Ferry: T6.1 Alarm Flashing (with Trailer)

chris ratay traveler · Jan 29, 2023

I'm not sure if having the trailer makes any difference. Last week we took a 30-min ferry from Italy to Sicily. When we got back to the T6.1 van, the hazards were flashing. I'm assuming the motion on the ferry set it off and I'll need to remember to disable something?

We will be taking a 22 hour ferry from Italy to Spain, and would prefer not having the same issue. Does this need to be manually turned off each time, or can I make some sort of Global Setting? Folks have talked about solutions for T6, but the T6.1 is not set up the same.

When I leave the dog in the van with the doors locked, his motion sets off the alarm. I've tried removing the "check" mark on the Nav screen, but as soon as I use the van, the feature is no longer valid.

Is there any way to put a special button on the Nav screen to turn things off more quickly?

Hawthorn37 · Jan 29, 2023

chris ratay traveler said:
I'm not sure if having the trailer makes any difference. Last week we took a 30-min ferry from Italy to Sicily. When we got back to the T6.1 van, the hazards were flashing. I'm assuming the motion on the ferry set it off and I'll need to remember to disable something?

We will be taking a 22 hour ferry from Italy to Spain, and would prefer not having the same issue. Does this need to be manually turned off each time, or can I make some sort of Global Setting? Folks have talked about solutions for T6, but the T6.1 is not set up the same.

When I leave the dog in the van with the doors locked, his motion sets off the alarm. I've tried removing the "check" mark on the Nav screen, but as soon as I use the van, the feature is no longer valid.

Is there any way to put a special button on the Nav screen to turn things off more quickly?

View attachment 104517 View attachment 104519

Yes, you give the manual key lock on the drivers door (on LHD vans) 2 turns to lock about 1- 2 seconds apart. (On RHD vans you find the key lock on the passenger door). The menu alarm disable is for the interior alarm only, not the motion alarm (anti - tow alarm).

chris ratay traveler · Jan 30, 2023

Hawthorn37 said:
Yes, you give the manual key lock on the drivers door (on LHD vans) 2 turns to lock about 1- 2 seconds apart. (On RHD vans you find the key lock on the passenger door). The menu alarm disable is for the interior alarm only, not the motion alarm (anti - tow alarm).

So I guess basically you're bypassing the motion detector. What about the alarm?

I'll check later - what if you only turn the key once?

I have LHD

Ch1pbutty · Jan 30, 2023

You can switch off the Alarm function with Carista....but not sure if it does so for the trailer part.

Above basis T5.1, but assume same for T6,T6.1

GrumpyGranddad · Jan 30, 2023

chris ratay traveler said:
I'm not sure if having the trailer makes any difference. Last week we took a 30-min ferry from Italy to Sicily. When we got back to the T6.1 van, the hazards were flashing. I'm assuming the motion on the ferry set it off and I'll need to remember to disable something?

We will be taking a 22 hour ferry from Italy to Spain, and would prefer not having the same issue. Does this need to be manually turned off each time, or can I make some sort of Global Setting? Folks have talked about solutions for T6, but the T6.1 is not set up the same.

When I leave the dog in the van with the doors locked, his motion sets off the alarm. I've tried removing the "check" mark on the Nav screen, but as soon as I use the van, the feature is no longer valid.

Is there any way to put a special button on the Nav screen to turn things off more quickly?

View attachment 104517 View attachment 104519

Double click on your key fob when locking your van. Works fine on my 6.1

B J G · Jan 30, 2023

I'd guess that the Ferry motion caused the trailer plug to disconnect, possibly momentarily, which sets of the alarm.

Check your plug is fully secured by giving it a 'waggle' when van is locked. If a poor connection the alarm will go off.

Suspect the trailer plug and it would be a good idea to open it to check the connections.

Only way to disable the trailer alarm is to unplug it before locking the Cali but odds on you'll forget to plug it back in before departing.

yossarian · Jan 30, 2023

From the manual:

Temporarily switching off the interior monitoring system and anti-tow alarm

The interior monitoring system and anti-tow alarm can be switched off temporarily in the Opening and closing submenu in the Infotainment system Vehicle settings menu.

The interior monitoring and anti-towing alarm are deactivated until the next time the vehicle is locked.

We recommend switching off the interior monitoring system and anti-tow alarm in the following situations:

If any people or animals are to remain inside the vehicle.

If the vehicle is to be loaded onto another vehicle.

If the vehicle is to be transported.

If the vehicle is going to be towed with one axle off the ground.

If the vehicle is to be parked in a two-storey garage.

If the vehicle is to be parked in a car wash.

False alarm risks of the interior monitoring system

Interior monitoring can only work properly if all the vehicle doors are fully closed. Comply with legal regulations.

A false alarm can be triggered in the following situations:

If one or more windows are fully or partly open.

If lightweight items are left in the vehicle, such as loose pieces of paper or items hung from the interior mirror.

If the vibration alarm of a mobile telephone is switched on.

Permanent deactivation of the interior monitoring and anti-tow alarm is not possible.

If doors or the boot lid are still open when the anti-theft alarm is activated, only the anti-theft alarm is activated. Interior monitoring and the anti-tow alarm are not activated until all doors and the boot lid are closed.

The SAFELOCK is also deactivated when the interior monitoring and anti-tow alarm are switched off.

Depending on equipment, the luggage compartment is also monitored. Retrofitted equipment or loads that are inadequately secured can restrict correct functioning of the system and increase the risk of a false alarm.

chris ratay traveler · Jan 30, 2023

B J G said:
I'd guess that the Ferry motion caused the trailer plug to disconnect, possibly momentarily, which sets of the alarm.

Check your plug is fully secured by giving it a 'waggle' when van is locked. If a poor connection the alarm will go off.

Suspect the trailer plug and it would be a good idea to open it to check the connections.

Only way to disable the trailer alarm is to unplug it before locking the Cali but odds on you'll forget to plug it back in before departing.

Thanks. It wasn't making any noise, just lights flashing
(it was very loud when I unplugged it once when it was locked)

Hawthorn37 · Jan 30, 2023

chris ratay traveler said:
So I guess basically you're bypassing the motion detector. What about the alarm?

I'll check later - what if you only turn the key once?

I have LHD

Turning once just locks the van in its normal alarmed state.

There’s another thread on all this btw with quite a bit of testing feedback. Double blipping the key seems to work for some, for us however (6.1 MY22) this only disables the internal motion sensor. To disable the anti-tow alarm two turns of the lock is required. I don’t know if your trailer influences this as I don’t have this to test.