Audible alert on first ignition turn

Stef Williams · Oct 20, 2015

Hi. I've just started the van up and before I turned the key to second setting to fire up when dash lights were on it gave out three long steady beeps ????

Not had this before…any ideas?

Also when first pulling off from cold it often judders violently. Is this just because is cold? Doesn't seem to happen after driving a while

mrcheesbrough · Oct 20, 2015

Hey Stef. It could be your service indicator that's beeping. I think the odometer should show you how many miles you have til it's due. Usually kicks in with about 2000 miles to go.

Juddering? Not sure. Mine does that sometimes. Usually around this time last of year. My clutch probably needs replacing but I suspect that a bit of damp gets in there. Does the juddering persist or is gone after the first time you pull away?

sidepod · Oct 22, 2015

Juddering could be rear engine/gearbox mount.

I'd replace it along with two front ones. It'll transform the drive.

S.

Stef Williams · Oct 24, 2015

mrcheesbrough said:
Hey Stef. It could be your service indicator that's beeping. I think the odometer should show you how many miles you have til it's due. Usually kicks in with about 2000 miles to go.

Juddering? Not sure. Mine does that sometimes. Usually around this time last of year. My clutch probably needs replacing but I suspect that a bit of damp gets in there. Does the juddering persist or is gone after the first time you pull away?

Just happens when first started and pulling off, after that not at all.

mrcheesbrough · Oct 24, 2015

Sounds familiar. Mine does exactly that and has done for a few years now. I'm guessing it's nothing too major as the mechanic we use has never suggested we need to be concerned. I'm planning on getting a new clutch eventually as part of an ongoing plan to get our California completely up and together.

Did you have any luck finding parts for your bike rack? We have the genuine one on ours. It's bit of a rarity now. If you're after part numbers http://www.partsbase.org/vw/campmob-typ2-transp-lt-camp-eu/ is well worth a look. Not sure about availability though.

zennorboy · Nov 1, 2015

Regarding the 'three beeps', I had exactly the same problem which caused more than a little consternation until the culprit was tracked down.

This may not be relevant to your particular problem, but I have a SIGMA alarm fitted. If the engine battery is getting a little low on charge, enough to start the motor, but just a little tired, the alarm draws power from it's own back-up battery and warns you with 'three beeps' when you put the ignition in 'first position'.

You start the motor and rock off down the road, the motor battery gets charged and you don't hear the 'three beeps' for the rest of the day. Leave the bus for a couple of days maybe...go to start the engine and the 'three beeps' are back!

A new battery solved the problem.

Hope this helps.

Trevor

Stef Williams · Nov 28, 2015

New battery sorted, what a difference ! :thumb

WelshGas · Nov 28, 2015

Stef Williams said:
New battery sorted, what a difference !

Did it sort the juddering as well?

Hotel California · Nov 28, 2015

Was it not the warning signal that outside themp. Is below a certain number? Close to zero ...it happens on our T5 don't know on T4

mrcheesbrough · Nov 28, 2015

Not a feature on our T4. We had a 2000 plate Passat that did that - always at around 4C, as does our Alhambra. Quite useful really. Only emits one long beep though not multiple as the OP described.

bvddobb · Nov 28, 2015

zennorboy said:
If the engine battery is getting a little low on charge, enough to start the motor, but just a little tired, the alarm draws power from it's own back-up battery and warns you with 'three beeps' when you put the ignition in 'first position'.

You start the motor and rock off down the road, the motor battery gets charged and you don't hear the 'three beeps' for the rest of the day.

We recognise this. E.g. when we have used the autolevel function or lowered/raised the back (to load/unload bikes), running the air compressor for our air suspension without the engine running thus drawing from the battery, or when we have raised/lowered the roof without the engine running again thus drawing from the battery. Starting directly after such actions sometimes invokes the three beeps.