Okay this is an interesting one...

On my VRS SE I've noticed a "buzzer" that comes on with the brakes.

At first I thought it was a bit of brake squeel as that's exactly what it sounds like, but this morning when driving through the city centre and getting stuck at traffic lights, I realised it actually continues for about ten seconds after the car is stopped and your foot is still on the brakes. It's a continuous high pitched tone, not an actual electronic buzzer.

It's pretty quiet (have to turn the stereo off to hear it) but it's definitely there!! Seems just to be coming from the general area of the dash, but possibly under the bonnet. Maybe on the nearside, but it's hard to pin point. No warning lights, brakes are fine, but I can't even think what this could be.

One thought was maybe a small leak of brake fluid making a noise as it escapes when under the greatest pressure, but no signs of anything obvious...

Any thoughts??

I have something similar... I quiet squeak, not always continuous like yours... mine tends to squeak in time with the speed of the car.. longer gaps the slower I go.. but sometimes it's constant. Only there when lightly braking. heavy or non and it's not there.

I can't offer much help I'm afraid... It's done it for a while and I've had my mechanic look at the brakes.. he says they're all fine.. so I dunno.. I still think it's the brakes but they've been ok'd and they work fine and don't seem to grip when they shouldn't.

It's the fact that it continues for about 10 seconds after the car is *stopped* that worries me.

I think I'll try to find the time to take both front wheels off and have a feel around for any leaks. A bit too hard to check the servo end on the driveway. I suppose the ABS pump is another possible point of failure (but I've never had that come on in all the time I've had the car... Must not be trying hard enough!).

It's also the thought of what any leaking brake fluid will be doing to the paintwork / wheels that worries me (sod the safety aspect!)

Does anyone know if, when parked, the car reduces the brake pressure after a while even if you keep your foot on the brake at constant pressure? That would explain the "buzzer" stopping.

Another thought is it could be a brake pipe vibrating, but that shouldn't be possible (and what would cause it to vibrate anyway?)

Deek.

Vacuum leak at the brake servo?

I was just thinking about having a search on this last night, as it's one of those things I've noticed, but never been bothered to look into. Must admit, in my case it stops when I take the foot off the brake, but there's a definite sound like an electronic buzzer. It comes from behind the glove compartment, which is the other side of the firewall from the ABS controller but nowhere near the brake servo, so logic suggests that's where it's coming from. Never stopped me braking successfully, and AFAIK, my wife's car (which is one of the few non-ABS Fabias) doesn't do it... :confused:

I was just thinking about having a search on this last night, as it's one of those things I've noticed, but never been bothered to look into. Must admit, in my case it stops when I take the foot off the brake, but there's a definite sound like an electronic buzzer. It comes from behind the glove compartment, which is the other side of the firewall from the ABS controller but nowhere near the brake servo, so logic suggests that's where it's coming from. Never stopped me braking successfully, and AFAIK, my wife's car (which is one of the few non-ABS Fabias) doesn't do it... :confused:

That is where I thought it was coming from, but there's nothing behind the glovebox (on the inside of the firewall) that's got anything to do with the brakes. It must, then, be coming from the engine bay.

I will have to look into this...

Glad(?) I'm not imagining it, though!

That is where I thought it was coming from, but there's nothing behind the glovebox (on the inside of the firewall) that's got anything to do with the brakes. It must, then, be coming from the engine bay.

That's what I meant: the ABS controller is on the other side of the firewall from the back of the glove compartment. Believe me, I have a fairly intimate knowledge of what lurks behind the glove compartment of a Fabia!

Shame my knowledge of what's bolted to the firewall doesn't match my knowledge of what's behind the glove compartment - it's the ECU that's the most likely candidate for the noise!

Although presumably it plays some part in braking too...?

could it be a faulty handbrake switch, the buzzing sound could be caused because it thinks you are driving with the handbrake applied. If you do this you get a warning simillar to what you describe.

IME (assuming it's the same as the OP's), you get a barely-audible 'beeeeeeeeeeeep' from behind the glovebox when braking; not all the time, just when you have to brake reasonably sharply, but not enough to activate the ABS. It's not the handbrake warning, as I've had that come on in SWMBO's car a couple of times (when she's been driving! ) and the sounds from that comes from the dash pod... :ne_nau:

I get the same beep on mine but it only sounds when the brake lights come on. If you are stationary with or without the hand brake on you can just press the pedal enough for the lights to come on buzz is there. i though if might be some sort of electrical feedback. but sorry no real answers

Mine also does it, but as its been said, goes away when i take my foot off the brake. I havent noticed any problems or lack of brake performance because of it. The car had a service and check not long ago and no problems were found.

hth

Before going too technical, have you checked that all your brake lights are functioning properly, including the third high level one. I remember that Autocar exeprienced something similar to this (ie. warning noise) which was found to be a partial failure in the high level brake light.

Are we talking "beep" or "high pitched whistle" ? I get the latter ...

It's a very, very, very faint high-pitched whistle / long beep. It's not the bulb failure warning, as the noise for that is the same as the noise for running out of fuel or washer water...

Does this happen while you are driving forwards or backwards?

It happens on mine too - I was told that it was just the ABS and what-not getting ready to work. I found that when it starts release the break and re-apply and it stops.

It's a very, very, very faint high-pitched whistle / long beep. It's not the bulb failure warning, as the noise for that is the same as the noise for running out of fuel or washer water...

Yup, this is what it sounds like. It's not a proper warning "chime", it sounds more like a piezo-electric buzzer on a circuit board somewhere within the car...

I always just assumed this was, as said, ABS controllers doing stuff or not as the case may be.