Annoying buzz from Defi Gauges

I have just bought an Impreza which has the following Defi gauges fitted:-

Oil Pressure
Oil Temp
Turbo

with a Defi Link control unit 2.

When I first turn the ignition on, the gauges self test but then the Oil Pressure gauge registers no oil pressure, turns on the warning led and turns sounds a continuos warning buzzer. It will only go off when I start the engine.

This is really annoying when I want to listen to the stereo whilst waiting for the missus !

Is there anything I can do on the control unit to acknowledge the warning and stop the buzzer ?

Any help appreciated

Defi gauges should only do this with the ignition in position two, ie: second click.

Your ignition should have first click that turns on accessories like the radio, second click that turns on the car's engine management etc, and third sprung click which engages the starter motor. When released the key should return to position two.

If this is OK, (at first click, the red battery light on the instrument binnacle is NOT lit), check the Defi wiring.

The wires at the rear of the control unit should be as follows:
Red: Permanent live, (ie, even when key is not in ignition).
Orange: Switched live, ie key in position one
White: Live from something that is live only when sidelights are on.
Black: A decent earth.

HTH, Alcazar

When my Defi's were first fitted they were also wired into the first click of the ignition and it drove me nuts as like you i like to listen to the radio sometimes with the engine off, went back to who fitted them and they wired them into the second click of the ignition and peace at last

Had a qick look behind control unit which is wired in below stereo in second DIN socket, they all appear to be black !



The gauges were installed for a previous owner, and have been working in this way for at least three years. I will see what I can see over the weekend.

Thanks for the help.

Originally Posted by Alan Stacey

Had a qick look behind control unit which is wired in below stereo in second DIN socket, they all appear to be black !

There will be black leads going to the senders and to the first of the gauges, these have rectangular small white plugs on the ends, (well, mine are white).

The wires I was referring to are captive to the Control Unit, and IIRC come out near one end........

Alcazar

there's also another solution to this. when you have the car running press record on the defi control unti to record what they're doing. when you are wanting to listen to your music press play on the control unit to playback what has been recorded and pause it.

Alcazar, had another look today, I can see the connectors/coloured wires as you correctly described.

Can you help further by telling me how I might identify the switched live cable to which the Orange/IGN wire should attach, is it also a particular colour in the Impreza wiring loom ? Does it go to any particular device (radio/cigarette lighter ? I don't have a meter to test.

Not sure if relevant, but the car is a 2004 Japanese import.

Many thanks for everyones help

It needs to go to something that is live at first click, but not permanently live. The easiest thing is often the ICE.

Try tracing the orange wire back, and see if you can see what it's connected to.

Then find the lead that supplies the ICE, it's often yellow, and tap into this instead.

You might have to remove the radio etc to get at it's wiring, but it's not that difficult, at least, it's not in a classic.

Alternatively, go out and buy a circuit tester from a carshop. Mine is brass, and has a lead with a crocodile clip on one end, and a sharp point on the other, used for piercing insulation. Connect clip to GOOD earth, and probe wires until you find one that lights up the tester with ign on first click.

Check that it still lights up when on second click, and goes off when ign is off. You can often find wires just behind the ign switch, which can be got to by removing the steering column shroud, three screws from underneath

Alcazar

Thanks for the advice, will try this afternoon

Managed to fix this afternoon, the orange wire (switched live) was connected to a wire that went to 12V at the first key position. Used a green/yellow wire on the back of the heating controls as suggested in another thread on this subject, and all now well. Defi guages do not come on at first key position so I can listen to the stereo in peace, then when they come on key position 2, their startup sweep in time with the main speedo/rev counter.

Job done

Alcazar, thanks for pointing me in the right direction

No worries, glad to be of service.

Now, if I can just find the poor connection behind mine that keeps making them loose their settings.............

Alcazar