Is your Clifford car alarm no longer chirping when you lock or unlock your car? You might be wondering if there’s a programming issue or a deeper problem. Many Clifford car alarm owners experience this frustrating silence, often without realizing the simple fix. This guide will walk you through understanding why your Clifford alarm might have stopped chirping and, more importantly, how to resolve it yourself, potentially saving you a costly trip to a retailer. While it might seem like a programming malfunction, the issue often lies within a small, age-related component: the backup battery.
Understanding the Silent Siren: Backup Battery Issues in Clifford Alarms
Clifford alarms are designed with a clever feature: a backup battery system. This ensures the alarm remains functional even if the car’s main power is cut, a valuable security measure. However, this backup system relies on a rechargeable Nicad battery located inside the siren unit. Like all rechargeable batteries, Nicads have a lifespan and are prone to the “memory effect.”
The “memory effect” in Nicad batteries means that if they are consistently charged without being fully discharged, they can lose their capacity to hold a full charge. This degradation is the root cause of the silent chirping issue in older Clifford alarms. Instead of a programming error, Clifford cleverly (or perhaps frustratingly!) designed the system to stop chirping when the backup battery fails. This silent operation is intended as an alert that the backup battery needs attention. Without the chirp, you might not even realize there’s a problem until it’s too late.
The DIY Solution: Replacing Your Clifford Alarm Siren Battery
Fortunately, fixing this silent siren issue is not complicated and doesn’t require extensive car alarm programming knowledge. It’s a straightforward battery replacement that most car owners can handle with basic tools and about 15 minutes of their time. The key is to replace the old Nicad battery within the siren unit with a new, compatible battery pack.
What You’ll Need:
- Replacement Battery Pack: You’ll need a 7.2V Ni-MH battery pack. The original Nicad batteries are typically 350mAh, but upgrading to a 550mAh Ni-MH battery will provide a longer lifespan. These are readily available online marketplaces like eBay or from electronics retailers.
- Posi-drive Screwdriver: You’ll need this type of screwdriver to remove the screws on the siren unit.
- Wire Strippers/Cutters: For preparing the wires for soldering or joining.
- Soldering Iron and Solder (Optional): If you choose to solder the new battery wires.
- Heat Shrink Tubing or Electrical Tape: To insulate wire connections.
- Cable Ties: To secure the new battery in place.
Step-by-Step Guide to Battery Replacement:
Safety First:
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Enter Valet Mode and Disconnect Car Battery: Unlock your vehicle and put your Clifford alarm into Valet mode. This is usually done by turning the ignition on and off a specific number of times and pressing the valet/override button (refer to your Clifford alarm manual for the exact procedure). The indicator LED should turn on constantly, indicating Valet mode is active. Once in Valet mode, disconnect the negative terminal of your car battery. Remember to have your stereo codes handy if needed.
Alt text: Comparison of old Nicad Clifford alarm battery (right) and new Ni-MH replacement battery (left), highlighting size and connector differences.
Accessing the Siren Unit:
- Locate the Siren: The Clifford siren is typically located in the engine bay of your vehicle.
- Remove Siren from Bracket: Loosen the bolts (usually two) securing the siren to its bracket. You may need to remove one bolt completely to slide the siren out. Be careful not to lose any nuts or bolts.
- Create Slack: Carefully pull any slack in the siren’s wiring harness to allow you to move the siren to a more accessible location for disassembly.
Opening the Siren and Replacing the Battery:
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Remove Rear Screws: Using your posi-drive screwdriver, remove the two long screws on the rear of the siren housing. This will allow the speaker section at the front to become loose. Be gentle as you don’t want to strain the speaker wires.
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Detach Cable Bracket: Locate the cable entry point on the side of the siren case. Remove the four posi-drive screws from the cable bracket. This bracket is often glued, so carefully pry it away from the housing.
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Access the PCB: With the cable bracket removed, you should be able to feed some of the cable slack into the housing. This will allow you to slide the alarm’s PCB (printed circuit board) out from the front opening where the speaker was located.
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Extract the PCB: Continue feeding cable slack into the housing until you have enough room to access the PCB and the battery.
Alt text: Clifford car alarm circuit board (PCB) removed from siren housing, showing the old Nicad battery pack prominently mounted on top.
Battery Replacement and Reassembly:
- Remove Old Battery: Cut the cable ties securing the old battery to the PCB. Carefully remove the battery, making sure to retain the plastic insulating sheet underneath it.
- Prepare for New Battery Connection: You have two options for connecting the new battery:
- Option 1 (Soldering): Desolder the wires of the old battery from the PCB and solder the new battery wires to the same points. This requires soldering skills and care to avoid damaging the PCB.
- Option 2 (Wire Cutting and Joining): Cut the wires connecting the old battery to the PCB, leaving some length on the PCB side. Strip the ends of the wires on both the PCB and the new battery. Tin the wire ends with solder for a better connection.
- Connect New Battery: Solder or securely twist and join the wires of the new battery to the wires from the PCB, ensuring correct polarity (red to positive, black to negative). Insulate the connections thoroughly with heat shrink tubing or electrical tape.
- Secure New Battery: Place the plastic insulating sheet back under the new battery and position the battery on the PCB as the old one was. Use cable ties to re-secure the new battery to the PCB.
- Reinstall PCB: Carefully slide the PCB back into the siren housing, ensuring it slots into the guide rails inside the housing. As you slide it in, pull the cable slack back out of the housing to prevent it from being trapped.
- Reattach Cable Bracket: Once the PCB is fully seated and all cable slack is removed from inside the housing, reattach the cable bracket to the side of the siren unit using the four screws.
- Reinstall Speaker: Slot the siren speaker back into the front of the housing and secure it with the two long screws.
- Remount Siren: Place the siren back onto its bracket in the engine bay and tighten the bolts.
Final Steps and Testing:
- Reconnect Car Battery: Reconnect the negative terminal to your car battery. If you successfully put the alarm in Valet mode, it should remain in Valet mode after reconnecting the battery. If not, disarm the alarm using your car keys or remote.
- Test Your Alarm: Test your Clifford alarm by locking and unlocking your car. You should now hear the chirps again, confirming the battery replacement has resolved the issue! Also, test any proximity sensor chirps if your alarm system has this feature.
Enjoy Your Chirping Alarm Again!
By following these steps, you’ve successfully diagnosed and fixed the silent chirp issue in your Clifford car alarm. You’ve avoided the expense of a new siren, which retailers might suggest at a cost of around £90 or more. This DIY battery replacement is a cost-effective and satisfying solution that takes very little time to complete. You’ve effectively “re-programmed” your alarm’s chirp function simply by restoring its power source!
Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only. Working with car electronics requires caution. If you are not comfortable performing these steps, consult a qualified car alarm technician.
