Chimes not working

[turboturbo]

I've done a little more research, both online, and with my wife's car. I can confirm that all the functions work as designed on her car. Door locks, lights, key actions (locking/windows, etc). Warning lights work. All noises are disabled. There are a number of old posts on this forum where members have reported the exact same thing, and unfortunately, there are no reports of resolution.

On her car, I doubt that the part is broken. We bought it from the original owner with just over 10k on it when it was less than a year old. I am positive that the noises have been disabled, I just don't know how it was done. I'll figure it out, though...

[MyOtherRidesAVette]

Originally Posted by NB dad

My daughter's 2001 had a weak piezo sound when we got it used about 2 1/2 years ago, we have it recorded on video when she got the car, or I would never have remembered. We finally figured out that it quit making any noise after she'd left the lights on a time or two. I asked ECS Tuning if the noisemaker was available as a replacement, because as some of you have said, they are usually a replaceable module. ECS said that it is part of the wiring harness, and is not available. It would be nice to find out otherwise! BTW, what is the best (and least expensive) source for finding out what device is causing a fault code, and what channel numbers do? I have ECS' scan tool but most times I'm not sure what it is telling me, their instructions are vague at best. The reason this is relates is because the tool does check outputs, and the piezo did not work.

I'm sorry, I'm a little confused by some of your terminology. "weak piezo sound"? "channel numbers"? "the piezo did not work"?

This is probably the code reader you have from ECS, I have the same one.
Home Page > Search > Vagchecker > ES#9951 V-Checker Scanner - Basic - VAGCHECKERBASIC

When you have the codes, go here for identification, diagnostics, and possible solutions (I think you are asking for this resource), much better than the Bentley
Ross-Tech Viki
Category:Fault Codes - Ross-Tech Wiki

If your looking for more information, or I'm misunderstanding something, please post up.

M.

[MyOtherRidesAVette]

Originally Posted by turboturbo

I've done a little more research, both online, and with my wife's car. I can confirm that all the functions work as designed on her car. Door locks, lights, key actions (locking/windows, etc). Warning lights work. All noises are disabled. There are a number of old posts on this forum where members have reported the exact same thing, and unfortunately, there are no reports of resolution.

On her car, I doubt that the part is broken. We bought it from the original owner with just over 10k on it when it was less than a year old. I am positive that the noises have been disabled, I just don't know how it was done. I'll figure it out, though...

The only way I can see of doing this, with the information we have put together todate, would be to pull the wires from the 32 -pin connectors on the back of the cluster or clip them. Assuming of course that these connections are inbound from the sensors. What nixes this concept however, is that the "lights on" sensor connections are shared with the turn signal indicator lights in the cluster. Very confusing. I've had issues with pulling up the wiring schematics on the Bentley DVD-ROM, but I'm working on that. I can't read the ones in the paper Bentley, print is too small and I can find a magnifying glass. (lol)

M.

[turboturbo]

Try taking a digital pic of the manual with the camera on the macro setting.

That buzzer/chime has to be somewhere other than the cluster.

[MyOtherRidesAVette]

Originally Posted by turboturbo

Try taking a digital pic of the manual with the camera on the macro setting.

That buzzer/chime has to be somewhere other than the cluster.

Too much trouble, easier to capture from the DVD-ROM, but I'm glad you posted up, because I had forgotten about doing this.

[turboturbo]

Hey, while I'm thinking of it, have a look at your spare clusters and see if you can recognize the buzzer!

[MyOtherRidesAVette]

The problem with that is that they are in sealed factory boxes, and if I did open the box, I would also have to open the cluster. Not what I want to do for resale purposes. I'm still having problems opening the wiring schematics from the DVD-ROM. Going to have to email eBahn and see what's going on. Real busy right now, but I will get to it.

I'm going to open a thread with a different title. Somebody has to know about the location of the audible signal device.

M.

[MyOtherRidesAVette]

Need some help in another thread, here
Chimes not working

Someone around here must know where the audible signaling device(s) is/are located for the seat belts, door ajar, low fuel, key in ignition, warning buzzer and chimes.

Been all through the Bentley Service and Bentley Repair Manuals and can find nothing.

Help!

MORAV

[NB dad]

My ECS scanner is the Pro model. Figured might as well get the one that can do the most damage! When you go to Measuring Blocks, Basic Settings, Adaption, and Independent Channel Value, the display reads "Channel[0-255]". Then it allows you to enter a number. I don't know what these channels are, don't want to cause all kinds of trouble, and was hoping the manual with the scanner would provide the info, so I haven't messed with them until I find out what they are. The instructions say to "consult the Factory Repair Manual (or some other documented procedure) before 'playing' with the Basic Settings function." Thus I'm trying to find one of those 'other documented procedure's. I did find a few references on this site; I confess I didn't look before I asked. Sorry. But, they were more related to trouble codes, not the channels. What I really want the channels for is off topic, but I am wondering if one of the 'channels' is the warning signal even though the output test provided no output.

On to that noise maker. Her car never sounded like a "chime", it was more of an irritating constant tone sorta like the high pitched 'headlights on' reminder that Chevrolet uses- a piezo is what we called it in the fire alarm biz. At any rate, it was weak and squawky, so it was even more irritating, but it soon died and was forgotten about. We didn't do anything to the programming before it quit, the analyzer used to test it was purchased after we realized that nothing was generating a warning signal - seat belts, headlights on, key in ignition...Good thing we can't lock the doors without the remote!

We've really adapted to not having the signal, I've got my daughter in the habit of checking her headlights when she's walking away from the vehicle, esp. during the day. But since I noticed the topic, I thought I'd let you know that the signal did quit on it's own without programming, and I'd been told that it isn't replaceable by ECS. That was the extent of my research. I do appreciate your willingness to assist. While I understand simple electricity, these automobile wiring diagrams with all their modules lose me in a jiffy!

[MyOtherRidesAVette]

It's a great thread, that is becoming more and more informative. Glad your here! I think the type of audible signal changed as the model evolved. Some items are now a buzzer, some a chime (dinging), and some both, i.e. the low fuel audible warning on mine.

I know, from reading the Bentley Repair Manual (DVD-ROM), that the individual sensors can be diagnosed via the VAG-COM. And I read briefly about the channel settings, and think the signal(s) could possibly be turned off thru these functions. Just hard to believe that someone would go to the trouble (and/or expense) to delete these. And why? I could understand the seat belt, but the rest???

I wish I knew a lot more about the functions of the VAG-COM, but really haven't had a reason to buy one (and I'm not sure how much I can learn without "hands-on". I bought the Bentley Service (paper) and Repair (DVD-ROM) Manuals to help others and have a better understanding of my own NBC. I'm somewhat of a sponge for knowledge!

That you have the equipment, and don't have a Repair Manual surprises me. Are you using the limited "freeware" or have you gone the whole route with full access to the program via the "key" cable? (Still reading about all this).

I do have an extra Bentley Repair DVD-ROM ('98-'08) (the only way it comes other than direct purchase of direct download), unopened and unregistered that I have for sale for $65.

Yours would appear to be a device failure issue, obviously not sensors, although control could be through the ECM, I'm guessing, which could be another potential source for the failure.

Stay tuned as this unfolds. At least oone other Orger working on it!

[NB dad]

That you have the equipment, and don't have a Repair Manual surprises me. Are you using the limited "freeware" or have you gone the whole route with full access to the program via the "key" cable? (Still reading about all this).

Well, mostly it has to do with my wife's paranoia about Check Engine Lights, and my unwillingness to pay a shop to clear them. Avoiding two trips to most shops pays for the scanner; it was a no-brainer to get it.

I don't figure most CEL's means the car is going to shut down, but giving my wife credit, I suppose it is a possibility. Cars didn't used to have CEL's, afterall! After I took it to AutoZone to scan it one time, wasn't very helpful. He said it would clear after 5 key turns or something, but I wasn't convinced. And it didn't clear, so I had to take matters in my own hands. At least I knew the problem wasn't severe! I was hoping the scanner had more details about the codes, but then, the instructions don't even tell you to turn the key back on to communicate! As it is, though, reading codes isn't a problem, resetting them is a snap. Knowing what to do about them is the hard part! It even reset an air bag code after I'd removed the carpet and didn't plug in the seat. It's a great tool, but obviously I need to get a manual.

The internet, esp. this website has taught me a lot. I've repaired the power windows, changed the sway bar bushings, replaced the waterpump and timing belt, and added a cd changer! Sometimes though, information conflicts from one site to the next, and the language of the codes don't exactly match, either. There are still lots of tricks that will help shut the CEL off for good, but so far, the car is running fine! The CEL has nothing to do with the chimes not working, it case I've steered you off track.

I don't know what the 'key cable' is, so I've got even more to learn! I don't envy mechanics these days. . .

[MyOtherRidesAVette]

Originally Posted by NB dad

I don't figure most CEL's means the car is going to shut down... Cars didn't used to have CEL's, afterall!

Your right, on both counts, however...
1) A CEL can indicate a problem tah left unresolved may lead to more expensive repairs, even the possiblity of damage to the system.
2) And you used to be able to do virtually anything that needed to be done with a multi-meter, dwell meter, timing light, set of feeler gauges, and a decent set of mechanics tools. And they didn't have things like thermo-switches, 02 sensors, well, the list goes on forever...

Originally Posted by NB dad

I was hoping the scanner had more details about the codes, but then, the instructions don't even tell you to turn the key back on to communicate! As it is, though, reading codes isn't a problem, resetting them is a snap. Knowing what to do about them is the hard part!

This is the absolute best resource I have found -
Category:Fault Codes - Ross-Tech Wiki

Neither the Bentley paper, nor their DVD-ROM, nor the Bentley site, offer as much information.

Originally Posted by NB dad

I've repaired the power windows, changed the sway bar bushings, replaced the waterpump and timing belt, and added a cd changer! Sometimes though, information conflicts from one site to the next, and the language of the codes don't exactly match, either.

So you have saved more than enough money to pay for the Manuals (you need both), and you have discovered the first reason as to why!

Originally Posted by NB dad

I don't know what the 'key cable' is, so I've got even more to learn! I don't envy mechanics these days. . .

No, I see now, going back and reading, that you have the pro Reader, for some reason I thought you had the cable/laptop/software set-up. Threre are two versions of software, the freeware, and the full-blown, the later of which is controlled by a cable that has a built in "key" See the eBahn website.

Originally Posted by NB dad

There are still lots of tricks that will help shut the CEL off for good, but so far, the car is running fine! The CEL has nothing to do with the chimes not working, it case I've steered you off track

Not a problem at all, this has become a discovery thread, and doing a little multi-learning in the same place is fine with me, most of us for that matter.

M.

[MyOtherRidesAVette]

Update!

Okay, I have learned the "warning buzzer" as The Bentley terms it, is located IN the Control Module (J285), which is located in the "instrument panel insert" (not sure what that is referring to). I would assume this to be non-servicable, but replaceable.

M.

[ashfleeburgooben]

After replacing the sensors in both doors and the trunk I still have no warning buzzer.

Hooked up the VCDS today and ran the output tests on the Control Module and no dings.

I would love to figure out if it's possible to replace just the buzzer somehow.

[MyOtherRidesAVette]

Anything that is assembled, can be disassembled and repaired. The problem in this case would be to find the component. Btw, I listened real closely, and you can tell it is coming from the instrument cluster. You can also tell the buzzer and the chime are the same signal, just modulated differently to create the chime/buzzer sounds. But if you want to try it, buy an old used cluster to source the part. I think I'd opt for swapping clusters.

M.

[mlt]

I used to have working lights and chime after $3 repair until recently. Now my door light lights up but not salon lights when i open the door. So I am sure sensor is working but further connection is intermittent. Today, even door light became weak. I wonder if some wire gets loose so we loose chime and cabin lights even with working sensor.

Update: Last time it was even quirkier. The door light was changing from the full brightness to half every ~5 seconds along with chime and cabin lights on while door light was at full brightness and no chime and cabin light while door light was at half brightness.

[awschubert]

Originally Posted by MyOtherRidesAVette

We're still trying to determine is the audible signaling device is, in fact, in the cluster head. Stay tuned.

Btw, I have a couple of new clusters ($100 shipped). nothing like $600, but they do have to be coded in with a Vag-Com.

M.

Well if you still have one that has working audibles (if we determine that, that is the problem, I would be interested in buying one from you.) My next thing would be finding someone near me with a Vag-Com to code it for me for cheap.. Shoot me a pm and maybe we can make arrangements