I just now finished installing a piezo-electric 12V Radio Shack "buzzer", 100dB, $11.00 (approx.), that certainly doesn't sound like a "buzzer", at least not any buzzer I've ever heard.
It really sounds more like the stock signal that comes on most new BMWs.
Anyway, I like what I hear and it really does help when you aren't sure if you actually locked the car as you walk away.

These are the kind of mods I just love NAM for. Easy, cheap, and add value or ability. Thanks to whom ever first thought up this idea!

Keep them coming, you'll have my admiration. That and about $3.20 will get you a coffee a Starbucks!

Blessings,
Paul

 

Thank's Lotus87.

 

interesting...there's been a bunch of times I locked the car as I was walking away but then had to un-lock and then re-lock it to make sure I had locked it in the first place

1)is the wiring the same for a MC 2004?

2)how is the buzzer attached to the side of the car or does it just get taped?

3) the post says the electrical current draw is of a 'long duration.'...does the buzzer though just give a quick chirp?

4) silly question, but is there any chance of a spark as it chirps ....it is right near the fuel pipes.....is it better to extend the wires and attach the buzzer close to the tail light asembly?

 

I was picturing pulling out the left boot panel and being able to see up and over to the fuel cap....can't as is blocked by foam insulation.....I asume then the brown-yellow wire is part of that long large wire bundle that is along the bottom edge heading to the tail light asembly?....right?...the bundle goes to the tailight then after it turns up vertically the bundle splits and two little wires, one of which is brown-yellow, goes to a little white connector toward the outside rear fender.....I assume that is where I splice into and the buzzer gets attached there, attached with tape? For the ground, over to the right is a bolt to which is attached an assembling of about 8 brown wires to the chassis...seems easy, but am I picturing this correctly?

as to the buzzer, there is a 108 db on the radio shack site, but there also is a 100db 2 tone one,,....is this the one to buy?:

100dB Piezo 2-Tone Buzzer Model: 273-070 | Catalog #: 273-070
This siren-like 100dB Piezo 2-Tone Buzzer operates on 6-16VDC, carrying 65mA at 12V, with an intense...

one last question: you know how with 'the brake light mod' there was some possibility that the exta current draw of the two little additional taillight bulbs was enough to burn out (or for the dealer to say it burned out) the expensive BC1 module..anyone have any thoughts as to the additonal power draw of the buzzer causing a potential problem with the locking circuit?

 

The current draw of a piezo beeper is almost zero - no worry with hurting the BC1 with this mod (the brake light mod doubled current from the BC1, here you'll probably increase it by 0.1%)

 

Has anyone posted a sound clip / video clip of this yet? I'm interested as well - but don't want it if it sounds all cheesey :-)

 

And I think in the post, it suggested wiring this in the trunk/boot? (I have a cabrio..) Has anyone wired it in under the hood/bonnet? If so - where?

 

Just purchased the 108 db piezo buzzer and wired it in and attached it via sticky-back velcro onto the horizontal 'shelf' like area of the wheel-well in the boot area up and behind that little trap door.....took all of 5 minutes to do...works perfectly....BUT

the sound is more like a warble, sort of like if you are hearing a squirrel chomp on a cat's tail in the distance. Even though I used the loudest buzzer available it is not all that loud and sounds somewhat muffled.

Short of relocating it all the way to the front of the car to be under the hood which I do not want to do, any suggestions?...I am wondering if my buzzer might be not operating as loudly as it should.....if you are 10 feet away, you would be able to hear it if you were in a quiet parking lot....if it was a busy street, I doubt I'd be able to hear it....does this sound similar to other people who had purchased this 108 db buzzer from Radio Shack?

 

well, after playing with it for the last couple of days, I decided that I like the volume of the buzzer...it is just loud enough to hear as I am walking away but not so loud that it would disturb any neighbors if I locked the car late at night....plus the sound in pretty distinctive....sounds more like if you were to whistle while inhaling, breathfully, and go 'hi-lo' 3 times very quickly

I did check to see if the buzzer really was loud by opening the windows putting down the back seats and opening that little left boot up....it is LOUD...just muffled by being within the metal of that rear quarter panel.....but I would definitely recommend this mod

so....thanks Lotus87

 

I did the mod and I ended up not liking it. I have an extra buzzer somewhere round here as I was going to use two. I have the factory alarm now and am waiting to have the dealer program it. I was curious as to how I could snag a "beeper" from another make of car from the local u pull it lot. I have heard newer 4 runners and I tink the new Chevy's making an audible "BEEP" when locking the car. I need to figure out which vehicle it was and snag one from the junkyard and check it out.

 

I just did this mod successfully with ease. Prior to finding this thread, I was looking for an easy way to get the car to make noise when I locked it while walking away. This is it!

Also, I think the 108 db piezo buzzer is plenty loud - besides being rather distinctive as auto chirps goes.

here is a link to an video clip for those interested in hearing this thing:
(the video is a bit quiet, since it's shot off a canon digi elph w/ practically no mic!)

mini lock chirp - .mov

mini lock chirp - mpeg4


this is using a radio shack 108 db 12 VDC Piezo Buzzer part 273-057

Motor On!

 

yup..that's the sound....mine goes a bit longer, sounding like hi-lo hi-lo....it is kinda cool, certainly distinctive

 

The '07 Chevy Aveo's make an audible beep when they're locked (as long as they have power door locks/remote transmitter keys). They make one quick high pitched beep - kinda the sound a little poodle would make if you stepped on its toes. I recommend visiting a Chevy dealership to hear the sound, rather than stepping on someone else's dog. Most of the other Chevy's just use the regular horn for locking noises

 

OK The factory beep is in there , its just setup to warn you when you try lock the doors with the remote and one door or the hatch is open ,it will not lock the doors .The car is telling you that the doors are not locked. Crazy logic ,could it be changed to tell you that the doors are locked?

 

..hmm - Mine doesn't have a beep when I try to lock the doors w/ the driver/passenger/boot open? I tried all 3 seperately & nothing? I wonder if that's just on earlier models?

 

While this is a neat mod, what I'd really like to see is the lights flash on ALL presses of the unlock button on the remote.
I've never had any issue hearing the doors lock, I'm never more than a few steps away. However, hearing/seeing the second (and subsequent) unlocks as I'm approaching the car would be really handy when using the convenience feature of the remote.
It's frustrating when trying to open the sunroof and cabrio top while approaching the car. You press the button once and get a visual confirmation. You press again to open the passenger side. You press and hold a third time, wait about 5 seconds expecting the windows and top to open only to find out that the second press didn't "take".

 

I get the same thing on mine.
I'd say my convenience mode opening has a 1st time success ratio of 10%.

By the time I get there...I'm already annoyed :impatient that it didn't open the 1st time, I just get in & press the top open button...

I do NOT stand there waving & pressing my key @ the car until it does... I suspect if I did, I would tend to get looks and stares and people wondering if I'm practicing VOODOO on my Mini, or some new remote start option, or.... something!

 

I used the same one, just loud enough to hear walking away yet not too loud! very easy mod

 

This post has not had any posting for about a year - I am interested in trying this - However, I have a 07 Cooper - any suggestions on what wire to tap into??

 

I wonder if it's possible to get the audible-tone mechanism from one of the late 90's to early 00's BMW's, the ones that go "beeeyoop."

 

yeah...has anyone tried this in the 2007+ model or clubman yet?

 

im trying this soon lets see if i can make it work

 

Which of all the cables should i connect with which cables
:impatie nt:

ok i found the brow-yellow
the cable that goes to the ground where do i connect it?
anther question do i need to cut the cable??

 

Find a 'suitable ground'. Basically any screw that screws into the body. Unpainted is best so you actually get ground.
You don't need to *cut* the wire, just use a 'scotchlok' or a vampire tap to access the signal from the wire. Either of those will pierce the wire's insulation, but won't cut the wire.

 

i finally went to radioshack and bought the buzzer 108db it sound pretty cool it took less than 5 min to install and looking for the tools (tape) :D, ill post some pics later today of how it looks and a sound clip of how it sounds :P