Alarm / Power Drain Issue?

Hi everyone.
Looked everywhere but can't find a thread with anything like this issue - so opened this new thread for assistance...

Alarm:
Interior Red Flashing light by centre of front screen 'not flashing' when alarm is armed (via key or fob).
Alarm is operational. Can be set off in all the usual ways.
Central Locking + everything else working fine.

Battery: Losing charge if stood for 24hrs maybe a bit longer.

Not sure if these two issues are related?

This started after last weekends storms - throughout the night our plastic wheelie bins were bouncing between the garage door & the front bumper from what I can see... when I came to use the car next morning the battery was dead / no access with fob - had to use key in door / ignition was dead and key didn't turn / had to leave battery on charge all day & night on slow drip (with battery leads disconnected).

Battery is currently fully charged / 15 months old / V-heavy duty!
Expecting it to be flat again very soon.

Other notes:
SATNAV unit in Boot - red LED on constantly when car locked up.
Seems like the car isn't 'going to sleep'?

I think I used the 'daily-use' key to open the door via the door lock... then tried the spare key in the ignition (thinking it could be a flat key fob battery)... could this have sent the alarm out of sync?

I've tried all different combinations of opening / closing / arming etc with both keys to try get it back to normal. Have re-sync'd both keys. Have done a system reset via the instrument cluster. Have disconnected The 'open/close' push sensor under the bonnet (another common alarm fault). Can't think of anything else....

Is there a 'MASTER RESET' for the alarm system on these bloody RR's? (like on our BT HomeHub).

HELLLLLLLP!
PLEEEAAASE.

Thanks in advance for any useful tips / checks / solutions.

Marcus.
RR Vouge SE 53 plate
4.4 V8

Look for water in the SAT nav unit in the rear quarter and the other kit in there. Check the connectors for corrosion, it can be so bad that pins corrode off completely.

Also make sure those wheelie bins didn't knock the headlamp wipers ( if fitted). If they're not parked properly this can drain battery.

Final stage resistor
Headlight wipers

Amp / satnav in boot


The light on the sat nav unit may take up to 15 mins to turn off. Much like the rest of the car. Takes a while for all the systems to go into sleep mode

Hi, Having the same problem but can't turn alarm off or open any of the doors other than driver door. Brand new 980 amp battery dead in 2 days. Can only assume water ingress has fried something but cant open bloody doors to check.
What's a system reset on instrument cluster?

Alarms are pointless, when was the last time you called the police because you heard a car alarm going off?
Recently saw a neighbour with his Honda pulled to bits and wiring loom pulled out as had same probs.
Fit a battery isolator switch, kills everything, no connection no drain, but guessing on a motor fitted with everything electrical it wont like it.
Worth seeing what the current drain is via a multimeter, can then pull fuses to see whats dragging it down

Thanks for the feedback so far guys!

Got a 2012 Facelift all round so LED front Lights - No Wipers.
The SATNAV LED is still on after 3 hrs - just took a peak through the tailgate glass...
- this, paired with the alarm light not flashing in the front windscreen - the car appears not to be going to sleep... and the power-drain issue continues...

Ref my original post - I still think this is alarm issues (but could be wrong).
It's strange that the alarm light by the front windscreen isn't flashing which is a simple way of knowing the alarm is armed... a strange symptom???

ref: spitfire: "What's a system reset on instrument cluster?"
- there's a process of using the key in position '1' and pressing the left & right buttons on the cluster face in a certain order... to clear faults etc... don't ask... I found the process on another thread... somewhere???

So... back to the alarm... why would the red flashing light on top of the dash stop flashing if the alarm is actually armed?

2.0_hippo said:

Final stage resistor
Headlight wipers

Amp / satnav in boot


The light on the sat nav unit may take up to 15 mins to turn off. Much like the rest of the car. Takes a while for all the systems to go into sleep mode

Click to expand...

Hi Hippo. Got my tool kit ready for the morning... could you point me in the direction of the Final Stage Resistor? Not sure where to find it.

Thanks.

sh4dow said:

Hi Hippo. Got my tool kit ready for the morning... could you point me in the direction of the Final Stage Resistor? Not sure where to find it.

Thanks.

Click to expand...

Hi Mate,


its under the dash on the drivers side.


access is from under the dash in the drivers foot well.

remove the upper foot well cover and disconnect light.

prepare to have an aching back and plenty of effing and blinding ! lol

its up in the foot well close to the center console / to the left of the clutch pedal.

have you got rave ? this will explain the procedure better.


its a pain in the ass to do, but shouldn't take longer than 30 mins.


hope this helps

good luck

I would still bet on water in the electronics in the rear quarter after all the rain.

after 14 L322 through the workshops and only 2 dry ones I would agree with Datatek. Final stage is a pain to do but is always worth a change after a couple of years.