The Chevy Suburban is a large family SUV that was first introduced in 1935.
Like most other vehicles, it uses beeping noise and chimes to alert the driver’s attention.
If your Suburban keeps beeping at you and you don’t know why, this article is here to help.
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Why Does My Chevy Suburban Beep 3 Times?
The most common cause of beeping for a Chevy Suburban is the Remote Left in Vehicle Alert and the Remote No Longer Left in Vehicle Alert. These alerts will cause the horn to beep 3 times. 3 beeps of the horn can also be caused by the Lockout Protection feature.
Remote Left in Vehicle Alert
This feature sounds an alert when the Remote Keyless Entry transmitter is left in the vehicle.
When the vehicle is turned off and an RKE transmitter is left in the vehicle, the horn will beep three times after all doors are closed.
Remote No Longer Left in Vehicle Alert.
If the vehicle is on with a door open and then all doors are closed, the vehicle will check for RKE transmitters inside.
If an RKE transmitter is not detected, the Driver Information Center (DIC) will display NO REMOTE DETECTED and the horn will chirp three times.
This occurs only once each time the vehicle is driven.
How To Turn Off Remote Left in Vehicle
This can vary depending slightly on what model year Suburban you have.
Use the audio system controls to access the personalization menus for customizing vehicle features.
- Go into settings
- Scroll down and select ‘Vehicle’
- Select ‘Remote Lock, Unlock, Start’
- Select ‘Remote Left in Vehicle Alert’
- Select ‘Off’
This menu also enables Remote No Longer In Vehicle Alert.
Lockout Protection
From the Chevy Suburban Owners Manual:
If the ignition is on or the car is in ACC/ACCESSORY and the power door lock switch is pressed with the driver door open, all the doors will lock and only the driver door will unlock.
If the vehicle is off and locking is requested while a door is open, when all doors are closed the vehicle will check for RKE transmitters inside.
If an RKE transmitter is detected and the number of RKE transmitters inside has not reduced, the driver door will unlock and the horn will chirp three times.
Lockout Protection can be manually overridden with the driver door open by pressing and holding Q on the power door lock switch.
Chevy Suburban Beeping
If your Chevy Suburban is beeping at you then there are some things you may want to check yourself first before taking it into the dealership.
Weight on the Passenger Seat
If you’ve got an item such as some groceries, a gym bag, an iPad or even a bottle of water on the passenger seat this can trigger a beeping noise as your car will think your ‘passenger’ needs to buckle up as it detects a presence on the seat.
You can simply buckle the seatbelt to see if this stops the beeping.
Faulty latches or Sticking Door Mechanisms
If you’ve got a door latch that’s sticking this will make the car think you’ve got a door open when you haven’t.
Try giving a good clean to all door mechanisms and lubricating with WD-40.
Make sure all door locks are opening and closing as they should.
One Chevy owner had this to say:
“I checked my door locks and everything was fine after that! When I made sure the lock was unstuck the beeping noise stopped.”
Related: Chevrolet Suburban Alarm Going Off? (12 Common Causes)
Parking Brake
If the parking brake is not released when you begin to drive, a Driver Information Center (DIC) message will appear and a chime will sound warning you that the parking brake is still on.
A chime sounds and the warning light flashes when the parking brake is applied and the vehicle is moving at least 8 km/h (5 mph).
The parking brake is a common culprit of unknown Suburban beeps, here’s what some owners had to say:
12V Battery
If the battery is starting to die you may hear a warning beep.
You can always check the battery life with a voltmeter, by measuring the voltage across the battery’s terminals.
If it’s under 11V then this is causing the beeps and you’ll need to replace it.
Electronic Interference
Some Suburban owners have reported that electronic devices such as smartphones, iPads, DVD players, etc placed on the passenger seat can interrupt the sensor in the seat and cause the alarm to go off as they interfere with the passenger presence system.
Dirty Sensors
If there is snow or dirt covering the sensors in the bumpers and the top of the windshield, the car will make a chiming sound.
Passenger Presence System
On some Suburban models, the system that detects a passenger on the seat has been faulty and required recalibrating.
One Chevy owner posted:
“The front passenger seat passenger presence system had to be recalibrated. There were no parts replaced, just the recalibration by the dealer.”
Headlights
It’s a good idea to make sure that no bulbs have blown, check your headlight, emergency (hazard) lights and brake lights, this may trigger a warning noise.
Tire Pressure and Oil & Fluid
It’s always worth checking your tire pressure and fluid levels are all correct, such as:
- Engine oil
- Coolant
- Power steering fluid
- Brake fluid
- Windshield washer
Fob battery
If you have keyless ignition, the fob could be indicating a low battery, or one of the buttons is getting bumped as you drive.
Faulty ignition switch
If you have a faulty ignition switch, the car will think the key is still left in the ignition which can trigger a beeping sound.
Bulb Blown in the Gauge Cluster
Although this isn’t specific to Chevy’s, on some vehicles when a bulb has blown in the gauge cluster the vehicle makes a warning beep.
There is a simple way to check this:
- Turn the key to the ‘ON’ poistion.
- Observe the gauge cluster.
- All lamps should illuminate.
Chevy Suburban Beeping Whilst Driving
If your Chevy Suburban is beeping whilst driving this is most likely caused by the parking brake, a sticking door mechanism or weight on the passenger’s seat.
If you’ve left your parking brake on or there is a fault with the parking brake this triggers a beeping sound.
Some owners have found that leaving a bag or a relatively lightweight item on the passenger seat can also trigger a beep.
Chevy Suburban Brake Light Beeping
If you have a brake light that’s blinking accompanied by a beep or chime sound this can be caused by the parking brake. Try applying the parking brake then release it.
It may also be caused by leaking brake fluid, possibly from the brake calipers.
Chevy Suburban Beeps 5 Times
5 Beeps on a Chevy Suburban could be indicating there is an electrical short that is draining the battery or the battery is dying.
5 beeps on a Chevy Suburban is quite rare and it’s not outlined in the owner’s manual what could be causing this.
However, some owners have traced these beeps back to wiring shorts which subsequently drained the battery.
What Else Could Be Causing the Beeping Noise?
Antilock Brake System
If the ABS warning light stays on, or comes on again while driving, the vehicle needs service.
A chime may also sound when the light comes on steady.
Rear Seat Reminder
This allows for a chime and a message when the rear door has been opened before or during operation of the vehicle.
Exterior Lamps Off Reminder
A warning chime sounds if the driver door is opened while the ignition is off and the exterior lamps are on.
Turn Signal On Chime
If the turn signal is left on for more than 1.2 km (0.75 mi), a chime sounds at each flash of the turn signal.
To turn the chime off, move the turn signal lever to the off position.
Driver Assistance Features
Some driver assistance features alert the driver of obstacles by beeping, such as:
- Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System
- Parking Assists
- Tailgating Alert
- Lane Departure Warning
- Lane Keep Assist
You can change the volume of the warning chime. If equipped with the Safety Alert Seat, the driver seat cushion may provide a vibrating pulse alert instead of beeping.
Seat Belts
When the vehicle is started, the seat belt light flashes and a chime may come on to remind the driver to fasten their seat belt. Then the light stays on solid until the belt is buckled.
If the driver or front outboard passenger unbuckles their seat belt while driving, the seat belt reminder chime and light(s) will come on.
Speed Warning
The Speed Warning display allows the driver to set a speed that they do not want to exceed.
If the selected speed limit is exceeded, a pop-up warning is displayed with a chime.
Alternative Suggestions
Disconnect the Battery
Some mysterios beeps can disappear with a simple reset.
Disconnect the battery for 20 seconds.
Check the Gauge Cluster
When the beeping occurs can you see any lights come on at the same time on the gauge cluster?
This can give a clue as to what’s causing the beeping.
Take it to a Chevy Dealership
If needed, take your car to the dealership.
Tell them you are NOT paying for a check on what the problem might be.
Ask them if they will check it for free.
Most dealerships and other places do quick/initial diagnosis for no money as they plan to make money for the repair of your vehicle.
Check for Recalls or TSBs:
By entering your car’s VIN number on Chevy’s recall page you can determine whether or not there is a recall for your vehicle and if there is you’ll want to get it fixed.
Similarly, a quick google search will help you determine whether there is a Technical Service Bulletin for your car, these are less serious but may give a reason why your car is beeping.
Diagnosing Beeps With a Scanner
Another possible option if you’re hearing a beeping sound is to use an OBD2 diagnostic scanner tool.
These are fairly easy to use, you simply plug them into your car – there’s usually an OBD2 port under the steering wheel.
Once you have the scan codes you can research these online specifically for the Suburban.
There are also OBD apps available so you can connect your car straight to your smartphone (either with a cable or Bluetooth) without even needing a scanner.
You may also be interested in our article: How Long Do Chevrolet Suburban Last? (Solved and Explained)