My wife and I have discovered a funny thing about our Cooper S. Whenver we drive to the airport, it beeps twice when we approach the terminal and twice again when we are leaving the airport. We have confirmed this happening on every trip to the airport for about 6 months. (About 10 trips.)

Does anybody know what this is? It's the Sacramento airport in California. I wonder if some sort of security or traffic control system is affecting the electronics on our car. Could it be some sort of big brother secret service thing where they are tracking our suspicious travel patterns?? We're not terrorists, we're motoring enthusiasts! Has this happened in your MINI?

Cheers,

 

You mean an internal beeper or the horn?

 

i've driven to the sacramento airport about 4 times....no beeps.

 

An internal beep. The same type of tone heard when the temp gets below 35 degrees. "Beep beep" It is definitely not for the tempurature because it has happened both times I've been to the airport in the last two weeks when temps were not even close to that low. It is quite a mystery.

 

There is an easy solution: cover your MINI'S roof with aluminum foil...

 

fixed:



he's just sad that you're leaving for a trip.

 

You are now entering the Twilight Zone....very strange - this has got to be a first....

Donna
02' CR/W MCS (gone to MINI heaven - burned up)
05' Cool Blue MCSC "Ariel"
05' HB/W on it's way - no name yet

 

I've been to LAX in my MINI numerous times throughout the last couple of years and have not encountered this situation at all.

The only beeping I hear comes from other drivers.

 

Is it maybe the traffic alert system thing? Do you have the stock head unit on the car? If so when you hear the beeps is there a light blinking on the head unit?

 

I have the stock head unit (HK system) and no radar detectors. I haven't noticed whether there were any flashing lights on the head unit. No warning lights come on though because I have looked for that.

Kenchan, Padre is going to be upset that you called him a 'she' but in all fainess, I didn't post a picture so there would be no way for you to tell!

RaiderZA, I love the idea of protecting myself and Padre with aluminum foil. It's so "Area 51".

I swear I'm not crazy. (Don't they all.) This has even been heard by third parties will fully functioning brains.

Cheers,

 

Pete:

I'll have to turn off the radio and listen for that next time I go to Sacramento "International" ( ) Airport!

Meanwhile, I'm also going to be keeping an eye out for Padre and his bear flag roof graphic. Where did you get the graphic?

 

Yes, where did you get the sunroof graphic?

Pictures please....

 

I sometimes use the toll road in my area and each time I pass by the booth, the transponder (I put against the windshield) picks up a signal and it sounds "beep...beep..." Do you use one?

Otherwise,....Maybe Scotty was trying to beam you & your Mini up but he couldn't be able to

 

Back in the old days this type of "noise" was caused by the radar signal overdriving the front end of the receiver or a section of the amplifier. Used to occur on the AM band..

Bear

 

I got the graphic from Cooper Flags. I was the 1st California Bear Flag they did. I will try to post some pictures this weekend. (It will give me a chance to show off Padre's new stripes too.)

Meeneeboy, I think you might have solved it. We do have a fastrack device in our windshield for our trips to the bay area toll bridges. It does beep twice when it passes through the booth and money is deducted from our account. It also makes sense since I don't remember it happening when we first got Padre but has been happening since around the time that we got the fastrack. You're a genius! I will have to test the theory with the little mylar bag that came with the transponder. If I get no beeping while it's in the bag, then the mystery is definitely solved.

Hey, you don't think the airport authority is secretly taking money from our account just for driving through the airport do you? Maybe it would still be best to go with the aluminum foil.

Cheers,

 

That's just beepin' kooky!

 

If your system is like Chicago's I-Pass, then you can check your "history" on the system's website. Might be worth a look... Speaking of Big Brother, I have heard tales of unfaithful spouses getting into some trouble due to neglecting to password protect their toll history reports.

I wonder how many electronic toll system users are being fleeced at that airport .

Tatt

 

No beeps when entering or leaving Washington Dulles International Airport.

If it is your Etc box I wonder if the local airport authority is using them for traffic counting or something on airport property. They might not be charging you but maybe they are tracking you.

Remember Big Brother is always watching you,

 

You MAY be a little low on the glide path and they are asking for you to ident the transponder. Or you are making an approach to the wrong runway.

Do a go-around and when you hear it beep again, hit the transponder. Did you complete the prelanding checklist?





edit: You may have figured by now that I don't have the VAGUEST idea. Sorry.

 

This beep you are hearing is most likely the radio frequency signal being emitted by the air traffic control radar overdriving your radio and/or stereo speakers. If the power of the signal is strong enough your radio doesn't eevn have to be on to hear the speakers beep when the RF signal sweeps across your car. I work at a US NAVY test facility with several radars that cause similar symptoms with the car stereos of most of the employees. - lal

 

Cell phones also induce beeping and clicking sounds in almost any audio gear within a foot or two. It happens when they communicate with the cellular system to register/deregister at phone turn/off and when switching from one cell to the next. It happens with all the cell phones I've used in recent years - on my computer speakers, stereo, and every car radio. Some car radios don't even have to be turned on. Apparently in some radios the audio amp portion is powered even if the head unit appears to be off.

 

Your car is concerned that you are going to abandon it at the airport, and then when you leave it is excited that you changed your mind!