000 people, 500 will say one thing and 500 will say another .

I'm going to check the error memory tonight. Perhaps there's something in there...

Thank you for your help so far. If anyone has any other ideas on this, please feel free to let us know.

Regards,
Sure, here is the translation of the text from German to English:

'Micha'

Okay, I'd say it's perfectly normal with your car. Who uses a key to unlock their car when they have a remote control? It's the same with Mercedes. If I unlock the car mechanically with the key, the alarm system also goes off, even on the driver's door. And that's the right way for it to work. If someone breaks into the lock, for example, with a large screwdriver, why should the alarm system stay off?
I would say that's a perfectly normal rule. And the 30-second thing is probably an extra rule in case your remote batteries are dead and you still have enough time to put the key in the lock. In this process, the alarm system is then deactivated via the transponder.

Bee wrote:

@Bertil: How do you know that it has to be this way and that it's not a defect? Do you work at VW?

(Sorry for the indiscreet questions; I'm still new here and need to get to know you all first...).

No, I don't work at VW, but I have good connections there.
At the time, I also noticed this "misbehavior" and initially got very upset with my dealer. But nothing came of it. So, I decided to inquire directly with WOB. The answer was quite funny: "... oh, we hadn't noticed that yet."
Later, I tried various G4 combinations, and with some, the alarm system activated, while with others, it didn't, but in all cases, the central locking system was engaged.

By the way, please check the microswitches in the locks. It might be a problem with the tailgate lock.

If the microswitch in the tailgate were defective, the central locking system wouldn't open , and that's exactly what it is doing.

schroederliese wrote:

If the microswitch in the tailgate were defective, the central locking system wouldn't open . And that's exactly what it's doing

.

correct... I forgot

Hello again,

There are definitely different basic configurations for alarm systems, central locking systems, Climatronic, and electrical systems. Power windows, etc. in original condition!

What surprised me a lot: there were also differences in new cars that we received from the same factory on the same day, meaning they had gone through the same final inspection!

Example Passat TDI, year of manufacture 2001:

After initially receiving three of these units, we noticed that the activation and deactivation of the alarm system functioned completely differently!
We decided to test the equipment during a quiet time (it's probably just a technician's quirk, or maybe a bit of excessive attention to detail).

1. At my place:
Remote control: Pressing the "Lock" button once = Car locks and alarm system activated.
Pressing the remote control buttons "Lock" twice in quick succession = Car locks and DWA (alarm system) is deactivated .
Huh? I sometimes had the habit of pressing it twice.

2. At the colleague's place.
Using the remote control, pressing the "Lock" button once = Car locks and DWA (alarm system) is deactivated.
Pressing the "lock" button twice on the remote control = car locks and alarm system activated.
The colleague didn't know that, and had been parking the car for weeks without the DWA being active!

3. "In another colleague's car, the alarm system (DWA) didn't trigger at all (unlike Bertil's car, perhaps not configurable in the Golf?), even after manually opening the driver's door. However, in both our cars, the alarm system triggered after 30 seconds if we didn't immediately start the car."
By the way, in his case, the DWA (Digital Wireless Assistant) was already active after just one attempt with the remote control, just like it was in my case.

As a colleague at VAG initially spoke out and suggested the possibility of... He wanted to inquire about the configurability of the DWA (Dynamic Wheel Alignment), but he was rejected with the explanation that it's not possible, that's just how it is, and that it's all a new feature.
Only when we were there, the three of us, and demonstrated everything did the workshop become active, or have to react!

After extensive correspondence with the manufacturer and considering the technical capabilities of the workshop, the configurations were ultimately changed. We were even allowed to choose one ourselves:
So, we decided on:

Press the lock button once to activate DWA.
Press and hold the "2x Lock" button briefly. DWA (door warning alarm) is still active.
and 30 seconds. Alarm activation upon manual opening of the driver's door.

Currently, many settings can probably be configured using the latest VAGCOM version , but I still have an older version that is sufficient for my C4.
Perhaps the VAGCOM specialists here on the forum might know.

Best regards,