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Audio warning when headlights left on; Not a buzzzzzzer
Topic Started: Apr 18 2015, 10:04 PM (1,096 Views)
Snickers
New Member
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I don't know if other Metros have any kind of buzzer or such if the lights are left on, but mine doesn't. Today I added this to my Metro, and it was pretty easy to do.

A couple times in the past, when it was foggy or dark when I left to go to work, but light when I got there, I'd forgotten to turn off the lights. Adding to the problem, my new truck cuts its lights off automatically, so I'm becoming less sensitive to the need to manually cut them off. Wanting to avoid future occurrences of needing a jump-start when I leave work at the end of the day, I came up with this. It's an alert that warns me when my lights are left on when the ignition is off. I figure that it's very likely to be much simpler than trying to modify the vehicle to cut the lights off automatically.

Posted Image

The "control" portion of the relay is powered by the radio black/white wire, which is hot when the ignition is in "Accessory" or "Run". The current-draw of the relay is about 135mA.

The "load" portion of the relay is powered by the radio red/yellow wire, which is hot when the lights are on. In my vehicle, I have an aftermarket head unit, and that wire isn't used for it or anything else.

I wired it all up and bundled it under the center console, forward of the shifter.

The audio device I used is a 7-24VDC programmable buzzer that I got through Amazon...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0058M0TN8/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A21C4U5X700J66

It doesn't come with any sound on it, but you can upload a WAV or MP3 file to it via USB cable (the cable does not come with it, but any cable with a standard-A plug to mini-B plug will work). It will play that file in a loop as long as it has power. When I got the device, it didn't have any instructions with it, but I found in the comments on Amazon that the software can be downloaded. I searched and found the software at...

http://www.puiaudio.com/resources-software.aspx

The programmable buzzer has a current rated at 350mA max, so I used the lowest-rated fuse I could find (1A) at Advanced Auto.

It's simple to use. The WAV or MP3 file can be up to 30 seconds long, and the size of the file can be up to 1.2 MB. I created the following WAV file, using Audacity to capture the audio being played on my laptop.

WAV file

First I used one of the default Windows WAV files and amplified it. Then I used Google Translate (https://translate.google.com/?hl=en) to create the two sentences it speaks (when you type something in, a little speaker icon shows up that will play what you typed over your speakers). I created each sentence separately, because it sounded better than way. Then I combined the modified Windows WAV file and the two sentences into one WAV file and trimmed/added silence where appropriate.

Where it is positioned under the console, the volume is just right...not annoyingly loud, but loud enough to definitely catch my attention under most any circumstance when parking. Now I shouldn't have that trouble anymore. I also added a simple switch that's hidden underneath the console to disable the audio device should I need to for any reason. It's out of the way, but easy to get to by reaching around the backside of the console at the bottom. Additionally, around the back of the console, I can reach the USB port on the audio device. Should I wish to change the file being played, I can do so easily.
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Hanuman
"The Almighty Grounds Cleaner"

awesome!
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Old Man


My '91 'Vert has a factory buzzer that sounds when the headlights are on and the key is turned off.
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mt999999
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Self-Declared "Genious"

My XFI has a buzzer when the keys are left in the car. It has a different buzz for when the headlights are left on, and combines the two when both keys and lights are in/on. However, it only works on rare occasion, and when it works, it is very quiet, like it's dying. I have to figure out how to fix it. I've never killed the battery, but I've locked my self out 3 times. One time, I locked ALL 4 copies of the key inside the car. 4 Copies! I made sure to split them up afterward :)
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RONNIEREDLINE
METRO MAD MAN

hey mt999999
sounds like it might be a ground problem for your buzzer?
think?
redline
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mt999999
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Self-Declared "Genious"

RONNIEREDLINE
Jun 28 2015, 10:27 PM
hey mt999999
sounds like it might be a ground problem for your buzzer?
think?
redline
Could be. But the dome lights don't work on the door setting. I'll try cleaning up the contacts that sense if the door is open or closed first, and see how that goes.
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dotwithshoes
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mt999999
Jun 29 2015, 12:48 AM
RONNIEREDLINE
Jun 28 2015, 10:27 PM
hey mt999999
sounds like it might be a ground problem for your buzzer?
think?
redline
Could be. But the dome lights don't work on the door setting. I'll try cleaning up the contacts that sense if the door is open or closed first, and see how that goes.
Mine did the same thing, I locked my keys in my car and left my headlights on many a time. Replaced that switch for the door and poof, works wonderfully.
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Old Man


dotwithshoes
Jun 29 2015, 01:06 AM
mt999999
Jun 29 2015, 12:48 AM
RONNIEREDLINE
Jun 28 2015, 10:27 PM
hey mt999999
sounds like it might be a ground problem for your buzzer?
think?
redline
Could be. But the dome lights don't work on the door setting. I'll try cleaning up the contacts that sense if the door is open or closed first, and see how that goes.
Mine did the same thing, I locked my keys in my car and left my headlights on many a time. Replaced that switch for the door and poof, works wonderfully.
Hmmm.......My door buzzers don't work, matter of fact the passenger side button is missing.....However....buzzer for key and buzzer for lights work great.
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Potter
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Col. Potter

They had them from the factory but most died bout 15 years into service... They would beep if the key was in the ignition and if the headlamps where left on. The long beep when the ignition is cycled on is a separate buzzer from the headlamps/ key in the ignition. The box and plug should be under the dash, behind the center console on the right hand side. Could be worth while just to pop I open and see if its the buzzer itself or the board that is shot
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mt999999
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Self-Declared "Genious"

Does anyone sell the little buttons that go in the car door jamb to make the dome light/buzzer come on? Mine are probably way corroded, and don't work. One of my rubber boots that cover them is missing, the other is damaged. I need the boots as well.
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