Hi there, I have a tricky problem on my '96 CSE 2.3T.
I just went to unlock it with the remote, and ... nothing. I noticed that the red diode on the dash has stopped flashing, so I guess the VSS system has failed in some way. The thing is if I unlock it manually will the alarm go off - with no means of turning it off other than disconnecting the battery. Also will the car start anyway if immobiliser is still operative?
Hmmm, a bit of a dilemma. I have a nasty feeling it will have to be taken away on the back of a lorry to the dealer to be sorted.
Any thoughts greatly appreciated.

I should start by saying I am no expert. On mine when this happened I open the door manually then opened the bonnet and turned the alarm and immobilser off with the key (that I presume they all have). My problem was a battery in the handset though not a prob with the alarm itself, I would have thought if the alarm is faulty it wont go off anyway and if it does the key should do the trick, after all you'll have to open it up sometime to et to the alarm.

oh forgot to say on mine at least the alarm does not go off when battery is disconnected as it has its own power supply.

I'm sure it's not the fob battery. The diode should be flashing so it must be a car problem. I've not seen a key to disable the alarm directly - I presume you must have an aftermarket alarm.
As I say, a tricky one...

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I've not seen a key to disable the alarm directly - I presume you must have an aftermarket alarm.

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There is no key for VSS. Keys are only fitted on aftermarket alarms (or the dealer-fit ones that were made for Saab by Cobra), not on the factory-fit systems.

I've heard that disconnecting the battery for a while and reconnecting might sort out a non-working VSS. Press the button a few times after reconnection to see if it all "syncs up" again.

Then again, if the LED has gone off, perhaps the system has disarmed correctly. Does the LED start blinking after a while as the immobiliser cuts in? Maybe it's something simple like the central locking fuse? If the LED is off, I'd certainly try unlocking the doors manually as it wouldn't appear to be armed in this position.

Have a 10mm spanner ready so if worst comes to worst, you're prepared to whip open the bonnet and disconnect the negative lead from the battery.

It might be the fob battery and the alarm isn't set......

If the alarm goes off they can only sound for a set period of time, (so if England make the world cup final do it just after they score - it will be noisym but cold as Hell will have just frozen over ) so it shouldn't be too embarrassing.

At the moment you can't drive the car because you fear it might be immobilised if you set the alarm off.

If you do set the alarm off and it immobilises the car, at least you know where you stand. Besides next to a car with the alarm going off....

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I unlocked the door with the key and only that door unlocked - no c/l. Then gingerly opened the door... nothing. Disconnected battery for few mins and reconnected. Suspiciously no spark as I reconnected. Tried ignition... nothing. Conclusion: car battery is dead

slightly off the original topic, but anyone know why my indicators are only flashing sometimes when i lock the car? (un-locking is normal) the slighly flash, as in a 1/2 second or less, so no reall illumination of the bulbs most of the time.
On the rare occasions, they flash as normal.
The horn makes its noise all the time, and the dash LED comes on like it should... just wondering if anyone has had similar experience?