Warning Buzzer? also I'm Glad it's May

[Frogbutter]

First of all I am so glad it's May and insurance is back on the Cabby.
91 No mods.
Getting ready for driving I...
1) Changed plugs (Bosch Plat. +2)
2) Cap and rotor
3) Changed oil (full syn and Mobil 1 filter)
4) bought fuel filter....got lazy and went for a drive.
I have been running the car all winter every 2 weeks for about a half hour or so. Always starts even when the garage heater is not on. Never gave me a bit of grief.

On Monday I took it for a drive, 10 miles into the drive a buzzer started going off in the dash. Just buzzer no lights. I stoped for lunch. Checked oil and coolent and drove home 10 miles. The buzzer never came back on.
Tuesday my wife drove the Cabby to work, 20 miles or so each way and it went off on her multiple times, again no lights just buzzer.
I am posting here and cracking open my Bentley.
Any ideas?
Thanks,
Cory
Again Happy May!

[bbrown]

I don't know if my '86 has a buzzer or if it is just nonfunctional, but I would assume the buzzer goes off for the typical things that most buzzers are for i.e. seat belt warning, keys in ignition with car door open, lights left on with car off and door open (you know...). My first thought would be to check the seat belt receiver and see if the electrical sensor is all as it should be (assuming it has one) there could be a bad ground connection or the buckle sensor itself might have a bad connection and gets jostled every time you hit a bump just right and causes the buzzer to go off thinking that the seat belt isn't buckled. That's my first thought, but others on here will probably have some better input. Just trying to get the thought process going.

[Briano1234]

Depends on where the sound was coming from.

Up high, that is the oil pressure warning buzzer in the speedo. If you used a cheap fram filter that could be your cause, most likely it is a loose wire or krimp on the oil pressure sending units.

down low is the warning for the break/seat belt.

Could also be a bad ground.

[sixsracing]

Briano is right where I am on this one. Cheap oil filters will set the oil pressure warning buzzer off quite frequently. I have had oil pressure switches go bad on me and they will also set the buzzer off.

What weight was the oil?

[kamzcab86]

I don't know if my '86 has a buzzer or if it is just nonfunctional,

It has an oil pressure buzzer.

If you used a cheap fram filter that could be your cause

Cory stated he used a Mobil 1 filter, which is on the list of "approved" filters. If the buzzer didn't buzz prior to the oil change, it's probable that the new oil weight is the culprit. However, it's also quite possible that the high oil pressure switch (or its wire) has, by coincidence, gone south. Before replacing anything, do this simple test: Test the high-pressure switch on the oil filter flange by raising the engine rpm up to over 2000; buzzer should buzz. Remove the blue-black wire from the switch and connect it to ground. If the buzzer stops buzzing, the switch is faulty and should be replaced. The 1.8 bar pressure switch on the flange is normally open until proper oil pressure closes it, completing the path to ground. If the switch proves to be okay, switch to a heavier weight oil (most of us use 20w50).

[bbrown]

I don't know if my '86 has a buzzer or if it is just nonfunctional,

It has an oil pressure buzzer.

Guess its a good thing that I have yet to hear it.

[gull]

Guess its a good thing that I have yet to hear it.

It's actually a pretty brilliant bit of design on VW's part. The oil pressure buzzer sounds completely different from the normal warning chime. It's a loud, raspy-sounding relay buzzer that really catches your attention because it's not a sound you're used to the car making.

The one on my '89 saved my engine a few months ago when I blew the oil cooler seal.

[bbrown]

It's actually a pretty brilliant bit of design on VW's part. The oil pressure buzzer sounds completely different from the normal warning chime. It's a loud, raspy-sounding relay buzzer that really catches your attention because it's not a sound you're used to the car making.

The one on my '89 saved my engine a few months ago when I blew the oil cooler seal.

That's good to know.

[Frogbutter]

Wow, thanks for all the feedback!
kamzcab86 was spot on. Took me a bit longer (kinda forgot our oldest son was graduating May 22nd). Did the quick test today, using kamzcab86 and Bently side by side and sure enough I have a bad Oil pressure switch. $5.49 germanautoparts.com, ordered today.
I may go to a heaver oil but 20w 50 sounds thick. I try and use the same oil in both my 91 Cabby and my 92 Jetta.....guess I will look around at Autozone.
Again,
Thank you.
Cory

[gull]

If the oil light dosn't flicker at idle when the engine is hot, there's probably no need to go thicker.

[Frogbutter]

Ok, sensor replaced and oil changed to 10w 30. Drove it hard for awhile today and no buzzer!
Keeping fingers crossed.
Thanks for all the input.
Cory