Bizarre problem - buzzer going off under ignition key hole in 1985 GTV6?

[joninmelbourne]

Hi there, just drove into work this morning in the new GTV6 - everything is working fine... but a buzzer keeps going off from under where the ignition key goes in. It doesn't have an alarm - as far as I know so I wonder what on earth it could be? It has been going off every 15 mins or so, and stops after a minute - very annoying - I felt under the ignition key hole and they appears to be a vibration under there from the buzzer. Hopefully I can just disconnect the buzzer. Any ideas what this is anyone? Thanks guys!

[alfagtv58]

Just had the same problem with my 2L Alfetta, it was a relay.

[joninmelbourne]

Ok sounds more logical than a old alarm kicking in! Didn't know they could make such a noise. Will have a poke around and see if I can pull the relays out and have a look which one faulty, failing that I will go to an auto electrician! Cheers for the replies!

[joninmelbourne]

Ok, I have traced the problem to the indicator relay, but nobody seems to stock the relay - tried Repco, Autobarn and Burston Auto to no success... anybody know where you can get a flasher relay for the GTV6? It has four pins. Cheers

[Colin Byrne]

what band is it?

[Simon Aarons]

Best way to get one would be to go straight to an Alfa Specialist! Call Hugh Harrison at Alfpa Repairs in Bayswater - 9729 9946. He looks after my GTV6 and the other Alfas that we own and is highly recommended throughout the Alfa Club.

Cheers.

[joninmelbourne]

Thanks for the replies guys!

Mick, that sounds a great solution! Could you tell me the part number on the tridon relay though? Then I can just ask for it off the shelf! What parts shop did you use too?

Cheers

[Al Campbell]

If the original realy is the type with a clear plastic cylindrical cover, I managed to cut the few remaining shreds of glue holding the cover on with a small sharp knife, clean all the contacts with 1200 wet & dry and it was as good as new... Which apprentley isn't that good.

[joninmelbourne]

Hey thanks for the replies guys.

I looked at the Tridon Relay product listing on the internet and it came up with a FET-13 part number for the Tridon Relay for the GTV6. The photo shows 3 pins only though - the original one has 4. The auto electrician I saw yesterday said the forth pin was very important as it controlled the dashboard flashing indicator symbol. I guess I will order it and see what happens when I stick it in... Will keep you updated! The Alfa Specialist in Resevoir, Mille Miglia Motors told me an original one was $150 so look elsewhere....

On another note, recently changed to Mobile 1 oil 5-50 and the car feels better and seems to shift smoother - I think as the engine warms up quicker and therefore so does the gearbox. The water temp is up to just under half way on the dashboard guage within minutes... before it took 10 minutes to get to this tempreture. So to save your gearbox, maybe Mobil 1 engine oil helps too. 

[Jekyll and Hyde]

I think as the engine warms up quicker and therefore so does the gearbox.

Please explain?  The gearbox is not even attached to the engine in a GTV6, and so the only way it will get heat into it is by driving along. To a very small extent the heat given off by the exhaust will assist, but that far back in the system it will only get enough heat in it from running for a certain time.  I would suggest any shift improvement is a placebo effect.

Also, check your oil regularly with that engine oil - you will probably find it uses more with that grade oil.

[joninmelbourne]

In a strange turn of events, it wasn't the indicator relay after all....
The buzzing happened just now driving home and I stopped and pulled out the indicator relay when it started buzzing... and it carried on. I pulled over and with it still buzzing in the daylight I saw this device which was located above the fuse box bolted to the plastic out of sight. I unscrewed when I got home - and it does appear to be a buzzer after all! What is this thing? Anybody know? Looks pretty old, could be original but who knows? Any ideas? The car still runs fine after removal, but haven't driven it yet... Hope its nothing important!  Cheers

[Brett]

Italian car- mafia tracking device   

[Rigi]

At the risk of opening up a hornets nest ... re the use of Mobil 1 .... I would never contemplate a synthetic - full or semi - in an older style engine,  even if it has been rebuilt ... for years now have used BP Corse Plus and have heard nothing but praise for what some regard as one of the best mineral oils ever produced.

We use the BP in 105/116 road Alfas as well as the 116 race car.

I use a full synthetic - Royal Purple - in my wifes 3.0L Spider.

Right oils for the right car

[Sheldon McIntosh]

alfas have old motors, they need thicker oil so they dont use the shit in the first hour..

New Alfas have new motors.  New shit motors maybe....

[Gary Pearce]

Oils ain't oils!
The biggest difference between mineral oil and synthetic (there is plenty of documentation to support this)  is the ability of synthetics to withstand higher temperatures for a much longer time before braking down.
Synthetics too come in a variety of viscos ratings and some of us have been using Mobil 1 in 105/116 vehicles for ages.
A well respected club racer ran Mobil 1 15/50 in his famous racing Giulietta successfully for a long time without problems, and I (a much less talented steerer) am using Mobil 1 15/50 in my 2000 GTV on the track. My engine is largely an unknown proposition and seemed to run all day at the 6 hour at 6-6500 revs with out any signs of overheating, oil usage or oil breakdown (read blackening). While more beneficial to the new car range due to the added demands placed on oil by such things as quick start up and drive away, tardy service intervals and higher oil temperatures, there may still be benefits to us with older tech engines. The way I see it is, if there is something that I can use that might be beneficial, is easy to use and relatively inexpensive (given the cost of disaster) then I will use it. Go Synthetics!