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The mkiv Supra Owners Club

Clifford Concept Problems


Gough

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Evening all,

 

My Clifford Concept 300 (+tilt sensor) been problematic for a number of weeks now - going off for no particular reason, sometimes 3 times in 30 minutes, and then no problems for a week (it varies). I've had enough, and so have my neighbours probably.

 

My question is as follows: does anybody on here know if there is anyone in the Bristol area who would be able to sort it out without charging an arm and a leg?

 

The alarm was fitted when I purchased the car about six months ago, so its certainly not past its sell by date.

 

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks :thumbs:

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Cliffords Tilt and Motion sensor has to be one of the best alarm sensors I've ever used. In all the years we've been dealing with Cliffords I've only ever seen about 3 faulty T&M sensors.

The common causes of them falsing are generally down to installation error.

Bad location mounting. The need to be solidly mounted to start with, as flat on the floor or tunnel as possible. They don't like heat, so mounted under a heater vent, or on the floor above an exhaust run could easily cause problems).

Wrong connection. I've seen them connected without the 'armed output wire', which won't help as it won't know when to start monitoring for changes. I've also heard of them being connected to the shock sensor point on a C300, which won't help either...

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  • 2 weeks later...

Since its been couple of weeks without the alarm going off (apart from once!), I though it was time give some feedback that might be of use for anyone experiencing similar problems.

 

I took the car down to Westerns, the chap there explained that the sensor underneath the centre console/gearstick area can sometimes be triggered if items that are left in the cubby hole or ash tray move slightly: Depending on how well, or should I say, how badly mounted this sensor is, the said items may need only to move a tiny fraction for the alarm to go off. For example, I had a couple of plastic bags with tools in them in the centre console compartment - they may have been moving fractionally (due to, say, temperature changes inside the cabin), triggering the sensor.

 

So moving/adjusting the sensor or taking out whatever is in the storage compartment ashtray, or both, may cure the problem. I did both, and the alarm, touch wood, has been fine so far.

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SimonM's other half Jane here. Had very similar problems with my clifford concept 300 on my GTO TT. It was fitted by Sexton's in Bath that are currently being refurbished in Aug 2004. I took it to the Bedminster branch and they looked at it for me. Apparantly the main control bit of the alarm was faulty so they replaced that. They also said to keep CDs out of the centre console where the sensor was.

 

I have a little ariel thing in my windscreen which must be for the remote so keep my sun visor up as that seemed to be setting it off. Sexton's said to keep any metallic objects away from the sensors. They reduced the sensitivity slightly and took the auto-arm off as I never forget to lock the car. This all seems to have worked. As a precaution I keep my little bits of chrome in the interior covered up. This is around the gear stick-looks a bit daft covered but I don't want to p*** my neighbours off anymore. My siren is in the boot as there was no room in the engine bay and it's peircingly loud.

 

J

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Thanks for the replies everyone :)

 

To answer the above question, I was told by the guy that sorted my alarm out, that this particular problem, with the 'over sensitive' sensor under the central compartment, is a problem that is unique to supras, simply because the supras design allows very little room for its manoeuvre. Apparently, said sensor can also be mounted in the roof lining near the cabin lighting, but this causes even more problems!

 

I have to say its a pain not being able to use what little storage space the supra has! In all honesty I probably would have bought a cheaper, simpler alarm had I known about this.

 

Regards,

 

Gough

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the same here, all i want is a alarm which is going to go off if anyone attempts to get in but now it just go's of for the fun ov it, i found out that mine only seems to go off when ive been driving the car for a while i think its mainly when the car is cooling down

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Take it to a clifford approved dealer mate! If you ask nicely they might give it a quick tweak free of charge. I tried for weeks to figure out what was setting mine off, but subsequently realised I really didn't have a clue what I was doing, so I went to someone who did :thumbs:

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Hmmmm, I can't say I've found any sensor problem to be unique to a Supra. The headlining is without doubt, the best place to install one by far. It reduces the chances of false alarms and allows for full use of all the storage compartments.

The only problem I have found is with Aerotops. Obviously the sensor can't go in to roof, (at least not without a lot of messing around and expense).

The centre console area is really not the best place for a proximity sensor as they are prone to falsing if there is any kind of metalic object obove/nearby. This counts for Polo wrappers, CD's, Cassettes, keys, coins ets...

The only way around this is to turn the sensitivity down really low...

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Hmmmm, I can't say I've found any sensor problem to be unique to a Supra. The headlining is without doubt, the best place to install one by far. It reduces the chances of false alarms and allows for full use of all the storage compartments.

The only problem I have found is with Aerotops. Obviously the sensor can't go in to roof, (at least not without a lot of messing around and expense).

The centre console area is really not the best place for a proximity sensor as they are prone to falsing if there is any kind of metalic object obove/nearby. This counts for Polo wrappers, CD's, Cassettes, keys, coins ets...

The only way around this is to turn the sensitivity down really low...

 

Hi Matt, yep I'm sure your right about the sensors. I'm just repeating what the guy in the audio/security shop said to me.

 

Oh and mine's an Aerotop.. :D ...which probably accounts for the advice I was given.

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