Hi everyone. I've had my 1.3 Copen for several years now. My wife won't accompany me in it - she says it is too bumpy. I love it and use it many times a year. But, the old problem, more than two weeks unused and that pointless Cobra alarm flattens the battery. After a lot of recharging and a lot of thought I just bought one of these switches (eBay 124270317993 ). What do you think, good idea, bad idea? Switch off battery when I won't be using it for a couple of weeks - so no Cobra drain - will it work? Overall the car is brilliant, 45,000 miles and everything works perfectly - I initially had an intermittent hood failure problem (discussed here before) but discovered it was simply a tiny misalignment in a very small tongue of metal in the boot lock (I got the car very cheap because it had been lightly hit up the back - soon fixed - and everything else was like new). Or has anyone found a way to cut out that stupid alarm?
It’s more likely that your battery is on the way out. I had similar issues with mine and spent (wasted) a fair bit of money on auto electricians and a new alternator until the source was actually found to be the battery. Replaced and the car sat on the drive quite happily for 4 or 5 weeks and still started. The isolator switch is probably still a good idea but you’ll still have problems when the temperature drops later in the year.
My experience is exactly the same - the battery is very small and is probably on the way out. It can't take the small background drain current. With a new battery it holds the charge for weeks with no problem.
This might sound stupid, but why not just get the alarm removed? My (Daihatsu) alarm occasionally goes off when she seems to think I've somehow stolen the car. But it's maybe once a year & eventually I persuade her that I am the owner using a real key, so it doesn't bother me. She splits daily driving with my maxi-scooter so she rarely sits too long. I had a very nice new battery installed a year ago after catastrophic failure whilst driving. As each piece of the car shut down it was like being in an airliner going down - lights were going off, things were beeping & I had a series of lectures from the Japanese girl who haunts my car. I stress here that I then bought a good quality battery, not a cheap one. Problem fixed. However, recently, I was in hospital & my car sat for maybe 3 weeks. I had to take her for her 60k km logbook service and - nothing. Luckily I'm on good terms with my mechanics & they loaned me a jump start pack. Idled it for an hour, drove around for a bit, got a trickle charge top-up & now it seems like new. However, in order this doesn't happen again, I bought a miniature jump start kit on eBay Australia for $50. It uses a battery which is essentially the same as the battery pack you carry to recharge your phone. It has two little clamps & I guess it's good for one or two attempts when charged. So now this little box lives in my garage in case of emergency. I'd recommend buying one even if your battery is fine, just as insurance. I'll charge this battery every few months to make sure it doesn't die. Anyway, just my thoughts, Brian
The Cobra alarm is a rats nest of interconnected wires and functions. Although it’s an aftermarket unit, it was fitted by Daihatsu UK so fully integrated into the cars loom. As far as I know it controls things like the remote boot release as well as the central locking and immobiliser. Given how UK insurers treat modifications, removing a Thatcham alarm/immobiliser isn’t going to go down well. In addition I don’t think the original manufacturer is in existence although Cobra Tech do still provide support for these units (they sorted mine FOC about 3 years back). The battery is on the way out anyway so save the pain and buy a new one. They’re less than a ton and you can get a better capacity in the same form factor with a warranty. The alternator will have capacity to spare as long as you’re doing some decent runs and not just 2-3 mile hops. Maybe leave the heated seats on low in the winter though.
Unfortunately the battery is the second new one (expensive, better capacity and not junk) same problem. A motor electrician told me the Cobra fitted to mine is famous for battery drain and removal would be a nightmare.
Try speaking to Cobra Tech. They may have a solution such as a blanking plug that will just bridge the connections and bypass their box of tricks.
Disconnect the battery or install some switch. I managed to use the original battery for 9 summers , just disconnected in the winter. I never charged it.
Hello, I have the same issue, I'm thinking to unplug the alarm fuse during winter instead of unplugging the battery. Does someone knows which fuse is used ?
