Beeping in Dash & disabling it

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Beeping in Dash & disabling it

June 16, 2019, 11:10:15 am

We are on the road now and this is our first trip in our 2007 Foretravel Nibus. My fiancé is about ready to lose his mind with the beeping noise we are experiencing in the dash. I have read a lot of ideas on what it could be but does anyone know how to disable it?

Re: Beeping in Dash & disabling it

Reply #1 – June 16, 2019, 11:29:24 am

Karl,

Any warning lights illuminated?

Blinking from leveling system (not in travel mode)?

Re: Beeping in Dash & disabling it

Reply #2 – June 16, 2019, 12:03:56 pm

TV antenna not stowed completely?

Re: Beeping in Dash & disabling it

Reply #3 – June 16, 2019, 12:16:07 pm

Quote from: Karl – June 16, 2019, 11:10:15 am

...does anyone know how to disable it?

First you have to find it. Once you find it, see if it has a power wire that could be severed, and a small on-off switch installed in the wire.

Of course, if you do that and turn it off, you will lose ALL your safety alarms. Some of them might be very important!

Better to figure out what specific sensor is setting off the alarm, and rectify that problem.

PS: On our old GV the "annunciator" (I call it the "irritator) is in a easily accessible spot under the dash cover. It also features a little adjustment screw that is supposed to vary the volume, but on mine just works like a "on-off" switch. It is handy for temporarily muting the noise maker.

Re: Beeping in Dash & disabling it

Reply #4 – June 16, 2019, 12:36:20 pm

Is it the same type of sound your turn signals have when activated?

Re: Beeping in Dash & disabling it

Reply #5 – June 16, 2019, 12:37:23 pm

Does the original poster know that the dash cover is on hinges and lifts open?

I've searched the schematics, so tell me this, does my 1992 U225 haven a audible warning for low air pressure?

Re: Beeping in Dash & disabling it

Reply #6 – June 16, 2019, 12:49:42 pm

I wouldn't quiet it until I figured out what is setting it off. We've listened to ours for a few hours before when it was in need of a speed sensor on the transmission. However I've also been grateful it was there when our temperature came up and we were able to get off of the road before it became serious.

Re: Beeping in Dash & disabling it

Reply #7 – June 16, 2019, 01:33:44 pm

Think about it: First they replaced gauges with idiot lights. Apparently that didn't/doesn't work. So beepers and warning buzzers were added to the idiot lights to inform the operator that something is wrong.
Severing the feed wire doesn't make what might be an extremely serious problem go away.
Hope you find what is causing the buzzer to go off. Safer that way.

Re: Beeping in Dash & disabling it

Reply #8 – June 16, 2019, 06:25:39 pm

My Owner's Manual has a schematic (A-4749) that shows all of the inputs to the alarm module. I would assume the 2007 Nimbus comes with a similar page in the Owner's Manual. If it doesn't, I would return the coach and ask for my money back.

(just kidding)

On our coach, most of the things that cause a audible alarm also trigger a light on the dashboard. I don't have the page in front of me right now, so I don't recall the exceptions. But the point is, if the OP is not getting a warning light on the dash to accompany the alarm, that ought to narrow down the possible sources of the alarm. Just need to dig out the schematic and see which alarm sensors do not have a dash warning light.

Re: Beeping in Dash & disabling it

Reply #9 – June 18, 2019, 01:56:55 pm

Thank you all for your awesome and timely feedback! I forgot to mention that the "Step Out" light is flashing on the dash every time the beeping noise goes off. We pulled over many times and tried to make sure the sensors were cleaned and making proper contact with the door when closed. Also, Yes the step is working just fine and slides in and out when its supposed too.

We are looking to take off again and head home... back across the country. I think the drive will be awful if we can't silence it. I will take a look at the antenna.

Thanks

Re: Beeping in Dash & disabling it

Reply #10 – June 18, 2019, 04:47:40 pm

So I am in the same boat. I hate hearing it but am glad it is there. Ours has tape over it but it is still loud. The question is there an aftermarket replacement with a more pleasant sound?

Re: Beeping in Dash & disabling it

Reply #11 – June 18, 2019, 05:30:38 pm

Karl,

If the "step out" light is flashing along with the beeper beeping, then I would take a closer look at the step sensor. The sensor probably completes a ground circuit when it is "unhappy". If that is correct, then when the sensor is "happy" the ground circuit will be open. If you have access to the electric wires attached to the sensor, you could try just removing the wires (or plug), and see if that stops the beeping (and the warning light).

Worth a try, anyway, to avoid having it drive you both nuts!

Re: Beeping in Dash & disabling it

Reply #12 – June 18, 2019, 06:46:43 pm

We had the same problem. Drives a sane person crazy. FOT disconnected it for us.

Re: Beeping in Dash & disabling it

Reply #13 – June 18, 2019, 07:11:46 pm

Hey Chuck, Thanks for the replying. I thought the same and tried just that. No luck. We called tech support for FT, they stated they would get back to us today but its now after 5 pm and no call back. We were just looking for a temp fix until we get back. Then i can have someone look at it. Not sure i can drive 40 hours with this thing going on. lol.
Thanks Anyway Karl and Charee

Re: Beeping in Dash & disabling it

Reply #14 – June 18, 2019, 07:32:22 pm

If the problem is the step sensor wiring, and it's relatively accessible, perhaps you could try wiggling the wiring at the connections with the engine running to see if there a loose one causing the problem. If the alert goes off more often on bumpy roads, then this could be the issue.

If it's the sensor itself, as a TEMPORARY solution, you might be able to disconnect the wires from the sensor if they are accessible and jumper them together. This would make the system think the step is up no matter what, so you'd really want to solve the issue as soon as you could and undo the jumper.

Re: Beeping in Dash & disabling it

Reply #15 – June 19, 2019, 09:24:59 am

Quote from: coastalbuilder – June 18, 2019, 04:47:40 pm

So I am in the same boat. I hate hearing it but am glad it is there. Ours has tape over it but it is still loud. The question is there an aftermarket replacement with a more pleasant sound?

Yes. Pretty much any sound you want to use including "Emergency emergency everybody to get from street!"

Emergency! Everybody to Get From Street! - YouTube

Re: Beeping in Dash & disabling it

Reply #16 – June 19, 2019, 12:18:13 pm

To help muddy the waters: I ran through the edge of a hurricane last year, pouring rain, nasty winds. Had EVERTHING on: wipers fast, lights, Hellas, four ways, air . All of a sudden came 'that sound', all gauges were fine, we have no fold-out step. Pulled into the Park for a good drink and a rest. When I fired the coach up a month later to fuel, THE SOUND WAS GONE and, to this day, has not returned! Go figure!

Re: Beeping in Dash & disabling it

Reply #17 – June 19, 2019, 12:45:22 pm

Most common cause of "alarm on slightly in heavy rain" is the "antenna up" wiring. It is up on the roof and exposed to the elements and the magnetic pieces can short out in heavy rain.

Yes, water can change resistance in other sensors as well, but this is the most common one.

And, when it drys out, no more alarm.

Re: Beeping in Dash & disabling it

Reply #18 – June 19, 2019, 01:12:02 pm

Quote from: wolfe10 – June 19, 2019, 12:45:22 pm

Most common cause of "alarm on slightly in heavy rain" is the "antenna up" wiring. It is up on the roof and exposed to the elements and the magnetic pieces can short out in heavy rain.

Yes, water can change resistance in other sensors as well, but this is the most common one.

And, when it drys out, no more alarm.

We have no 'antenna', PO changed it to a dome (which works NOT)! Is there a warning '
beep' when one exceeds the output of the alternator!?

Re: Beeping in Dash & disabling it

Reply #19 – June 19, 2019, 01:49:30 pm

Quote from: mike leary – June 19, 2019, 01:12:02 pm

Is there a warning beep' when one exceeds the output of the alternator!?

Never heard of that one.

But lots of sensors (coolant temperature and oil pressure for example) where water could change the resistance and cause false alarms.

Re: Beeping in Dash & disabling it

Reply #20 – June 20, 2019, 09:54:16 am

Quote from: mike leary – June 19, 2019, 01:12:02 pm

We have no 'antenna', PO changed it to a dome (which works NOT)! Is there a warning '
beep' when one exceeds the output of the alternator!?

When you exceed the output of the alternator the alternator reduces the output voltage to bring current draw back within limits. Then you're living off the chassis battery for the difference. So you fire up the generator and toggle in the boost switch.
Or you can shed some of the load.

Re: Beeping in Dash & disabling it

Reply #21 – June 20, 2019, 11:04:06 am

Folks - can we please keep this on-topic for the OP? Thanks.

Re: Beeping in Dash & disabling it

Reply #22 – June 20, 2019, 03:13:32 pm

After 5 years and periodic beeping, I got tired of having to open the dash and disconnect the wire from the beeper. I bought a switch from FOT and mounted it in a blank switch position on the dash, wired in series with the beeper. Now I can just flip it on or off.

When we stop for lunch and want to level while the coach is running, it is easy to turn off the beeper. When we had a water in the fuel warning, I could turn off the beeper until I get it fixed. I had a slide sensor that would go out of adjustment when I hit a big bump. Easy to cycle the slide to reset but the beeper was a PITA until I could find a place to pull over. Not anymore.

Makes life much more pleasant.

Rich

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