Beeps on startup

Hi all,

My 1998 US spec A4 V6 Quattro beeped at me this morning when I started
the car.

I turned the key, the engine started, and idled, and then 3 longish
beeps sounded. It didn't happen the next time I started the car. I
didn't drive the car yesterday, so it had been sitting for two days.
And it ran just fine.

I've checked the manual and big service manual and I can't seem to find
any mention of beeping.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

"Paul Dhuse" > wrote in message
...
> Hi all,
>
> My 1998 US spec A4 V6 Quattro beeped at me this morning when I started the
> car.
>
> I turned the key, the engine started, and idled, and then 3 longish beeps
> sounded. It didn't happen the next time I started the car. I didn't
> drive the car yesterday, so it had been sitting for two days. And it ran
> just fine.
>
> I've checked the manual and big service manual and I can't seem to find
> any mention of beeping.
>
> Any ideas?
>
> Thanks.

where did the beeps come from...horn, stereo, alarm speaker ???

"Paul Dhuse" > wrote in message
...
> Hi all,
>
> My 1998 US spec A4 V6 Quattro beeped at me this morning when I started the
> car.
>
> I turned the key, the engine started, and idled, and then 3 longish beeps
> sounded. It didn't happen the next time I started the car. I didn't
> drive the car yesterday, so it had been sitting for two days. And it ran
> just fine.
>
> I've checked the manual and big service manual and I can't seem to find
> any mention of beeping.
>
> Any ideas?
>
> Thanks.

The auto check control display (middle display) will show a relevant icon
and give 3 warning chimes for either of the following.

1. fault in the brake system
2. coolant level low
3. coolant temp high
4. engine oil low.

They seemed to come from the instrument panel.

There were no warnings indicated on the instrument panel.

On Fri, 17 Jul 2009 05:20:47 UTC, "Tom E" > wrote:

>
> "Paul Dhuse" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Hi all,
> >
> > My 1998 US spec A4 V6 Quattro beeped at me this morning when I started the
> > car.
> >
> > I turned the key, the engine started, and idled, and then 3 longish beeps
> > sounded. It didn't happen the next time I started the car. I didn't
> > drive the car yesterday, so it had been sitting for two days. And it ran
> > just fine.
> >
> > I've checked the manual and big service manual and I can't seem to find
> > any mention of beeping.
> >
> > Any ideas?
> >
> > Thanks.
>
> where did the beeps come from...horn, stereo, alarm speaker ???
>
>


--

"Paul Dhuse" > wrote in message
news:t1kSDs33RET1-pn2-0FWRbymHFS55@cletus...
> They seemed to come from the instrument panel.
>
> There were no warnings indicated on the instrument panel.
>
> On Fri, 17 Jul 2009 05:20:47 UTC, "Tom E" > wrote:
>
>>
>> "Paul Dhuse" > wrote in message
>> ...
>> > Hi all,
>> >
>> > My 1998 US spec A4 V6 Quattro beeped at me this morning when I started
>> > the
>> > car.
>> >
>> > I turned the key, the engine started, and idled, and then 3 longish
>> > beeps
>> > sounded. It didn't happen the next time I started the car. I didn't
>> > drive the car yesterday, so it had been sitting for two days. And it
>> > ran
>> > just fine.
>> >
>> > I've checked the manual and big service manual and I can't seem to find
>> > any mention of beeping.
>> >
>> > Any ideas?
>> >
>> > Thanks.
>>
>> where did the beeps come from...horn, stereo, alarm speaker ???
>>
>>
>
>
> --
>

see my second post, I had a faulty coolant reservoir float and that would
occasionally give a warning beep when the water level was OK (at MAX level)
BUT it also showed the icon on the dash. I am surprised you are not getting
an icon up of one sort or another.

When you first turn the ign on, before cranking, do you see the Oil light,
ABS light and Brake light come on?
I am thinking it is an ABS problem sound.
--
later,
(One out of many daves)
1997 Red A4 1.8tq auto

"Tom E" > wrote in message
news
>
> "Paul Dhuse" > wrote in message
> news:t1kSDs33RET1-pn2-0FWRbymHFS55@cletus...
>> They seemed to come from the instrument panel.
>>
>> There were no warnings indicated on the instrument panel.
>>
>> On Fri, 17 Jul 2009 05:20:47 UTC, "Tom E" > wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> "Paul Dhuse" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>> > Hi all,
>>> >
>>> > My 1998 US spec A4 V6 Quattro beeped at me this morning when I started
>>> > the
>>> > car.
>>> >
>>> > I turned the key, the engine started, and idled, and then 3 longish
>>> > beeps
>>> > sounded. It didn't happen the next time I started the car. I didn't
>>> > drive the car yesterday, so it had been sitting for two days. And it
>>> > ran
>>> > just fine.
>>> >
>>> > I've checked the manual and big service manual and I can't seem to
>>> > find
>>> > any mention of beeping.
>>> >
>>> > Any ideas?
>>> >
>>> > Thanks.
>>>
>>> where did the beeps come from...horn, stereo, alarm speaker ???
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>>
>
> see my second post, I had a faulty coolant reservoir float and that would
> occasionally give a warning beep when the water level was OK (at MAX
> level) BUT it also showed the icon on the dash. I am surprised you are not
> getting an icon up of one sort or another.
>

Yep I just listened to a 1999 Audi A6 with a bad ABS module.
3 long beeps after the engine is running, but the lights blink and stay on.

Now with the remanned ABS module things are nice and quiet again.

Yours might be on the way out so you have received warning! ;-)
--
later,
(One out of many daves)
1997 Red A4 1.8tq auto

"dave AKA vwdoc1" > wrote in message
...
> When you first turn the ign on, before cranking, do you see the Oil light,
> ABS light and Brake light come on?
> I am thinking it is an ABS problem sound.
> --
> later,
> (One out of many daves)
> 1997 Red A4 1.8tq auto
>
> "Tom E" > wrote in message
> news
>>
>> "Paul Dhuse" > wrote in message
>> news:t1kSDs33RET1-pn2-0FWRbymHFS55@cletus...
>>> They seemed to come from the instrument panel.
>>>
>>> There were no warnings indicated on the instrument panel.
>>>
>>> On Fri, 17 Jul 2009 05:20:47 UTC, "Tom E" > wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>> "Paul Dhuse" > wrote in message
>>>> ...
>>>> > Hi all,
>>>> >
>>>> > My 1998 US spec A4 V6 Quattro beeped at me this morning when I
>>>> > started the
>>>> > car.
>>>> >
>>>> > I turned the key, the engine started, and idled, and then 3 longish
>>>> > beeps
>>>> > sounded. It didn't happen the next time I started the car. I didn't
>>>> > drive the car yesterday, so it had been sitting for two days. And it
>>>> > ran
>>>> > just fine.
>>>> >
>>>> > I've checked the manual and big service manual and I can't seem to
>>>> > find
>>>> > any mention of beeping.
>>>> >
>>>> > Any ideas?
>>>> >
>>>> > Thanks.
>>>>
>>>> where did the beeps come from...horn, stereo, alarm speaker ???
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>>
>>
>> see my second post, I had a faulty coolant reservoir float and that would
>> occasionally give a warning beep when the water level was OK (at MAX
>> level) BUT it also showed the icon on the dash. I am surprised you are
>> not getting an icon up of one sort or another.
>>
>
>

I don't see any other warning lights at all. Just the normal light up on
startup.

Would an ABS problem show up in a full diagnostic scan? I've got the
VAGCOM connector, etc.

I'll have to give it a try.

dave AKA vwdoc1 wrote:
> Yep I just listened to a 1999 Audi A6 with a bad ABS module.
> 3 long beeps after the engine is running, but the lights blink and stay on.
>
> Now with the remanned ABS module things are nice and quiet again.
>
> Yours might be on the way out so you have received warning! ;-)

Yes so an autoscan and see if you can also connect to the ABS module.
Of course if the beeping is not occuring at every start up, there may be any
faults found! 8^o

"Paul Dhuse" > wrote in message
...
>I don't see any other warning lights at all. Just the normal light up on
>startup.
>
> Would an ABS problem show up in a full diagnostic scan? I've got the
> VAGCOM connector, etc.
>
> I'll have to give it a try.
>
> dave AKA vwdoc1 wrote:
>> Yep I just listened to a 1999 Audi A6 with a bad ABS module.
>> 3 long beeps after the engine is running, but the lights blink and stay
>> on.
>>
>> Now with the remanned ABS module things are nice and quiet again.
>>
>> Yours might be on the way out so you have received warning! ;-)

On Sun, 19 Jul 2009, Paul Dhuse wrote:

> I don't see any other warning lights at all. Just the normal light up on
> startup.

I archived this post from February 2007 from Richard Goulding, which may
or may not be useful to you:

"I had the same problem on my A4.

Four beeps from the back somewhere. It is the battery backup on the alarm
telling you it's dying. If you scan with VAG-COM there will be an error
stating such. Eventually, it will stop beeping but it won't 'fix' itself.
The code will still be there. If you clear the code it will start beeping
again for a while.

I just left it until it stopped beeping and forgot about. It doesn't
impede the car in anyway other than if the main battery is disconnected
the alarm won't continue to sound (and probably something more)."

-Steve