2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992) 1986-1992 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections.

The Warning Buzz

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 30, 2006 | 05:12 PM
  #1  
JJ01769's Avatar
Thread Starter
Lovin The Spinnin Doritos
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 131
Likes: 0
From: Huntsville, AL
The Warning Buzz

What exactly can cause this to go off? My idiot lights are not working right right now so I have no idea if any of those cause it. Ive checked my oil and coolant and even tranny fluid and all are up to spec. I honestly think that since my wire harness is so screwed up, its shorting somewhere and causing the alarm thing to go off. It comes on and off when I drive and is really annoying. Hah I did notice that if i turn the wheel a little to the left, it cuts it off until I straighten it back out. I know, I know, that shouldnt be happening. Im in the process of getting a new harness in there as soon as I can. But for now, could someone please for the love of God tell me how to turn that damned thing off. I might crash that car into a wall if I have to keep listening to it all day.
Reply
Old Mar 30, 2006 | 05:38 PM
  #2  
RoughRex's Avatar
It's Radiation Therapy
Tenured Member 15 Years
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 902
Likes: 0
From: Nashville, TN
Buzzer goes off when you hit redline and when the coolant is low....there may be other causes as well but those are the two that I know of. Check the coolant level sensor on top of the radiator just to the left of the radiator cap. Otherwise it could be a short in the harness I guess.... also, make sure you are filling your coolant from the filler neck and using the air bleeder screw in the left side of the radiator, don't fill at the radiator cap.
Reply
Old Mar 30, 2006 | 06:00 PM
  #3  
Mechanic's Avatar
THE Mazdabator
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 597
Likes: 0
From: NY
yeah, my car occasionally buzz out of nowhere
most of the time when i start driving before the car is fully warmed...

scared the living... out of me the first time it buzzed for no reason, and no lights lit up, check wires to buzzer, my wires are all screwed, looking to see if i can buy a harness one day lol...
Reply
Old Mar 30, 2006 | 07:45 PM
  #4  
rotarevil's Avatar
Newbie
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: PA
It is suppoesedly a a normal occurance. My 87 n/a does the same thing. I have random lights come on when the feel like it too. I haven't modified any of the wiring...yet. Hope you can get it figured out. Let me know what fixes it.
Reply
Old Mar 31, 2006 | 12:14 AM
  #5  
NZConvertible's Avatar
I'm a boost creep...
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 15,608
Likes: 8
From: Auckland, New Zealand
The warning buzzer is for redline, low oil or low coolant. Disabling it is just plain dumb. Check the oil and coolant levels, and if they're okay then fix whatever's wrong with the warning system. It's not exactly complex.
Reply
Old Mar 31, 2006 | 08:16 AM
  #6  
stylEmon's Avatar
FC since 99
Tenured Member 15 Years
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,712
Likes: 2
From: PHL
MIne just started doing it. The "Add Coolant" light comes on and it BUZZZZZs for the first few minutes. I check the coolant and its fine. Thanks for the tip about the sensor. I'll check that out this aft.

Also, when I am get to where ever I'm going, I put up the eBrake, the "charge" light comes on. Its only at the end of trips.

In my first RX, I just ripped out the buzzer. On this one, I'd really like to fix the prob instead.
Reply
Old Mar 31, 2006 | 08:56 AM
  #7  
Aaron Cake's Avatar
Engine, Not Motor
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 29,798
Likes: 128
From: London, Ontario, Canada
As mentioned, low oil, low coolant and overrev will trip the buzzer.

The coolant buzzer expects to see ground at the coolant level sensor on the top of the rad. Either you have air bubbles or the wire is broken somewhere. You can prove the wire is not broken by disconnecting it from the sensor and grounding it. The buzz should stop. If that's the case, then replace the sensor or bleed the system.

The oil buzzer will activate when the wire sees ground. Again, easy to test by ungrounding and grounding the wire.

I don't think I've ever heard of a random overrev buzzer.

The appropriate wire colours and information on all these tests can be found in the Haynes and Factory Service (FAQ) manuals.
Reply
Old Mar 31, 2006 | 04:52 PM
  #8  
Aaron Cake's Avatar
Engine, Not Motor
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 29,798
Likes: 128
From: London, Ontario, Canada
I deleted both posts with instructions for disabling the buzzer.

DO NOT DISABLE THE BUZZER. What do you think happens to your engine when you are running with low oil or low coolant? And the only way to tell if you have either condition is either the idiot light or the buzzer. And I guarantee that you will not see the idiot light in time.

What would you rather do, replace a 10 cent wire/cheap sensor or replace the engine?

Please DO NOT advise people on how to disable the buzzer.
Reply
Old Mar 31, 2006 | 05:26 PM
  #9  
Icemark's Avatar
Former Moderator. RIP Icemark.
 
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 25,896
Likes: 24
From: Rohnert Park CA
Originally Posted by rotarevil
It is suppoesedly a a normal occurance. My 87 n/a does the same thing. I have random lights come on when the feel like it too. I haven't modified any of the wiring...yet. Hope you can get it figured out. Let me know what fixes it.
No it is not supposed to be a normal occurance.

Do you really think that Mazda would have shipped a car that as a normal thing the buzzer or warning lights come on without an issue???


If lights or buzzers are coming on, there is something NOT right- Broken- not functioning correctly- busted- low fluid

You would think people would understand this...
Reply
Old Mar 31, 2006 | 05:31 PM
  #10  
stylEmon's Avatar
FC since 99
Tenured Member 15 Years
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,712
Likes: 2
From: PHL
My bad for posting that info. I guess I shouldnt assume that everyone is as particular as me when it comes to routine maintainance like checking fluids, and actually fixing the problem.

But Bro, it is obviously a usual occurance for FCs. How many people has this happened to? It happened to two of mine!

Of coarse MAZDA wouldnt ship em like that, but they dont know whats gonna happen 20 years down the road.
Reply
Old Mar 31, 2006 | 07:57 PM
  #11  
Icemark's Avatar
Former Moderator. RIP Icemark.
 
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 25,896
Likes: 24
From: Rohnert Park CA
Originally Posted by stylEmon
My bad for posting that info. I guess I shouldnt assume that everyone is as particular as me when it comes to routine maintainance like checking fluids, and actually fixing the problem.

But Bro, it is obviously a usual occurance for FCs. How many people has this happened to? It happened to two of mine!

Of coarse MAZDA wouldnt ship em like that, but they dont know whats gonna happen 20 years down the road.
Noagain, it is not a usual occurance... well unless it is on a car that the owner is pretty clueless and can't check fluids.

It is very rare to have the buzzer go off for any reason other than the owner has failed to maintain the car properly.

Look what sets the buzzer off... LOW OIL... how many clueless owners drive around a corner and suddenly hear a buzzer and say it is broken, when really they are two quarts low... and why are they two quarts low on oil??? Because they didn't check the oil level at every fill up (as covered in the owners manual).

Or what else sets the buzzer off... I can count on both hands the members here this week that have posted about the buzzer going off because they failed to bleed to coolant system or keep the coolant filled correctly. half those will tell you "I have plenty of coolant" its between the Hi and Lo lines on the overflow tank... the overflow tank has nothing to do with air being in the cooling system... its too keep the coolant rom dumping on the ground when the rad cap bleeds off...

and finally the buzzer is there to help people from blowing up their motor by exceeding the redline.

They put the buzzer on for the people... people that can't check their oil... for people that can't check their coolant, or follow the shop manual to bleed the system.

I guess that is why it is sometimes refered to as an idiot buzzer and why mine never goes off unless I am hitting redline, or testing a sensor.

And lets look at troubleshooting... by the very very rare chance there is bad sensor... it can only be 1 of three things... and if you are not hitting the redline, one of two things.

You have a 50% chance just of the bat by checking either sensor.

And how hard is it to test??? well unplug either and make sure there is ground on the wire.

Can't get any simpler than that.

So no it is not a regular problem on RX-7s... if it is going off, 99% of the time its an owner problem... a owner that either didn't check his oil, of perform service, or has something blown up (like a hose burst, or he didn't maintain the coolant and has a cooling seal let go).
Reply
Old Apr 1, 2006 | 03:29 PM
  #12  
stylEmon's Avatar
FC since 99
Tenured Member 15 Years
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,712
Likes: 2
From: PHL
Alright IceMark, I bled the radiator and the buzzing stopped on my RX.

Now that I got that idiot light off, heres another one.

When I pull the eBrake, The 'eBrake' light comes on, but so does the 'Charge' light for the battery. Whats up with that?
Reply
Old Apr 1, 2006 | 04:49 PM
  #13  
wishIhadanFC's Avatar
Full Member
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 121
Likes: 0
From: ny
my buzzers arent working (coolant and redline) i've never let the oil get low enough to see if that one works. and I've tried 2 other body cpu's with no luck. is there a certain wire you clip to disable these? can someone PM me with an answer (i can understand not posting it in this thread) so i can reverse engineer them?
Reply
Old Apr 1, 2006 | 05:20 PM
  #14  
NZConvertible's Avatar
I'm a boost creep...
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 15,608
Likes: 8
From: Auckland, New Zealand
Originally Posted by stylEmon
My bad for posting that info. I guess I shouldnt assume that everyone is as particular as me when it comes to routine maintainance like checking fluids, and actually fixing the problem.
Being good with routine maintenance doesn't mean you can disable the buzzer. Checking fluids frequently won't do squat if you have a sudden fluid loss from a split hose for example.

But Bro, it is obviously a usual occurance for FCs. How many people has this happened to? It happened to two of mine!
In my experience on this forum, there are far more people who actually have low oil or coolant rather than a problem with the warning system. Went you post any info on this forum, you have you assume any person will read it, incuding those people.
Reply
Old Apr 8, 2006 | 11:06 PM
  #15  
ZGN's Avatar
ZGN
Full Member
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 134
Likes: 0
From: Birmingham, Al
I have a buzzing problem, I have a new main wireing harness and a new water level sensor, I grounded the water level sensor wire to test and it still buzzes I have disconnected the Oil level sensor and it still buzzes, What am I missing here? Thank your you help in advance. I never stops buzzing.
Reply
Old Apr 9, 2006 | 08:50 PM
  #16  
Aaron Cake's Avatar
Engine, Not Motor
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 29,798
Likes: 128
From: London, Ontario, Canada
It is possible that there is a problem with the stock cluster or cluster harness. The body harness contains the wiring for the coolant sensor and the engine harness contains the wiring for the oil level sensor. So you MAY have an accidental ground in your engine harness as well.
Reply
Old Apr 9, 2006 | 10:35 PM
  #17  
JJ01769's Avatar
Thread Starter
Lovin The Spinnin Doritos
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 131
Likes: 0
From: Huntsville, AL
Wow, I was surprised to see this thread still going. I fixed my problem. I had a bad ground on my radiator sensor. I think that was the issue. I did add some oil but like a quarter of a quart so that much low better not set off that buzz.
Reply
Old Apr 10, 2006 | 11:58 AM
  #18  
royaltrex7's Avatar
Senior Member
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 420
Likes: 1
From: byram, ms
ok i have one for you icemark when i pull the ebrake handle up the fuel light comes on and when im low on fuel the washer fluid light comes on
Reply
Old Apr 11, 2006 | 10:10 AM
  #19  
Aaron Cake's Avatar
Engine, Not Motor
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 29,798
Likes: 128
From: London, Ontario, Canada
There is nothing in common between those two lights. Someone has been screwing with the wiring and probably miswired the car.
Reply
Old Apr 11, 2006 | 05:30 PM
  #20  
NZConvertible's Avatar
I'm a boost creep...
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 15,608
Likes: 8
From: Auckland, New Zealand
Originally Posted by royaltrex7
when i pull the ebrake handle up the fuel light comes on and when im low on fuel the washer fluid light comes on
That's because you have an S5 warning light cluster in your S4. You'll also find that when you're low on washer fluid the BELTS light will come on, if you don't put your seatbelt on the CHECK (engine) light will come on, if a brake light blows the ANTILOCK light will come on and if you have a problem with the ABS (if you have it) the BRAKE light will come on.

You can either replace it with the right cluster or re-pin the plug as follows (using the pin layout on page 15-37 of the 88 FSM Body Electrical chapter):

Remove the pin from position a
Move the pin in position f to position a
Move the pin in position c to position f
Move the pin in position e to position c
Move the pin in position n to position e
Move the pin in position d to position n
Connect remaining pin to position d

Everything will work properly except that the check engine light will warn you of a blown brake light.
Reply
Old Apr 11, 2006 | 07:55 PM
  #21  
Icemark's Avatar
Former Moderator. RIP Icemark.
 
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 25,896
Likes: 24
From: Rohnert Park CA
Originally Posted by royaltrex7
ok i have one for you icemark when i pull the ebrake handle up the fuel light comes on and when im low on fuel the washer fluid light comes on
yeah, put in the correct idiot light panel for the car
Reply
Old Apr 24, 2006 | 10:04 AM
  #22  
royaltrex7's Avatar
Senior Member
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 420
Likes: 1
From: byram, ms
Originally Posted by Icemark
yeah, put in the correct idiot light panel for the car
yeah it is an s5 idiot panel but with the s4 in there you get the buzz

edit: btw im thinking someone re did the solder connections and crossed 2 wires

Last edited by royaltrex7; Apr 24, 2006 at 10:05 AM. Reason: info
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
RyanFox
New Member RX-7 Technical
7
Sep 18, 2015 09:09 PM
The1Sun
1st Generation Specific (1979-1985)
7
Sep 18, 2015 07:13 PM
The1Sun
New Member RX-7 Technical
5
Sep 15, 2015 04:45 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:09 PM.