Headlight warning beep?

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Apr 18, 2015 | 02:58 PM
  #1  
Does anyone know if some of the pre-'84s had a headlight warning beeper? It's the one that sounds off (not loud) if you turn off the engine with the lights on. I seem to remember that mine did ('83 SR5) when I picked it up a few years ago, but I think it died.

If your's has one, where is it? You can trace it down by the sound (if it even exists!).
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Apr 20, 2015 | 12:39 PM
  #2  
One of my buddies had one we disabled, on his 81'. Not sure if it came stock that way. That truck had hardly any stock parts left on it. I heard you had to order it or something.
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Apr 20, 2015 | 12:49 PM
  #3  
Quote: One of my buddies had one we disabled, on his 81'. Not sure if it came stock that way. That truck had hardly any stock parts left on it. I heard you had to order it or something.
I'll bet that was a stock beeper.

I looked at parts online and the only electrical things I found for the headlights are the headlamp relay, and the steering column switch itself (just the lights/turn signal lever, or the the whole column switch assembly with wiper control too). The relay has only three connectors on it. I wonder if the relay has the beeper included in there?

Not sure how it would sense that the ignition is turned off while doing relay duty with just three wires connected to it? And the wiring diagram on the side of them seems very simple- just a relay? They are like $15 or less.

If anyone has a working headlight warning beeper, maybe they can trace the sound and find out where it's coming from.
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Apr 20, 2015 | 06:57 PM
  #4  
this Gen did NOT have a headlamp warning "buzzer" , well at least not here in Canada .. I have never heard of one in the USA either , as FACTORY , so I don't think it is stock .

however , there was a little aftermarket "buzzer" you could get for those absent minded (like me ) who always forgot to shut off there headlamps , and killed the battery (I still have A brand new one in my tool box , I have yet to install )

it is a simple "fuse box" add on


.
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Apr 21, 2015 | 04:24 AM
  #5  
Thanks. I found some instructions for exactly what you mean. Simple 12VDC chime/buzzer connected to 12V switched light (at the fuse) and floating ground-to something that gets grounded/turns off when key is turned off. The buzzers are cheap too.

Quote: this Gen did NOT have a headlamp warning "buzzer" , well at least not here in Canada .. I have never heard of one in the USA either , as FACTORY , so I don't think it is stock .

however , there was a little aftermarket "buzzer" you could get for those absent minded (like me ) who always forgot to shut off there headlamps , and killed the battery (I still have A brand new one in my tool box , I have yet to install )

it is a simple "fuse box" add on


.
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Apr 22, 2015 | 07:26 AM
  #6  
I believe that the "Buzzer" feed is tied into the +12v going to the highlights when they are on and the ground is tied into the courtesy light switch in the door. So when you have your lights on the buzzer has power, but it won't actually buzz until it is grounded by opening the door.


PS - I'm moving this thread to the Tech section for you.
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Apr 22, 2015 | 01:10 PM
  #7  
Quote: I believe that the "Buzzer" feed is tied into the +12v going to the highlights when they are on and the ground is tied into the courtesy light switch in the door. So when you have your lights on the buzzer has power, but it won't actually buzz until it is grounded by opening the door.


PS - I'm moving this thread to the Tech section for you.
That's a good solution. I was thinking of the ignition circuit itself. I didn't know that the courtesy/cab light switch in the door grounded that circuit to turn the cab light on. Come to think of it, I remember that the buzzer needs door open AND lights on. Makes sense. Thanks Dave.
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Apr 22, 2015 | 08:40 PM
  #8  
Yep, it would be easier to tap those two sources instead of dealing with the ignition, or even worse, relays.
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Apr 23, 2015 | 12:24 PM
  #9  
did they make an SR5 in1983?
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Apr 23, 2015 | 04:54 PM
  #10  
Quote: did they make an SR5 in1983?
yes


.
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Apr 24, 2015 | 11:47 AM
  #11  
I just noticed something about my "Beeper" last night while I was working on my door panels. For one, it is a "Beeper" and not a "Buzzer" like I thought. Two, I didn't know that my "Beeper" still worked but it does. Three, it is wired somewhere in the ignition switch not the headlight switch since it would beep with the door open, the headlights off and the key in the off "locked" position - the wiring diagram should be able to locate it. If I jiggle the key just right I can get it to beep intermittently. This tell me that the beeper gets it's +12v from somewhere in the switch and it's ground from somewhere in the ignition - I imagine when it is just in the "Locked" and "ACC" positions. In case you didn't know, the factory "Beeper" is located on the passenger side kick panel just below the dash. You can find out if it is working by just running +12V and a ground to it (I keep a 9V battery in my electrical tool box for testing things like this). If it works then your issue may be on the other end.

I figured this might help you out. Good luck!
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