Long, Loud Beeping ('01)

[smarieee]

So this happened for the first time today, and repeated itself 4 times throughout the day.

I get in the car and start it. About 30 seconds later, there is a long and loud beep. It isn't the same quick beep that sounds if a door isn't shut or if the lights are on and the keys are out. It is a long and very loud beep. It seems to be coming from the area of the dashboard, maybe. There weren't any lights (such as the check engine light) on that usually aren't on, either. It beeped about 15 times and stopped. It started back about 30 seconds later. This continued for about 3 minutes. This happend 4 times today, and has never happened before.

Any ideas?

[AzTumbleweed]

Do you have an alarm clock, GPS with alarm, stereo with alarm? That's all I can think of.

[smarieee]

No, I don't have any of those.
Thanks.

[AzTumbleweed]

Beeping sound? Roll down your windows and see if someone is honking at you Just kidding of course. Unless it's a low oil pressure warning then I'm stumped. I'll turn this over to 97Escort

[mightymoose_22]

I am guessing that you don't have a Check Engine Light on...
The beeping is likely an alarm for one of the engine sensors... either something is not up to specs or the sensor is malfunctioning. Not everything trips the Check Engine Light. You will likely have to get a full diagnostic run on the car to find the problem.
Listen to the beeping again and try to distinguish a pattern. Are there short beeps and long beeps? Are they the same? Is there a pause? I sometimes drive a Crown Vic that was doing something similar... 5 long beeps, pause, 5 more, and so on. Would stop and suddenly start up again next time I turn the car on... or even if driving around without restarting. Fortunately for that car I had the option of dropping it off at a motor pool to be fixed... dunno what they did about it... probably snipped a wire somewhere! (Don't do that though)

[tripletdaddy]

I wouldn't waste any time figuring this thing out, because it could be your air bag system alarm. It will go off if the air bag light doesn't work. Have you noticed if it comes on when all the dash warning lights come on for the equipment check when you start the engine? If you have it, look in your owner's manual for the exact type of beeping you should have. It would be listed under Air Bag Readiness Light if it is listed the same as mine. I don't have an escort of your vintage, but the closest thing I have does have this warning but is different from what you describe. I would NOT assume that your beeping is NOT the air bag system(SRS) just because it is different from my 95 Taurus! If you have to, call the dealer service department and ask them what the warning sound should be in the air bag system has a problem.

All other ideas as to the cause of the beeping would be just guessing that something that normally make the chime or beep to activate is having a problem: ignition switch and key, door ajar, lights on, seat belt alarm. In that case it's a pita to figure out. The chimer or beeper could be dying. I'm not sure where they are, typically under the dash. Maybe someone can "chime" in and provide better specifics.

Good luck. Let us know what's wrong.

[Davescort97]

It sounds like one of those warning beepers when you have the vehicle in reverse backing up. My neighbor has one and it wakes me up at 6 AM every day and I don't have to be at work until 9. I haven't got a clue, but I'll bet dollars to doughnuts someone out there knows what this is. Anyone?