2011 MDX and 2005 M3 broken into & alarm failed
 

I wish there's some professional input

My wife's 2011 MDX got broken into twice this month. Looked like a screw driver jammed the keyhole and unlocked the driver's side door. Alarm never went off. I called Acura Canada and they claimed that it's impossible. I don't have much experience with Honda products but I'm absolutely disappointed. The theif also have time to unlock the M3 and clean up everything inside.

any Honda tech or alarm specialist ?

For the m3, u can buy the key hole delete cover to avoid this. Maybe there's similar stuff for the MDX?

These might be stupid questions but:

Are you sure your car has an actual audible alarm, not just a factory immobilizer? On many Acura's and Honda's, factory alarms were options, not standard equipment.

Also, how do you actually know your alarm didn't go off?

Also, you're still under warranty. So if you suspect your alarm is not functional, take it to the dealer for inspection, don't call Acura Canada.

Heck, test it yourself. Arm it with someone inside then have them open a door.

I had it checked out last month when it first got broken into. The MDX does have audible alarm. I had tried to open the door lock from inside while it's armed and the alarm went off. But the alarm just won't go off when the screw driver puncture the lock cyclinder. I'm sure because I'm up all night feeding my 9 month old. I usually sleep in the morning.

I called Acura Canada but they can't offer much help except telling me to go back to a dealer.
I also just visited Lougheed Acura but the service advisor offer little to no information.

I though if the alarm goes off you can put the key in and turn it and it turns off the alarm?

The cars may have a very basic alarm where they can be disarmed by using the key in the doors.

Try arming the alarm and using the key to unlock the door and open it.
See if the alarm will go off or not and that should answer your question.

The alarm probably went off but the thief was prob quick enough to shut it off?
I know that for the Mercedes alarms; once you set them off, you can just press the lock key from inside and the alarm would turn off. Maybe something similar? Because I doubt the alarm wouldn't go off since mine always goes off once it's armed and the door opens or if something bumps into it.

What an overpriced piece of shit that doesn't work... even my piece of crap Sunfire with no options has a horn that goes off when the door opens.

Did your wife leave any visible things in the car? Car parked on the street not in visible sight? Twice in a month, damn thieves probably thinking this car is easy to break in, so they probably came back again or something.

u r correct. the alarm won't go off on these honda/acuras if forced unlocked from the lock cylinder. :)

I don't know if this helps, but on my nissan, I can turn off the alarm when it is going off by putting the key in the door and turning it.

I know you are probably here to ask about the car alarm and it being defective and all, but I'm just curious about one thing. Since your wife's car got broken into twice, is she leaving stuff in plain sight for thieves to see?

my benz does not do that.:fullofwin:

The alarm didn't fail, the thief just knows its limitation and worked around it. The lock in the handle does not have any chip reader or electronics to check the key, it simply see's the cylinder turn, assumes its being turned by a properly cut key, and disables the alarm.

If the thief had opened the door without turning the lock, the door pin would have triggered the alarm to go off.

that's exactly what I thought about my first Honda product. I paid well over $60K for this POS and their certified Acura technician can't even give me a freaking definate answer if the alarm works !

:accepted:
It worked in my parent's R350 when the alarm went off; just had to press the lock key inside and it went off as soon as i pressed the key. (not on the key; but the button on the door)

I don't agree, ever since Honda/Acura has had chipped keys they have been setup so that if the door is unlocked by a key (aka screwdriver) and the transponder key signal does not match the alarm will still be armed and will go off once the door is opened.

I know this to be 100% correct, unless in the last couple years Honda/Acura decided to go full retard.

Also if the theif was good enough to "bypass" the alarm during his break in... he would probably be smart enough to do it with some other means.. not a screwdriver punching out the lock.

Is it possible your spouse has forgotten to lock the vehicle?

My stock Honda alarm will still go off even if I insert the key and unlock it that way, assuming I don't hit the disarm button first.



OP... just out of curiosity, but are you two positive the car was actually locked and armed? It wouldn't be the first time a thief would have broken into a car when all they had to do was try the door handle first. :lol

If we didn't lock the car, the thief doesn't needs punch the lock, right? I would rather leave the door unlock so I won't needs pay $300 deductible again.

Lougheed Acura technician confirmed that if the screw driver turned the lock correctly, the alarm will not be set off ! WTF right? I knew I should have bought the similarly priced Leus RX350 instead !

The other thing is, I don't know how the heck the thief unlocked the M3 as well (Its a convertible, so I guess it's easier ?)

Major design flaw for the MDX :suspicious:

Friends neighbour had a window to their POS Ford Windstar van smashed, all the doors were unlocked; basically the thief didn't bother trying to opening the unlocked door first.

Good info about the MDX lock though, I'll need to tell my friend about this.

Recently, North Burnaby had lots of vandalism issues. All the break in happened between Wednesday night to Thursday morning.

No, this is why it is worth the $$$ to get an aftermarket alarm installed. Most factory alarms don't have tilt or shock sensors so they can smash the windows and grab what they want and as long as they don't open the doors, none the wiser.

If the E46 M3 has an alarm, your car can be coded in two different settings:
1) use key to unlock car and the alarm will be disarmed
2) use key to unlock car but the alarm stays armed, and when a door is opened it will sound

The car's setting defaults to #1 if you didn't specifically ask for #2. Second last point in the first post:
E46 Alarm FAQ !! - Bimmerfest - BMW Forums

Have it changed asap. :accepted: