I drive a M5 (okay a Mazda 5 then). When i disable the alarm the indicators flash once. When i engage the alarm the indicators flash twice. Other manufacturers have a similar setup. Apart from the french cars i have seen. Refering to Peugeot and Citroen. When the owner opens or locks the car the indicators flash as if its gone bonkers. Must be more than 10 flashes. Wont be suprised if you can set your ignition timing using the strobe affect of the indicators. Feel sorry for those who can be affected from flashing lights. My question is why do these manufacturers think that they have to program more than 4 flashes to let the owner know the alarm is on or off?
I know the electrics in french car are so so but don't think that is the reason
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"the french cars i have seen.......the indicators flash as if its gone bonkers".
Odd: the Cits we have had for the last 20 years (6 of them) act the same as your M5.
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I have noticed a few Peugeots do this (flashing quickly for a second when unlocked I think).
My Nissan has a single, long flash when locked, two mid-speed flashes when unlocked once (so only the driver's door unlocks) then two faster flashes when unlocked completely.
Don't see any particular problem with any approach -- as long as it's consistent you're fine.
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The last two Citroens I've owned have had a "Car Locator" feature, which is a facility for simpletons who can't remember what their car looks like. If you press the lock button on the key whilst the car is already locked, the hazard lights will flash rapidly for about 30 seconds, thus enabling you to identify which car in a row of parked cars is yours.
When the car is unlocked the lights flash quickly for a second, and when it is locked the lights flash once for around a second.
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I saw a locked Peugeot's indicators flashing rapidly earlier this week.
Did wonder what it was, maybe that's got a car locator as well.
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Two Cits out on the drive Xantia and Berlingo: -
Both flash once on locking, on Xantia its a short falsh for simple lock and a longer one when alarm/deadlocks are engaged. Both flash for a couple of seconds on unlock - Xantia in the strobe fashion mentioned by the OP.
Berlingo has some sort of "find me" facility based on unlocking/re-locking - never needed to use it as it kind of stands out anyway!!
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The last two Citroens I've owned have had a "Car Locator" feature which is a facility for simpletons who can't remember what their car looks like. >>
I thought this had been discontinued, because it made car theft from public places so much easier. Jimmy walks into pub, club, restaurant etc. and quietly checks unattented pockets for carelessly forgotten car keys, returnss to car park, 'locates' and takes his pick.
BB
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On my Saab the number of flashes/ beeps can be adjusted by a service person when the car is plugged in via the OBD port.
I only found this out after about 3 years of ownership and my setup is not ideal but I'm used to it and now cant be bothered to get it changed.
On mine, locking and unlocking gives one flash of indicators; deadlocking the doors gives one flash and one quick 'pip' of the horn (quite muted, not too intrusive). But when you open the boot with the keyfob, it gives 3 flashes and 3 beeps of the alarm siren, (not muted, fairly intrusive!).
The latter is not great for the neighbours late at night but can be avoided by opening the drivers door and pressing the boot release button, which gives no flashes and no beeps.
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It's like when you get home and the dog hasn't seen you all day it wags its tail madly. It's the same with your car, the more flashes you get the more it's pleased to see you return! Who knows what you have in that shopping bag? Some tasty oil? Some tyre cleaner? A new magic tree air freshener?
Although consequently mine don't flash at all, so I must be a nasty bad owner...
Edited by Devolution on 27/09/2008 at 17:06
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When I lock my M6 (okay, Mazda6!) with the KEY, the lights don't flash. When I go to unlock it with either the fob or key, lights don't flash! Try that!
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