How's that for randomness?

I have this medium-tone piezo buzzer sounding 'BREEP' that goes off a couple scattered times whenever I'm in the car for at least 20-30 min. I can't tell from where behind the dash it's coming from. I do have a K40 radar detector built-in, but it's even switched off and the hidden red LED light for it (works) does not illuminate whenever this sound is heard. Sounds different too. Very odd.

Possibly unrelated, the 'tick-tock' relay sound of the turn signals has also suddenly vanished. Turn signals themselves still work (all 4). Has the relay simply gone bad? I had this happen in a previous car.

Any ideas?

 

The turn signal sound is not the traditional relay sound heard in most cars, it is a generated sound played thru a small speaker in the dash area. I would bet your intermittent buzzing and no turn signal sound are directly related. What I don't know is the where the module is located.

 

The turn signal sound and the various warning chimes all play through the small speaker situated in the steering column shroud -easy to get at.If the other chimes as well as the turning signal audible warning are not working it's probably the speaker - they are about $30 from a dealer.If you need it I can search through my records for the part number - just drop me a p.m.

 

Does your airbag light flash multiple times when you start the car? Airbag faults can also lead to periodic beeps while driving.

 

I need to buy that little speaker thing as well. I was told I could just pull a speaker out of a dead laptop and install it. Is there any truth to that?

 

Interesting. A relay built into the hazard switch is what made that sound on my old Passat. Sounds like British engineering!

No airbag light (or any others), so it's not that, unless that light burned out... will check to see if it comes up once normally on startup next time. I'm sure any little speaker would work as a replacement, but odd for that to go out- usually they just blow out, still work, and sound horrid.

I've got an extra couple laptop speakers lying around doing me no good yet. If this is it and fixes it, I'll send the other one to someone here.

 

Once you get it working you will have a new appreciation for the unique, lovely and refined 'knock on wood' blinker sound vs. the click-clack of the relay in most cars. It is one of the little things that makes this car a special experience.

 

Indeed, thanks. That was actually one of the first things I marveled at when I took it for a test drive! Pleasing sound, by design I'm sure.

 

I believe it's actually designed to sound like a metronome
(couldn't find a piano LOL )

NikasilNik

 

If it does fix it, I call dibs on your spare laptop speaker!

 

Will do! Gimme a few weeks.

 

I had the same problem with no sound from turn signals, emergency light button etc so look forward to hearing about the fix. Someone suggested using cheap earbuds/headphone, cut the wires and hook on to the speaker leads to see if there is sound. If it does, it has to be the speaker. Am busy finishing up new hydraulic lines for the top, so this is next!

 

Haven't gotten around to this yet, but as an update, the random beep has been silent for the past week or two... very strange.

 

Update several months later... after leaving the car down for a few months while I replaced my hydraulic system, the turn signal's tick-tock is back! Battery stayed connected. Very odd. May still be a short somewhere, but it's been fine for a week. Still haven't heard that piezo buzzer sound since the last update. Anyway...