Cobra Alarm for Elise (How to Use)

[Simon Ashford]

I have a 1999 Lotus Elise with a Cobra alarm system that was fitted at the
factory. It has a small black almost round/flat keyfob with two grey
buttons on it. Usually I use the larger grey button to set/unset the alarm
which I know works as if I open the door when it's alarmed the alarm goes
off. The immobiliser also comes on after 30 seconds so I use it to
deactivate the immobiliser as well. This is what I was told from the
previous owner and all I have ever done with it.

My question is with the roof off I believe the alarm uses microwaves to
sense movement up to about roof height. How do I activate this, is it just
using the big grey button as well? What's the small button used for? I
also have a small black thing about the size of a pen top that has a metal
connector on one end. It's used to slot into a small connector on the side
of the steering column and also has Cobra on it. Any ideas what I would use
this for and is it worth me carrying it around with the keys?

Any advice on how to use it much appreciated as there is no instruction
manual just a certificate for it.

Thanks in advance,

--
Simon Ashford MCP
IT Consultant, Netlink Data Solutions Limited.

[Pete]

On page 9 of Elise owners manual it says that the large button does as you
say and that to disable the movement sensor in the cabin you push the small
button within 40 secs of pushing the large button. This is if you want to
keep an animal in the car!
In over 3 years I've never used the small button, roof on or off.
Pete
PS Manual gives cobra helpline as 01923 479206

Simon Ashford <si...@netlinkdata.co.uk> wrote in message
news:3d120e4f$1...@news.zen.co.uk...

[Simon Ashford]

Oh right so just carry on using the big button all the time with or without
the roof then.

Any idea what the other small black thing that can connect to side of
steering column is for?

--
Simon Ashford MCP
IT Consultant, Netlink Data Solutions Limited.

"Pete" <p...@clara.co.uk> wrote in message
news:102460001...@iris.uk.clara.net...

[KimBrennan]

>Any idea what the other small black thing that can connect to side of
>steering column is for?

In the event that the battery dies in the regular remote, you can use the small
black thing to reset the starter disabler.

"I'm sorry, all my money is tied up in currency."
W.C.Fields

[Graham Bland]

The instructions are in the owners handbook, assuming you have one?

Graham

"Simon Ashford" <si...@netlinkdata.co.uk> wrote in message
news:3d120e4f$1...@news.zen.co.uk...

[c.j.dobson]

Your alarm fob description sounds very similar to mine. My Owner's Manual
doesn't cover the Cobra Alarm I have fitted, even though it was a factory
fitted Thatcham Cat 1 Alarm, and I have a certificate to that effect.

On mine, the big button is used to arm the immobiliser *AND* the alarm. If
you just leave the car for 1 minute, the immobiliser kicks in, but not the
alarm. This is *NOT* what the handbook says, but has been proven by tests
on the car itself !! The handbook probably went to print before the car
went to build... there are other similar errors.

The small button, when pressed within about 30secs of pressing the big
button (wait for the indicators to flash twice, then wait a bit more),
disables the ultrasonic sensor that monitors the space inside the car, and
forms an imaginary 'roof', or bubble, over the car where the real roof would
be. HINT - make sure the driver's seat is pushed fully back, or the sensor
will not calibrate itself fully as it cannot see past the inside edge of the
driver's seat. As said in other replies, the button is used to disable the
sensor to enable pets/anything else that moves (petrified passengers, etc)
to remain in the car whilst it is alarmed rather than just immobilised.

HTH,

Chris

"Graham Bland" <graha...@btinternet.com> wrote in message
news:aeuvak$4i6$1...@helle.btinternet.com...

[_-_-_]

It sounds like you have the same 'upgraded' alarm as myself (Thatcham
Cat 1). The alarm has an additional manual that comes to replace the
items in the supplied lotus manual. The small button is indeed only
to disable the internal microwave sensor, so no real need for that
then.

The additional manual also has instructions on how to re-synch the
keys if they come out of sync with the car, AND how to manually
override the immobilisation circuit ( it is a procedure of entering a
pin number by turning the key on and off , and damned if I'll be able
to remember the correct sequence, if it is written down)

I don't have the pen-top thingie though.. ...mind you I didn't get
my free Lotus Elise key ring torch that is supposed to come with all
Elise Tourers either. Just the sports holdal.