Electrics: 850: - Beeping indicators

Timmilne · Mar 1st, 2018, 19:57

I have a (much-loved) 850 Estate (2.5 non-turbo), which today developed a loud beeping noise accompanying the indicators (as well as the usual click-click sound)

I wondered whether this might a Volvo way of telling me a bulb had gone, but all the indicators are working (inc the side repeaters).

Does anyone have a clue what this might be and how to stop it?

DaveNP · Mar 1st, 2018, 20:33

Do you have wiring for a towbar? There used to be (and probably still is) a requirement for some sort of notification of the trailer indicators working. The cars indicators are shown via the flashing symbols on the dash and in a truck there's a square next to them to show the trailer indicators, you don't have that in a car so the requirement used to be covered by fitting a bleeper to sound with the trailer indicator.

Stumo · Mar 1st, 2018, 21:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveNP

Do you have wiring for a towbar? There used to be (and probably still is) a requirement for some sort of notification of the trailer indicators working. The cars indicators are shown via the flashing symbols on the dash and in a truck there's a square next to them to show the trailer indicators, you don't have that in a car so the requirement used to be covered by fitting a bleeper to sound with the trailer indicator.

Bottom left of dash under temp gauge is the indicator for trailer indicators , green flashing left and right arrows on same square.
Don’t know what beep is , where does it sound like it’s coming from ?

Stumo · Mar 1st, 2018, 21:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveNP

Do you have wiring for a towbar? There used to be (and probably still is) a requirement for some sort of notification of the trailer indicators working. The cars indicators are shown via the flashing symbols on the dash and in a truck there's a square next to them to show the trailer indicators, you don't have that in a car so the requirement used to be covered by fitting a bleeper to sound with the trailer indicator.

Bottom left of dash under temp gauge is the indicator for trailer indicators , green flashing left and right arrows on same square.
Don’t know what beep is , where does it sound like it’s coming from ? The indicators are controlled by hazard switch is it from round there?

Timmilne · Mar 2nd, 2018, 08:37

Thanks for the responses

It does have a tow-bar with electrical socket, yes.

Hard to tell where the noise is coming from — the dash? — but it also beeps when the hazards are on too. The beeping matches the flashes of the signals too.

I'm not towing anything, so if it is related to the tow-bar socket, any ideas why it could suddenly start beeping now and how to stop it?

It's quite annoying

Timmilne · Mar 2nd, 2018, 08:40

Update!

It's now only beeping on the right hand indicator (and the hazards) and not the left

When it started, the noise was louder on the right than the left and then the left got louder where they were similar volumes, but now the left has stopped beeping

Timmilne · Mar 2nd, 2018, 08:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stumo

Bottom left of dash under temp gauge is the indicator for trailer indicators , green flashing left and right arrows on same square.
Don’t know what beep is , where does it sound like it’s coming from ? The indicators are controlled by hazard switch is it from round there?

There's no visual indicator for the indicators flashing other than the normal directional arrows, if that helps

canis · Mar 2nd, 2018, 09:57

Water in the towbar socket?

DaveNP · Mar 2nd, 2018, 10:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stumo

Bottom left of dash under temp gauge is the indicator for trailer indicators , green flashing left and right arrows on same square.

Well that's a 'learn something new everyday' thing. My 850 didn't have a flashing light for the trailer indicators, but if the towbar was an aftermarket fitment it would be plausible that they didn't use the Volvo electrics. Mine had a buzzer which was actually behind the side panel in the boot, not particularly audible if you filled the boot up before hooking up the trailer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timmilne

I'm not towing anything, so if it is related to the tow-bar socket, any ideas why it could suddenly start beeping now and how to stop it?

I'd be inclined to agree with Canis, there's probably some water/ice got into the sockets or wiring and caused enough of a short to make the bleeper think the lights are flashing.

Richard_TD · Mar 2nd, 2018, 17:25

You shouldn't use any sort of auxiliary flasher or buzzer for the indicators. The car's own flasher unit detects the presence of extra indicators and lights the dashboard lamp accordingly. If you do use an auxiliary flasher unit the car doesn't know it's there and doesn't light the light, so it's extra work for a less pleasing result.

I learned that by accident because I couldn't be bothered wiring in the relay I'd bought and connected directly to the indicator wires. I think there are actually spade connectors on the cluster for exactly that purpose.

Mar 1st, 2018, 19:57	#1
Timmilne Member Last Online: Oct 9th, 2023 09:24 Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: London	Beeping indicators I have a (much-loved) 850 Estate (2.5 non-turbo), which today developed a loud beeping noise accompanying the indicators (as well as the usual click-click sound) I wondered whether this might a Volvo way of telling me a bulb had gone, but all the indicators are working (inc the side repeaters). Does anyone have a clue what this might be and how to stop it?

Mar 1st, 2018, 20:33	#2
DaveNP Non VOC Member Last Online: Yesterday 21:52 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Milton Keynes	Do you have wiring for a towbar? There used to be (and probably still is) a requirement for some sort of notification of the trailer indicators working. The cars indicators are shown via the flashing symbols on the dash and in a truck there's a square next to them to show the trailer indicators, you don't have that in a car so the requirement used to be covered by fitting a bleeper to sound with the trailer indicator. __________________ David V70 2.5 10v Torslanda Manual 98 Sreg

Mar 2nd, 2018, 17:25	#10
Richard_TD Master Member Last Online: Mar 13th, 2020 17:15 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Fife	You shouldn't use any sort of auxiliary flasher or buzzer for the indicators. The car's own flasher unit detects the presence of extra indicators and lights the dashboard lamp accordingly. If you do use an auxiliary flasher unit the car doesn't know it's there and doesn't light the light, so it's extra work for a less pleasing result. I learned that by accident because I couldn't be bothered wiring in the relay I'd bought and connected directly to the indicator wires. I think there are actually spade connectors on the cluster for exactly that purpose. __________________ 1996 Volvo 855 2.5 20V GLT

Mar 2nd, 2018, 08:37	#5
Timmilne Member Last Online: Oct 9th, 2023 09:24 Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: London	Thanks for the responses It does have a tow-bar with electrical socket, yes. Hard to tell where the noise is coming from — the dash? — but it also beeps when the hazards are on too. The beeping matches the flashes of the signals too. I'm not towing anything, so if it is related to the tow-bar socket, any ideas why it could suddenly start beeping now and how to stop it? It's quite annoying

Mar 2nd, 2018, 08:40	#6
Timmilne Member Last Online: Oct 9th, 2023 09:24 Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: London	Update! It's now only beeping on the right hand indicator (and the hazards) and not the left When it started, the noise was louder on the right than the left and then the left got louder where they were similar volumes, but now the left has stopped beeping

Mar 2nd, 2018, 09:57	#8
canis Non Fragile Last Online: Oct 13th, 2023 05:46 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Chadderton, Oldham	Water in the towbar socket?

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