I need a buzz

[Cameo]

Do the newer Subarus sound a buzzer when an anomaly is indicated on the
instrument panel? I always wished that feature because I often drive
without frequent glance at the instruments. I just haven't developed
that habit. An extinguishable buzzer would be a tremendous help for
drivers like me.

 

[Hachiroku]

Do the newer Subarus sound a buzzer when an anomaly is indicated on the
instrument panel? I always wished that feature because I often drive
without frequent glance at the instruments. I just haven't developed
that habit. An extinguishable buzzer would be a tremendous help for
drivers like me.

Buy a VW? (UGH!)

 

[Cameo]

Buy a VW? (UGH!)

What? VW has that feature? When I posted the same question in another
ng, one of the regulars lambasted me for not being able to keep looking
at the instrument panel every few seconds. Well, anomalies also show up
on airplane instruments, yet they also have buzzers to get the pilot's
attention. True, planes usually have lot more instruments than a car but
then the driver usually navigates in heavier traffic than a pilot.

 

[Dean Hoffman]

Do the newer Subarus sound a buzzer when an anomaly is indicated on the
instrument panel? I always wished that feature because I often drive
without frequent glance at the instruments. I just haven't developed
that habit. An extinguishable buzzer would be a tremendous help for
drivers like me.

\

I've thought the same thing at times. Those little, dull
indicator lights are hard to see at times. I live in a rural area so
traffic is light. It's easy to take a quick glance at the dash. It must
be tougher in bumper to bumper traffic.
Irrigation engines have automatic shut offs if something goes wrong
but one wouldn't want one on a car.

 

[Cameo]

I've thought the same thing at times. Those little, dull
indicator lights are hard to see at times. I live in a rural area so
traffic is light. It's easy to take a quick glance at the dash. It
must be tougher in bumper to bumper traffic.

Glad to see someone agreeing with me on this. The issue has been gaining
attention on more expensive vehicles, especially military ones where
they can now project instruments on the windshield itself for pilots.
That way they don't have to look away to check their instruments. I
wouldn't be surprised to see this technology showing up in high-end cars
in a few years. But sounding a buzzer is still a good idea in my opinion
and it would probably not add much to the cost of a car.

Irrigation engines have automatic shut offs if something goes wrong
but one wouldn't want one on a car.

Definitely not in a moving car. ;-)

 

[1 Lucky Texan]

Do the newer Subarus sound a buzzer when an anomaly is indicated on the
instrument panel? I always wished that feature because I often drive
without frequent glance at the instruments. I just haven't developed
that habit. An extinguishable buzzer would be a tremendous help for
drivers like me.

I've always felt cars should have had an auditory signal for low oil
pressure at least. And sounding an alarm for FLASHING CEL or perhaps
for low tire pressure (TPMS equipped vehicles) and for high coolant
temp would be good too.

 

[Stewart DIBBS]

Do the newer Subarus sound a buzzer when an anomaly is indicated on the
instrument panel? I always wished that feature because I often drive
without frequent glance at the instruments. I just haven't developed that
habit. An extinguishable buzzer would be a tremendous help for drivers
like me.

Interesting idea. The question is really what constitutes an anomaly serious
enough to be buzzed. The most serious (and some oddly trivial) ones cause
the ECU to turn on the check engine light (CEL), and this is usually bright
enough to (hopefully) attract the driver's attention.

It would be simple enough to use the CEL signal to trigger a buzzer with a
reset button.

You could check the after-market for OBD2/CANbus devices that might provide
the additional functionality you want.

But surely you check must your speed and gas level sometimes. Would it not
just be easier to get into the habit of looking at the other instruments
(coolant temp, oil pressure if fitted, CEL) as well?

SD

 

[Cameo]

Interesting idea. The question is really what constitutes an anomaly
serious enough to be buzzed. The most serious (and some oddly
trivial) ones cause the ECU to turn on the check engine light (CEL),
and this is usually bright enough to (hopefully) attract the driver's
attention.

You're right. An idiot-light popping up suddenly on the instrument panel
would likely accomplish that. Gauges are a bigger problem because they
don't grab your attention as readily as a sudden light. I still think
that an additional audible alarm would be even more useful.

It would be simple enough to use the CEL signal to trigger a buzzer
with a reset button.

You could check the after-market for OBD2/CANbus devices that might
provide the additional functionality you want.

You might be right about that, too. I think though that the car's
computer should provide the signal for such a buzzer and I don't think
it would be a significant cost item if it was included in the design
right from the getgo. I suspect there are some car models out there
already(Mercedes, BMW or Volvo?) that do have that feature. I just don't
know for sure.

But surely you check must your speed and gas level sometimes. Would
it not just be easier to get into the habit of looking at the other
instruments (coolant temp, oil pressure if fitted, CEL) as well?

Of course it would, and I try to do it all the time. Still, I often
catch myself skipping it for extended period of time in heavy traffic or
when my mind is on something else. Let's face it: there is not much
incentive to keep looking down to the dashboard when your tank is full,
the engine purrs normally and you flow with the traffic. That's when
your mind tends to wonder and drive almost subconsciously.

 

[gamo]

You're right. An idiot-light popping up suddenly on the instrument panel would
likely accomplish that. Gauges are a bigger problem because they don't grab
your attention as readily as a sudden light. I still think that an additional
audible alarm would be even more useful.

The alarm exists yet. In my impreza '06 an alarm-like beep sounds when
you don't put yourself the security belt AND start running. There is
only needed a conection between the panel lights (red motor) and the
buzzer.

 

[Cameo]

The alarm exists yet. In my impreza '06 an alarm-like beep sounds when
you don't put yourself the security belt AND start running. There is
only needed a conection between the panel lights (red motor) and the
buzzer.

You're right. But the buzzer I am talking about would be one you could
turn off manually as a form of acknowledgement.

 

[Hachiroku]

What? VW has that feature? When I posted the same question in another
ng, one of the regulars lambasted me for not being able to keep looking at
the instrument panel every few seconds. Well, anomalies also show up on
airplane instruments, yet they also have buzzers to get the pilot's
attention. True, planes usually have lot more instruments than a car but
then the driver usually navigates in heavier traffic than a pilot.

I changed the oil one morning in my nearly new 1985 Jetta because we were
going from New Britain CT to Boston and back again that day. After the
return trip we were getting off the highway and the OIL light came on,
with a buzzer.

I pulled over and the crankcase was full according to the dipstrick. VW
couldn't figure out why the oil pressure dropped. .

 

[Cameo]

I changed the oil one morning in my nearly new 1985 Jetta because we
were
going from New Britain CT to Boston and back again that day. After the
return trip we were getting off the highway and the OIL light came on,
with a buzzer.

I pulled over and the crankcase was full according to the dipstrick.
VW
couldn't figure out why the oil pressure dropped. .

Well, I still would rather have it come up with a buzzer even when
it's wrong than without when it is right. Just as long you can manually
shut that buzzer. Could you?

 

[Hachiroku]

Well, I still would rather have it come up with a buzzer even when
it's wrong than without when it is right. Just as long you can manually
shut that buzzer. Could you?

When the light went out the buzzer went off. I have to admit, it was nice
having the buzzer as well.

If you're feeling ambitious you could wire a buzzer into the wiring
harness that would buzz when a light lit on the dash. You could use diodes
for each light and just use one buzzer.

 

[Dano58]

Do the newer Subarus sound a buzzer when an anomaly is indicated on the
instrument panel? I always wished that feature because I often drive
without frequent glance at the instruments. I just haven't developed
that habit. An extinguishable buzzer would be a tremendous help for
drivers like me.

My Audi A4 and Honda Odyssey both have an audible warning when a dash
fault light comes on. It's basically a 2-second or so chime and it
comes on every time you start the car with the fault still present.
The Audi is especially useful, as a light will come on for anything
from the CEL to
a light bulb being out.

Dan D
'99 Impreza 2.5RS (son's)
Central NJ USA

 

[Cameo]

My Audi A4 and Honda Odyssey both have an audible warning when a dash
fault light comes on. It's basically a 2-second or so chime and it
comes on every time you start the car with the fault still present.
The Audi is especially useful, as a light will come on for anything
from the CEL to a light bulb being out.

So my question wasn't that unreasonable after all. If Honda does it for
the Odyssey, why not for the other models? Or maybe they already do for
recent ones, I don't know. I'm not so surprised about Audi because
German carmakers tend to think of things like that. I'd almost bet that
BMW and Mercedes also has that feature.

Dan D
'99 Impreza 2.5RS (son's)
Central NJ USA

Central NJ? Way back I used to live there too, not far from Montclair
State.