Car alarms are calibrated to trigger under specific conditions so they can prevent your vehicle from being stolen.
However, there are different situations where you may need to set the system off intentionally, but if you’re not sure how to do so, you may wonder what the proper method is. If you’d like to find out, keep reading!
How Do I Set Off A Car Alarm?
You can set off a car alarm by exploiting the different scenarios in which it’s rigged to trigger. These methods typically include interacting with the areas that would be targeted during a potential theft. You can also trigger the alarm by using the owner’s tools with that function built in.
Learn everything about how to trigger a car alarm, including how to do it with and without keys, as well as on different models by reading more below!
How Do I Set Off a Car Alarm?
As stated in the first section, there are different ways to set off a car’s alarm system. All you have to do is trigger the situations where it would kick in on its own.
Some of the easiest ways to do this include the following:
1. Use The Fob
Most modern cars come with a wireless fob that you can use to control different functions of your vehicle remotely, and one of these functions is the ability to trigger the alarm remotely using the panic button.
Car fobs have a button on them that can be used to find a car in a crowded or confusing parking structure or when it’s dark outside.
This button can also be used to set off the alarm when you press and hold it down for a short while.
The fob is the button with a horn symbol. Manufacturers that include the panic mode by long pressing on this button will usually design the horn symbol in red, so it’s easier to determine its use in emergency situations.
Some models also come with a fob that has a dedicated panic button that can set off the alarm with a single press.
A fob with a dedicated panic button will have it marked prominently, so it’s easy to spot and press on the first try.
The fob is also usually placed separate from the other keys, so it’s easier to locate by touch for faster access and convenience in a bind.
A dedicated panic button will be marked with the word “PANIC” and usually in red, so its emergency functionality is more obvious.
This function is intended to alert people in the area or scare off anyone looking to attack the car owner.
2. Exploit The Sensors
Your car’s alarm system works by having sensors placed at strategic locations where they’re more likely to detect activity from a potential thief. You can set the alarm system off intentionally by targeting one of these sensors.
There are sensors in the car doors, usually the front ones and particularly the one on the driver’s side.
Some vehicles have sensors in the trunk and hood, meaning that if you wanted to cut any wires you wouldn’t get far.
These sensors are there to detect entry without the key or the fob, such as when the lock is jimmied open with a screwdriver. Trip the alarm by attempting unauthorized entry into the vehicle.
Cheap alarm systems only have sensors on the doors, so unless you paid for a more advanced model, this is your only option.
Some more advanced alarm systems also have shock sensors that detect impact or other sensations to the body of the car.
These sensors are more sensitive and therefore easier to trip, but they have a higher threshold for a more prolonged alert to prevent false alarms in certain situations (ex. the car getting hit by a ball from kids playing nearby, producing a brief but loud alert).
For these types of sensors, you would need to create force that’s enough to trip the switch with more severity.
There might also be some sensors that are designed to detect activity around the windows. These are either microphones or pressure detectors, both of which are usually placed in the front, around the top corners of the windshield.
Microphones listen for the sound of breaking glass, and if they pick this specific sound up, they sound the alarm.Their calibration and positioning means they have little chance of picking up window breakage that isn’t on the car itself.
Pressure sensors detect pressure fluctuation in the windows and if it’s beyond a set threshold, they trigger the alarm. There are some car alarm systems that come with motion and tilt sensors, but these would be more difficult to trigger on your own.
Pressure sensors are designed to detect changes in factors such as the inclination of the car when the key isn’t in the ignition, like what would happen if someone towed your car or tried to lift it to grab your wheels.
By understanding how these sensors work and where they’re placed, you can set off your car alarm intentionally. This method is ideal for when you’re testing the effectiveness of the alarm.
3. Use An App
Some manufacturers are making cars (or at least their fobs) with smart functionality that allows them to be paired with a smartphone via an app.
This function was initially introduced to help car owners use their phone to find their fob, but it has since expanded.
Today, some more advanced vehicle models will allow you to install an app that acts as a fob with more functionality, including the ability to set off the alarm remotely.
How To Set Off Alarm On Mini Cooper
You can set off the alarm system on a Mini Cooper by exploiting the sensors located in the doors, hood and trunk.
How To Set Off Car Alarm With Keys
As stated above, you can use the button with the word “PANIC” or long press the button with the horn symbol to set off the alarm using your key fob.
How To Set Off Car Alarm On BMW With Key
On BMW models where the fob doesn’t have a dedicated panic button, press and hold the button that unlocks the trunk for a few seconds and this will set off the alarm.
To learn more, you can also see our related posts on how to disable aftermarket car alarm, how to disconnect a car alarm fuse, and how to turn off a car alarm without a key.
Conclusion
You can set off a car alarm by using the key fob. It functions differently depending on the model, so consult your manufacturer or owner’s manual. You can also use a fob app for this on some modern vehicles.
You can also set off the alarm by targeting the sensors that might be in the doors, hood, trunk, windows, etc.