Rear Sonar - Fix yourself in 20mins for $5.00 !!

WiskiRedz · 01-25-2009, 08:48 PM

Two ways to fix your rear sonar (back up beeper) yourself.
Why pay a dealer $100 or more when even a pure beginner like me can do this fix for under $5 bucks!?!

1. $60 way: Replace with factory speaker (called "buzzer assembly" part no. for 2005 Titan = 25640-7s200) - this will cost around $60 to do yourself. Be sure and check with the dealer to find out the exact part number for your year. This takes 5 minutes to do yourself.

2. $5.00 way: Replace with $5 Radio Shack "buzzer" speaker. Takes about 20 mins and saves you tons of cash!

- pictures are included (it's so easy, some of you can simply use the pics without my instructions, just don't cut the wires if you use the $60 Nissan buzzer because it has a simple clip that comes right out)

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Explanation:

Your rear sonar light is illuminated and your rear sonar system doesn't work. You could run the self diagnostics found on this site, or cut to the chase because 95% of the time all you have to do is just change out the speaker ("buzzer" "beeper"). This little "buzzer" is located under your dash panel that is right above your gauges and steering wheel. Change it out with a Nissan replacement for around $60 bucks and you're done.

OR you can change it out with a $4.49 "buzzer" from Radio Shack and save a ton of cash which is what I did.

Either way - DO NOT GO TO THE DEALERSHIP TO FIX THIS SIMPLE COMMON PROBLEM!!

Mine told me they charge $85 dollars just to run the diagnostics. Translated: push the sonar switch 10 times in 5 seconds and write down the beep code to see what the problem is. 9 times out of 10 it's just the "buzze" that has gone bad. Mine started sounding like it was running out of juice or like a dying duck quack(?) or something like that. Replaced the speaker and good to go!
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Tools and parts needed:

1. Flat head screw driver (the smaller/thinner the better)
2. 5.5mm socket and wrench (found in most multi-piece tool sets)
3. Pocket knife, scissors, splice tool (use all if you have them, I just used my knife)
4. Buzzer assembly from Nissan dealer (call and ask for the part number for only the speaker which is called the "buzzer assembly" OR
5. Radio Shack: 12VDC Piezo Buzzer 3.0-28VDC 5mA (I used this one, it's not very loud, not nearly as loud as the factory Nissan one, but gets the job done for 5 bucks). The part number is: 273-060
6. Black electrical tape - found anywhere, H.E.B., Radio Shack, Wal-Mart
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The Quick and Easy Fix that ANYONE can do

I included pictures which you could probably use with no instructions. And yes (for all you haters) you could be done with this fix by the time you read all of this. But I've never fixed anything on my truck myself, and if you are like me, you will need detailed instruction. Here they are if you want to print this out. Use this to either replace your buzzer with the Nissan buzzer for $60 (unclip, snap in new one, done) or swap it out for a $5 Radio Shack speaker (require a few extra minutes to splice and tape buzzer in place).

1. Turn truck off. Use flat head screw driver to pop off the dash panel cover. Careful not to break or scratch the cover! Gently wiggle it in place and use common sense to get a decent grip on the cover and just pop the cover up a bit, then use your fingers to pop the cover off. The clips allow the dash panel to pop off and pop right back in when you're done. No need to climb under your dash!

2. - If using the $60 Nissan replacement - use the 5.5mm socket to unscrew the old buzzer. Unclip the old speaker, slide new one in until it clips, replace dash cover and you're done.

3. - If using $5 Radio Shack buzzer - Use 5.5mm socket to unscrew the old buzzer assembly. Cut the blue and red wires as close to the old buzzer assembly as possible. Use scissors or a knife to cut away the foam and plastic wire covers about an inch or so down. Splice the red and blue wires about a half inch or so. Now grab the Radio Shack buzzer and connect the two wires: twist the Red wire to the Red wire and then twist the black wire on the buzzer to the blue wire in your truck. Cover each one separately with electrical tape. I taped each wire up pretty good so it will last.

4. Now that it is all spliced together and taped up, you will need to secure the new buzzer in place somehow. I simply used more electrical tape and taped it to one of the existing wires that was further down in the dash.

5. Slide the cover back in place and press down. Then use your fingers to grab the part of the cover that is closest to the windshield and pull in towards you while pushing down.

YOUR FINISHED! Feels darn good to save all of that cash doesn't it!

Just remember, the $5 buzzer is not nearly as loud as the Nissa buzzer. Just turn down your radio when you back up and you will hear it just fine. Next time mine goes out, I will try a new speaker/buzzer to find a cheap but louder one.

If this fix is for your grandpa's truck, it probably won't be loud enough for him like the factory one. So go the $60 replacement route.

In the mean time, if anyone knows of a cheap fix like this with a better/louder buzzer, please post it!

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I have to give credit to Machado7 at TitanTalk.com. I used his original posts for this fix, and just gave more details from my experience as I have never fixed anything on my own before in my life. This should really help beginners like me, while the experienced folks can just use the pictures.

**Please feel free to use my pictures however you want. It would be nice if you referred to this post and credited this site when using my pictures on your site, however.

Be easy and take care of each other out there! - Wiski

PICTURES NOTE!! - ONLY CUT THE WIRES IF REPLACING BUZZER WITH THE RADIO SHACK BUZZER ! ! ! !

WiskiRedz · 01-25-2009, 08:52 PM

NOTE!! - you ONLY NEED TO CUT THE WIRES IF REPLACING WITH THE RADIO SHACK BUZZER ! ! !

the last 4 pics that go with my original post above are attached. - Wiski

vilim12 · 01-25-2009, 08:53 PM

Very nice writeup, this should be a sticky

Never knew thats where the buzzer was located,

WiskiRedz · 01-25-2009, 09:51 PM

Thanks! Yeah, the other guy did a good job with his pics, but I found that it was not necessary and too difficult for a big dog like me to reach up under the dash to mess with the clips. I just used the screw driver and it popped right off at the source!

**Arachnid** · 01-25-2009, 10:04 PM

Nice write up

WiskiRedz · 01-27-2009, 10:23 PM

The next person that uses this to fix theirs please buy a $10 buzzer / speaker. I'm adjusting to mine but I wanted to remind you that this mod is NOT NEARLY as loud as the factory buzzer. So my $5 fix gets you one that works fine, but you have to turn down the radio to hear it. The $60 buzzer is much louder and instantly swappable with no splicing required. But I'm certain there is another buzzer out there for around $10 that is the best of both worlds. Louder and cheap! My mod is the "good" in: good, better, best.

Post back here when you find, install, and test the "better" upgrade.

WiskiRedz · 02-25-2009, 10:49 PM

I am also going to try cutting off a cheap head phone speaker and splicing that in - one day - if i ever have problems again. I imagine that headphone speaker would work.

If anyone tries it - post your findings here! ROCK ON TITANTALK.COM

robbmatt · 05-22-2009, 02:26 PM

Thanks for the great post! Worked like a charm!

Matt

sleepydo · 06-22-2009, 04:39 PM

do know what part number to louder buzzer at radio shack?

also, before replacing old one you can check it by doing a continuity test.

hagen3great · 10-04-2009, 01:18 PM

I used a speaker off of a old pair of headphones and its just as loud as the OEM speaker! It is a little tricky connecting with the smaller wires but it works great!

antnate · 10-24-2009, 01:25 PM

Hi All,

I just wanted to say thanks for the info! I replaced my speaker and all is well. A few things though just in case others are having issues, etc.

Own a 2005 Nissan Titan LE Crew
I ended up buying the following buzzer from Radio Shack:
Model 273-075
6-28 VDC Piezo Buzzer
Cost around $7.50

It is loud enough be be heard over the radio for sure, may be a bit too loud, but I'll see how it goes....

Now about the wiring. this model comes with 3 colored leads. Red, Blue and Black.

Red wire is for common (+)
Black wire for continuous (-)
Blue wire for pulsing (-)

The titan has 2 wires coming up from under the cover (red and blue)

I originally connected red to red, and black to blue. This DID NOT work.. So I switched the wires and tada! it worked. So for some reason you don't connect red to red as I would have expected.

So connect speaker red to titan blue, and speaker black to titan red. Who knows why, but it works like a charm..

Internet forums saved me $50! Thanks!

ant.

Imp · 11-11-2009, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by antnate

Hi All,

I just wanted to say thanks for the info! I replaced my speaker and all is well. A few things though just in case others are having issues, etc.

Own a 2005 Nissan Titan LE Crew
I ended up buying the following buzzer from Radio Shack:
Model 273-075
6-28 VDC Piezo Buzzer
Cost around $7.50

It is loud enough be be heard over the radio for sure, may be a bit too loud, but I'll see how it goes....

Now about the wiring. this model comes with 3 colored leads. Red, Blue and Black.

Red wire is for common (+)
Black wire for continuous (-)
Blue wire for pulsing (-)

The titan has 2 wires coming up from under the cover (red and blue)

I originally connected red to red, and black to blue. This DID NOT work.. So I switched the wires and tada! it worked. So for some reason you don't connect red to red as I would have expected.

So connect speaker red to titan blue, and speaker black to titan red. Who knows why, but it works like a charm..

Internet forums saved me $50! Thanks!

ant.

Yep. Mine went out and I pulled the codes and it was the buzzer also.

I just installed the same buzzer, but red to red and nissan blue to buzzer black works, but it's not that loud, but it works. I may try to re-do it as stated and see if it improves the volume.

Also, since I couldn't re-screw, I had to zip-tie it so it didn't rattle around loose underneath.

As others have said, this is stupid simple and took a matter of 10 min to do.

--KC