NEWBIE - 1997 Prado 90 strange beeping won't stop

[morgan1002]

Figured I'd go ahead and introduce myself and start asking advice! Bought a 1997 Prado VX 3.4 with the 5 speed manual a few days ago. Different from other Prados that I have come across, the rearmost seats face sideways and have no seat belts. Imported to Canada (I live in British Columbia) from the UAE. Car is in really good condition, inside and out, but the only problem is a strange, constant chime coming from behind the dash. The seller offered me a deal if I bought the car as is, with the chime. Different than the door open/ignition chime. It sounds like the warning buzzer for leaving the headlights on is stuck. Only comes on when the ignition is in the on position or when the truck is running. When I remove the fuse for the instrument panel, the beeping stops. Took it to a mechanic who said he had no idea, and would have to charge me hourly to start pulling the dash apart.

The buzzing sometimes stops temporarily if you hit the top of the steering wheel/instrument panel. Just a matter of finding the buzzer and removing it I suppose. Anyone know where to start on this one? Is removing the instrument cluster a difficult job?

 

[bulleshah]

removing the instrument panel is fairly simple, its all plastics you need a screw driver only but an electrician should be looking at the panel i presume there is a short circuit, which can only be checked from behind the instrument panel.

in my previous vehicle TLC LJ70 series buzzing sound used to occur upon giving the indicator and same at hazards, got it checked it was in the wiring running under the steering col and from the indicator switches.
hope this helps

 

[morgan1002]

removing the instrument panel is fairly simple, its all plastics you need a screw driver only but an electrician should be looking at the panel i presume there is a short circuit, which can only be checked from behind the instrument panel.

in my previous vehicle TLC LJ70 series buzzing sound used to occur upon giving the indicator and same at hazards, got it checked it was in the wiring running under the steering col and from the indicator switches.
hope this helps

Instrument panel was extremely easy to take apart - Apparently my truck is a middle eastern model, which mandates a overspeed "beep" indicator at 120 km/H. Unfortunately, mine was just stuck on. The small buzzer was attached to the back of the instrument panel, didn't remove the entire buzzer assembly (tried this but the speedometer wouldn't work), so I took the assembly apart and pried out the actual buzzer. Put it all back together and no more beeping