Technical => Electrical Tech => Topic started by: mwitkowski on December 09, 2008, 01:30:40 PM
Title: Can't Hear Door Chime
Post by: mwitkowski on December 09, 2008, 01:30:40 PM
I can't hear the door chime, or any of the warnings. Is there some way to adjust the volume? Do I need to replace it, and if I do...what does it look like and where is it located.
Sorry for so all the questions.:D
Thanks
Title: Can't Hear Door Chime
Post by: EricCoolCats on December 09, 2008, 02:34:25 PM
More than likely the chime module is dead. What year is your car? According to the shop manual, first check fuses #6 and #18. If they're okay then read on.
What I like to do to verify beyond the fuses, is to turn the parking lights on and open a door. If you put your ear to the dash or under the dash, somewhere around the steering column, you may hear a slight buzzing or what would be a chime if it were louder. The module has a "speaker" on the underside. Even if you can't hear anything at all, if you watch the interior lights in the footwells, they may dim slightly as if there were a chime going. Either way, that pretty much confirms that it's the module. Honestly, I've found chime module to be one of the most reliable parts of these cars, so if you are having any issue with it then it's almost a guarantee that the module is toasted. I don't know of a practical way to fix one.
The chime module, depending on the model year, is either a bright light blue or black, and is located under the dash right above the fuse panel, to the left of the steering column. Difficult to get to, though. Don't confuse it with the wiper motor governor module (if you have delay wipers), as that's close to the chime module; the governor has one harness in, one harness out, and IIRC the chime module has just one harness.
Title: Can't Hear Door Chime
Post by: mywifeskitty on December 09, 2008, 07:01:31 PM
hey eric, hyjacking the thread a little, i have the guy in my 83 telling me my lights are on, door is ajar (no it's a door;)), etc.
sometimes it's loud, other times it's led..... is that the speaker dying or is it a different problem..... don't know if you've ever run into that issue or not, but i figured i'd ask
thanks
Title: Can't Hear Door Chime
Post by: EricCoolCats on December 09, 2008, 07:13:42 PM
Well, your talking chime module (1983 only) works off multiple inputs from the system sentry. There are a lot of wires to track down there, but it may be possible that some wires are loose. The links above actually pertain more to the talking module so you could use those for references.
I would suspect, though, that you have a ground issue, or maybe the voltage drops juuuuuust enough to make the module go crazy...or maybe it's just old and dying. Does the issue happen when the car is running, or when it's off, or both?
These modules are very old. While I have seen them die when relatively new ( <10 years old), generally they seem to hold up well, but like all things they have a finite life. I do believe that the module in our cars was also used in several other Fords...I remember seeing that somewhere but don't remember where. They might be available at parts stores too. The talking module is VERY uncommon, though. Ford only used those for a few years and then went back to the visual System Sentry system.
Title: Can't Hear Door Chime
Post by: mywifeskitty on December 09, 2008, 07:52:27 PM
it pretty much does it when it wants to, running or not..... the voice doesn't slow down, it just starts acting like it's talking behind a wall, i can hear it, but it sounds led and off in a distance..... i'll check the links and see what i can figure out
thanks much :)
Title: Can't Hear Door Chime
Post by: Haystack on December 09, 2008, 08:03:54 PM
if the plug on your ignition switch is off or bad it won't make any noise.
I guess I mean the lock cylinder, not the switch...
Title: Can't Hear Door Chime
Post by: EricCoolCats on December 09, 2008, 09:00:54 PM
Quote
if the plug on your ignition switch is off or bad it won't make any noise.
I guess I mean the lock cylinder, not the switch...
Right, that is generally true...but that's why I suggested turning on the parking lamps. Bypassing the ignition cylinder will get to the lamps-on reminder part of the chime module. That helps troubleshoot one from the other. ;)
Title: Can't Hear Door Chime
Post by: Haystack on December 10, 2008, 03:59:25 AM
I'm trying to help... I just suck at it...
Title: Can't Hear Door Chime
Post by: softtouch on December 10, 2008, 01:33:34 PM
When chimes were new everyone wanted to know how to silence them.
Title: Can't Hear Door Chime
Post by: Haystack on December 10, 2008, 10:16:57 PM
I pull them out of the door when I'm working on the interior.
Title: Can't Hear Door Chime
Post by: mwitkowski on December 11, 2008, 12:04:15 PM
Thanks everyone for the replys. I have a 1987 T-bird LX. It has a V6 and fully loaded. I can hear the chime, but it is so faint if you don't try, you won't hear it.
I know it is a dumd little thing, But if I can replace it or change the "speaker" I would like too. If it is a one peice unit where can I get one, or if any one has a part number that would be great.
Thanks again.
Mark
Title: Can't Hear Door Chime
Post by: reefunlimited on January 02, 2009, 05:46:49 PM
I pulled the chime module out several years ago and the foam rubber surround which holds tension on the speaker diaphragm was shot. Just cleaned the old foam rubber off and replaced it with a rubber band. Find one with the right diameter and thickness to lay where the foam rubber was and reassemble.
Hope this helps.
Title: Can't Hear Door Chime
Post by: 85bird on January 02, 2009, 07:45:56 PM
If anyone has one of these for an 85 thunderbird I would be very happy. Mine still makes noise.... it is just very faint.
Thanks.
Title: Can't Hear Door Chime
Post by: Cougar5.0 on January 02, 2009, 08:14:18 PM
I remember the day I finally figured out how to silence that dreaded chime! That thing used to drive me insane.
Title: Can't Hear Door Chime
Post by: Haystack on January 02, 2009, 08:35:24 PM
Quote from: Cougar5.0;249897
I remember the day I finally figured out how to silence that dreaded chime! That thing used to drive me insane.
X2
When I was re gluing my window, i pulled it out of the door. Never have to worry about it again.
Title: Can't Hear Door Chime
Post by: Haystack on January 02, 2009, 08:36:08 PM
oops... I already posted that. Sorry.
Title: Can't Hear Door Chime
Post by: marksatterfield on November 03, 2011, 04:32:54 PM
Quote from: EricCoolCats;246918
More than likely the chime module is dead. What year is your car? According to the shop manual, first check fuses #6 and #18. If they're okay then read on.
What I like to do to verify beyond the fuses, is to turn the parking lights on and open a door. If you put your ear to the dash or under the dash, somewhere around the steering column, you may hear a slight buzzing or what would be a chime if it were louder. The module has a "speaker" on the underside. Even if you can't hear anything at all, if you watch the interior lights in the footwells, they may dim slightly as if there were a chime going. Either way, that pretty much confirms that it's the module. Honestly, I've found chime module to be one of the most reliable parts of these cars, so if you are having any issue with it then it's almost a guarantee that the module is toasted. I don't know of a practical way to fix one.
The chime module, depending on the model year, is either a bright light blue or black, and is located under the dash right above the fuse panel, to the left of the steering column. Difficult to get to, though. Don't confuse it with the wiper motor governor module (if you have delay wipers), as that's close to the chime module; the governor has one harness in, one harness out, and IIRC the chime module has just one harness.
Thanks for uploading these images. I'll upload a few a little later.
Of note, I removed five screws that I thought attached the fuse panel bracket to the dash board. Turned out only two of the screws attached the bracket. Two other screws attached the actual warning chime. One screw was of unknown use. But... it looked like all of them were for the bracket when I started.
Removed the bracket, and was still not successful in finding the warning chime. Turned out you have to reach up in there to dig it out.
This was on a 1987 Ford Thunderbird. The device is black on my 'bird.
I actually disassembled all this to try to find the '"equivalent unit" on a 1989 Mustang whose chime no longer works. I still haven't figured out where the 'stang chime is, but at least I have some idea of what it might look like. Another owner found a white one, but I'm not sure of the year of the car.
Thanks again...
~~ Mark
http://www.marksatterfield.com
Title: Can't Hear Door Chime
Post by: sarjxxx on November 25, 2011, 11:01:36 PM
When I was redoing the wiring in my car I pulled my chime out because it was also very dim and hard to hear. I wanted to keep it cause I got tired of leaving my lights on in the morning and killing the battery, etc.
so, I took it apart. Now similar to what was mentioned above, it was all about the little tuning fork thingy that makes the chime that was the problem. I didn't dig far enough into the engineering of the thing to notice any tension holders or whatever, and I'm not saying you shouldn't look into that as a possible way to fix it, but I did notice that if I held onto the thing as it was chiming, and I pulled the fork out or up from the module, (I'm not really sure how to describe what I did), I could get it to chime louder. So what I ended up doing, and I think this was just my alternative to the tension trick mentioned above, was just to file down the leg. I don't exactly remember if it was the center leg or the two outer legs, but my memory wants to lean towards it being the center leg. You'll have to play around with it while it's plugged in to figure it our for yourself. But if you choose to do the file it down trick, just go a very little bit at a time. Because if you go to far, it will keep getting louder, but at some point it will stop chiming completely.
I would just suggest playing with it while its plugged in and you should be able to figure out what to do with it on your own.