94 Limited: continuous warning tone when driving

MikeWrite · #1 11-04-2002, 01:43 AM

Asking on behalf of my dad. His 94 LeSabre Limited has an electronic warning tone that is supposed to sound if the headlights are left on, the key is left in the ignition, seatbelts aren't fastened, parking brake left engaged, that sort of thing. Frequently when driving it will begin to sound for no apparent reason. Sometimes when this happens it will stop on its own, but usually it will continue until the car is turned off.

The tone is fast (bongbongbongbongbong, not bong ... bong ... bong).

It doesn't always happen. When it does, it only happens after the car is put in gear and driven. It will not happen if you start the car and just let it sit there in park, idling.

There are no other apparent problems: no flashing dash lights, for example.

Dealer wants 300 bucks to fix it. My dad doesn't know what they intend to do (he's 82, not a car guy).

I can rebuild an engine, so if somebody can specify what this might be, I can try to fix it.

ramjunkie · #2 11-26-2002, 12:02 PM

Hi, try disconecting the wire harness at the brake master cylinder, I have encountered this with my 92 Le Sabre, problem being the fluid level sensor. I just leave it disconected since I check my levels often.

Shortbus · #3 12-18-2002, 06:41 PM

Sounds like the dealer wants to replace the Body Control Module. They are about 200.00 bucks and have to be programmed. If the previous post does not help. You can also just unplug the chime alarm itself, the only drawback is that if you do leave the lights on or the key in the cylinder with the car off there will be no chime to remind you to take your keys or turn the lights off. To find the chime alarm just let it do its thing and unplug the sucker. Hope this helps. I may be able to find out additional info if you need just let me know I have pretty good resources.

Frank Svara · #4 07-22-2003, 11:33 PM

I am having a similar problem with my 93 LeSabre. The warning chime is constantly going off and the parking break light is also on. I assume that there is a problem with the parking break sensor. I tried to just disconnect the wire from the sensor hoping that this would stop the warnings. When that didn't work I tried to ground the wire, same results. At this point I would just like to disconnect the chime. However, I could not find the location of it. Anyone have any ideas as to where it is located exactly?

Flatrater · #5 07-23-2003, 07:51 PM

A fast chime is the warning for headlights left on.. Things that stand out for me that could cause this the alarm for one or the car thinks the headlights are on and the key is out of the car.

Frank Svara

The parking brake switch is normally open unplugging it would turn off the light if that was causing it. Plug it back in and pull up on the parking brake pedal and see if it goes out. A minor cable adjustment would fix this.

RWALLMOW · #6 08-16-2003, 02:37 AM

Correct me if I am wrong (it has been 2yrs since I drove a LeSabre) but isn't the parking brake light also the brake system warning light? In which case you may have somthing wrong with the brake system itself, not just a parking brake sensor.

Flatrater · #7 08-16-2003, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RWALLMOW

Correct me if I am wrong (it has been 2yrs since I drove a LeSabre) but isn't the parking brake light also the brake system warning light? In which case you may have somthing wrong with the brake system itself, not just a parking brake sensor.

You are right it tells you if the parking brake is on and if youir fluid level in the master cylinder is low.

But the complaint stated that it happens when in gear and only the parking brake being on would cause this.

Matt77NJ · #8 09-13-2003, 08:26 PM

i am having the same problem with my parking break light being constantly on, and being harassed by the continuose "ding ding ding" when i put it into drive. i would greatly appreciate it if someone could point me in the right direction on info on how to find the "parking break switch" so i can fiddle with it or possibly how to disable the warning signal all together.
this problem is driving me nuts, any help would be greatly appreciated.

Steve13 · #9 01-20-2006, 02:38 PM

Anyone ever find a solution to this, my 94 LeSabre started doing this a little while ago, while driving for no aparent reason the parking brake light just comes on and starts chiming, then it goes away, then comes back...it's driving me nuts, the brakes work fine and the parking brake seems to work fine, I checked it in park playing with the sensor and it seemed ok...any ideas?

Amopower · #10 05-04-2006, 11:43 PM

I have the same problem once in a while and even though I have the e-brake released, sometimes the foot lever doesnt come all the way up, so the car thinks the e-brake is still on...and so it makes that fast dinging noise when you start to drive. I just pull the lever up with my foot to retract it all the way back up like it should be, and the problem is solved.
For a permanent fix, I would imagine there is a spring under there that must have gotten worn out which should be replaced.

roadpaver · #11 05-07-2006, 10:41 PM

I have a '95 Lesabre and when I make a turn that is not steep enough to trip my turn signal and I don't realize it a tone will sound until I turn the signal off. This is not a problem but a thing that is handy for us old timers.

Gnomonic · #12 05-08-2006, 12:27 AM

This signals that you are low on brake fluid.

Put more brake fluid in the reservoir.

The post above written by a shop forman says that this would not happen when in gear...and I hate to go against those credentials...but I do my own brakes and if I forget to fill the reservior back up before I test drive, I get this exact situation, and it does happen while in gear and driving.

It is certainly an easy fix to try putting in a little brake fluid. If that doesn't fix it you haven't wasted more than a few bucks.

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