electrical and ignition Warning Buzzer Trouble

[willie002]

Yesterday, I was in a hurry of course to get somewhere and a buzzer went off in my "74 - 2002. The only time I've heard something like it was with the seat belt and key in the ignition warnings which have long been eliminated. The sound seems to be coming from under the dash but unfortunately I can't get under the car far enough to see real good. Does anyone have an idea where I should be looking closer at to maybe find what's going on?

[John_in_VA]

The buzzer that sounds when you leave the key in the ignition is in the steering column near the light & turn signal switches. Take the upper & lower halves apart and you'll see/hear it.

[AceAndrew]

Still gives me the willies.

http://www.bmw2002faq.com/topic/125040-this-morning-i-hated-my-2002/

Edited September 4, 2013 by AceAndrew

[Mike Self]

Easy way to silence the key-in-ignition buzzer that doesn't involve taking the covers off the steering column:  remove the dome light push button switch on the driver's side; you'll see two wires.  One turns on the dome light, the other one sounds the buzzer.  Disconnect the appropriate wire, tape the end and stuff it back in the bodywork.  Reinstall the switch, and you'll never hear the buzzer again--at least for the ign key. 

 

If it still sounds, it's the seat belt buzzer.   Let us know and we'll tell you how to disconnect that.

 

mike

[Honolulu]

IIRC the buzzer item is a cube about 3/4 inch on a side.  It's mounted in the column and has only one wire connecting to it (grounds via shell to column).  I took it out long ago and hurled it into the weeds... no really I put it "somewhere safe" in my collection of little bits.  It hasn't seen the light of day since.

 

Wish I could do the same for the wife's MB.

[willie002]

I haven't had a lot of time to work on the buzzer issue but I did take the dome light switch out and am trying to determine which of the wires to disconnect. One post has a single wire to it and has a white cover. The other post has a double wire connection. I believe I'm needing to disconnect the single wire post but a little hesitant to pull it and stuff it back in until I'm sure it's the one. Fishing it back out off the hole would be a real challenge if I were wrong. Guess it's time to dig the wiring diagram out and take a look. 

[willie002]

I've been working on disconnecting the buzzer wire from the drivers side dome light switch. You've got 2 choices and 1 chance a to get it. The wire to disconnect was the one with the white plastic on it that was brown/green and was a single wire. The other connection is a different color and has a dual wire connection on the post. Everything is quite now.

 

Thanks for all the help......

[eurotrash]

https://dl-web.dropbox.com/get/Sounds/2002_Door_Buzzer.mp3?w=AADgaFdpYCmHCrlBLSrcI7z5qphy9Tro02LdBtBPyR0Q1Q

Edited September 15, 2013 by eurotrash

[eurotrash]

... for reference.  You know.  for posterity.

Edited September 15, 2013 by eurotrash

[fastricky]

Had this occur to me yesterday... driving along enjoying life then when I least expected it... zing!! The buzzer of death emerged from nowhere. Seems it would activate or go away by jiggling the key in the ignition - an issue I've never had. So today I took apart the covers from the steering column only to discover someone already moved the buzzer down the column so that all I needed to do was remove the bottom / under dash cover to access the buzzer and disconnect it. Ah well got it sorted but what a special PITA it is to reinstall the two covers and have the bolts line up correctly. Tip that worked for me was to stick a thin philips head screwdriver in thru the holes to get the alignment correct and then place the bolt in.

[PaulTWinterton]

1 hour ago, fastricky said:

already moved the buzzer down the column so that all I needed to do was remove the bottom / under dash cover to access the buzzer and disconnect it. Ah well got it sorted but what a special PITA it is to reinstall the two covers and have the bolts line up correctly. Tip that worked for me was to stick a thin philips head screwdriver in thru the holes to get the alignment correct and then place the bolt in.

 

If I recall, the buzzer was bolted to the lower cover for easy access.  Correct?

 

Ha, the dreaded "under-dash twist".  Knees on the ground, torso twisting, neck stretching, screwdriver fumbling, pain the butt.  Welcome to the club!

 

Good on you for using the screwdriver through the hole trick.  I use an ice pick.

 

I will say that I am a bit envious that you have a complete buzzer circuit albeit shorting at the moment.  I have wanted to restore my system, but I would replace the buzzer with a gentle chime or something more modern and less irritating.  I think that would be a great ungrade and conversation piece.  There are too many unknowns for me to start fixing the system. eg. seatbelt electrical connector.  I have no idea if/or how they work.  I'm missing the switch under the drivers' seat pad, etc.  ...end of rant.

 

If you are driving a 74 or later, I think the handbrake light switch behind the handbrake may have something to do with the buzzer circuit. Check it's connection for a short.

 

Edit: I believe part of the circuit is also connected to the switches in the Apillars for the interior light, activated by opening the doors.  Another great place for a potential short. 

Edited March 15, 2020 by PaulTWinterton

[fastricky]

33 minutes ago, PaulTWinterton said:

 

If I recall, the buzzer was bolted to the lower cover for easy access.  Correct?

 

Ha, the dreaded "under-dash twist".  Knees on the ground, torso twisting, neck stretching, screwdriver fumbling, pain the butt.  Welcome to the club!

 

The buzzer was a round unit (I'd read it was square) and was ziptied to the column so that's what led me to believe it was moved... And yeah, that is a special level of discomfort trying to get the right vantage point underneath!