Below might be a known issue with some of the ROW Defender owners, but I could not find anything on it. I have a 94 Defender 90 over here in Morocco. The stupid overspeed warning buzzer seems to come at random speeds, anywhere from 30KPH and beyond. It will only shut off when you reduce speed....a lot! I tried to unplug the speed sensor, but it is electrically plumbed into a host of science project looking wiring systems under the dash. When unhooked the dome light and panel lights will not come on. The turn signals flash as if in hazard mode well as the seat belt light (also a constant source of flickering annoyance) being stuck on all the time...I get it you don't want people to mess with your super 1990's high-tec safety devices but W.T.F. Land Rover, my ride struggles to make 100KPH!. Of course finding schematics of this are near impossible and I'm not in the mood to take out the dash and start tracing wires. The rub is the sensor; that hateful bastard connects a two section speedometer cable so taking it out of the system is a non starter for the speedometer. I plan on putting in a standard one piece speedo cable and leaving the sensor hooked to nothing but wiring under the dash for the rest of its zero Km per hour measuring life. Anybody else have any experience or caveats I should be aware of with this?
Defenders Ridiculous Overspeed Warning Tone
- Thread starter Mr. Kairo
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flat
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Could you find the buzzer and just tape over it so you can’t hear the noise? Or cut just the buzzer off?
not sure UK spec defenders have an over speed buzzer! Mine certainly doesn’t!
not sure UK spec defenders have an over speed buzzer! Mine certainly doesn’t!
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Turboman
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Afraid I have never even heard of the overspeed buzzer, or seen anyone post about it on LZ.
And a 1996 Defender in the UK doesn't have many "high tech wiring systems". It has a 300 Tdi engine, and only minimal electronics. I think there may be a basic ECU on the fuel pump, but a 300Tdi owner may come along who knows more.
Assuming this is a fitment that is common on vehicles in Morocco, have you talked to any other owners in that country, or even a Land Rover dealer over there?
Turboman
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Another thought. As you say it comes on at random speeds, is it actually warning you about excess speed, or excess revs?
Yes I have a bit of foam taped around the buzzer to muffle it...kind of works. If you unplug the buzzer it does the same as unplugging the sensor. I'll bet its a simple fix I just need to get to the point of being annoyed enough that I remove the binnacle and dash unit to find all the wires and such.
Henry_b
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The overspeed warning in my work 110 is usually one of the passengers 
Just remove the plug 'orf the speaker
Just remove the plug 'orf the speaker
Hi Turboman, yes it is fairly common in early 90s North African Defenders. It is keyed to speed, usually goes off at around 110KPH. Mine is obviously defective like most I have encountered over here. Seems the solution talking to other owners is to replace the two section speedometer cable with a single cable and tuck the speed sensor up under the dash, out of sight out of mind. I suspect it won't interfere with anything important but I'm not so electrically inclined. I'm always leery of fiddling with the rats nest of wires under my dash. Defenders in the Sahara are a mixed blessing. Almost zero rust and for the most part nuts, bolts, pieces and parts come apart without much grief and intact, but I pray it does not rain much, Inshalla. Over half the Defenders down here would likely burn down with electrical problems. Everything Land Rover designed on these vehicles made of plastic, rubber or as insulation dried out and turned to dust long ago. Thanks everyone for the feed back, this is a first class forum.
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Turboman
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Interesting. I have never hear of that before, but then I don't know anyone in North Africa.
As far as I can see, you won't get a problem if you just cut the wires on the back of the buzzer, and tape them up.
It wont buzz. And the wires won't pass any current, but the rest of the wiring doesn't know that, it s just the same as if the buzzer is off.
Hmmmm that got me thinking. When I unplug the buzzer wires it acts like the when I unplug the speed sensor; turn on the key and start the engine I get blinking turn signals and such...but I wonder if I unplug the wires from the buzzer (two wires, purple and black tracer and red and white tracer) and connect them together if it might trick the system? Something must be going on inside that buzzer thing. Might be getting power from to sources, I'll have to look closer to see if there is a ground incorporated into the metal tab holding it to the body via a screw ....so I might blow a fuse trying.... or burn the mess down LoL.
The buzzer is fairly easy to get at, the speed sensor is a PITA to get to. I might even try to take the plastic cover off to see if there is a vibrating part that "buzzes" I can jam up somehow. My fellow armature Land Rover 12 volt almost-know-it-all thinks we could drill a small hole in the buzzer and fill it with epoxy ..of course I noted most epoxy is flammable, unhooking the battery would be a good idea...still likely resulting in burning the thing down too, Plus I'm thinking if I screw-up the buzzer I'll be scrounging North African junk yards forever to find another, or I nick my friends. After all he would think its cool to drive around all the time with emergency flashers going off, what are friends for, Inshalla Hahaha.
Turboman
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From what you said earlier about the condition of the vehicle wiring over there, I wonder if you have simultaneous faults going on.Hmmmm that got me thinking. When I unplug the buzzer wires it acts like the when I unplug the speed sensor; turn on the key and start the engine I get blinking turn signals and such...but I wonder if I unplug the wires from the buzzer (two wires, purple and black tracer and red and white tracer) and connect them together if it might trick the system? Something must be going on inside that buzzer thing. Might be getting power from to sources, I'll have to look closer to see if there is a ground incorporated into the metal tab holding it to the body via a screw ....so I might blow a fuse trying.... or burn the mess down LoL.
I don't see how disconnecting a couple of wires from a buzzer can cause all that on a vehicle without computers, unless the other wiring has been hacked about previously, or there are shorts eleswhere.
You are spot on. I am also suspecting previous owners and the environment really did a number on the wiring. I'll just need to get of my lazy a$% and pull the dash and start sorting things out. Its likely an obvious problem when I get some eyes on the underside of the mess. Annoying now, but for the past three years all the electrical parts have been operational. Lolled me into a sense of false bliss. I'm likely one speed bump away from a bonfire under the dash.
Turboman
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It is common on old landrovers. Quite simply, wires only last so long on a vehicle that vibrates, and is exposed to changes in temperature and humidity. Most owners persevere for some years, replacing wires that chafe, short out, or burn.
But there comes a time when most get tired of it, and replace the entire loom.
In the UK, where rust is an issue, this often coincides with when they get tired of welding patches on, and decide to re-chassis.
There is a ceramic ancient looking resistor hanging down there that looks like its wired into the speed sensor...wonder if that is the problem? I'll need to kill a weekend or two pulling the dash to get at the problem I guess. You all have inspired me! I'm going to pull it out at the roots or come crying back to the forum for help very soon.
I might indeed be looking to re-loom it all. I'll snap a few pictures and revive the thread when I start the job for feed back. Thanks!
flat
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try changing the buzzer for a light or led that draws the same current?
I'll give that a try. Thanks! I'll likely still soon need to get under the dash to see what kind of other problems are living here. The good news is that the two previous owners since it was new had "zero" knowledge about how automobiles worked, so neither monkied around it too much...bad news is other then tires, diesel and a occasional oil change zero maintenance was done. HAHAH well I guess that's a common story with these beauties.
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Colthebrummie
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I'm glad we don't have over speed monitors here, they would be the first thing any owner would remove. There must be a problem with the monitor connected to the speedo cable, maybe it generates a voltage to sound the buzzer. I would disconnect any wire from that rather than the buzzer.
Col
Col
So those clever analog engineers at Land Rover some how wired the system in a way that causes the emergency flasher to continuously run when you unplug the over speed sensor....or my wiring is so screwed up it happens due to a host of other problems. Surprisingly when I unplug the buzzer the emergency lights function same as unhooking the sensor, clever British. I do suspect it is functioning as designed to prevent people from unhooking it. The best temporary option looks like removing the expensive two part speedometer cable (speed sensor is between the two ends and a nightmare to get at) and install a standard one piece cable. Then just leave the sensor hooked to the system and relocated to under the dash. The reality is if I get off my lazy butt and put in a weekend of taking the dash and instrument board out I can likely remove the entire mess. Europa486 has me thinking about checking the "Pektron" AA5034 a diode "potentiometer" thing in the system. It is stuffed under the dash by the inside of the fire wall but I can do the limbo and get at it. Might pull it when I get some down time and let you all know what I find. Thanks everyone for the insight.
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