Door chime is possessed! This could be a tough one.

[kfkodiak]

The challenge:

I'm having a new issue with the truck lately. Any time I'm on the highway and go faster than about 65 or 70, the warning chime will usually go off at least once during the trip. The ding pattern is like when a door is open, ding....ding....ding...etc. The number of dings before it stops is different each time, and varies from 2 or 3 to about 60. No dash lights come on, and no codes are set. Everything else seems to be normal when this occurs, and it does not happen in city driving.

Truck: '98 XLT 4x4 OHV engine

Ideas?

 

[budwich]

I don't think the door "ajar" is a ding ding ding.... I thought it was a buzz. The ding ding ding is related to other things like lights left on, key left in ignition with door open, and air bag... I think.

 

[bp1506]

I am pretty sure its a ding sound, that should only happen when the lights are left on with door open, or the keys are left in.

but the door ajar light should be on if it thinks the door is open.

Maybe one of the triggers for that on one of the doors is just not working that well anymore and just makes it go off.

 

[Bigg_billy]

Keep an eye on your alternator, sometimes when the diodes go, juice backfeeds through other things..........

 

[khoward]

its a common problem with fords its the dore switch thats making it do it u can get a new one but it will prob start again after a while just remove the fuse you will loose your dome light but its a cheap fix

 

[indecloudzUA]

also, make sure that when you turn you car on that your Airbag light is coming on..mine did the same thing but i thought it was because the door ajar light was on..i sprayed all the latches with wd40 and it took care of the door ajar light but i would still get the annoying ding every 30 minutes or so..my airbag light was out and i replaced it and no prob with the dinging since..and thank God for that..

 

[kfkodiak]

It's the same sound made when you get out, and leave the key in the ignition.

I don't think it's door switch, since no lights come on when this happens. The lights come on normally when I open the door, and the door ajar light is working.

I have checked the airbag light, and it is working fine.

Good suggestions, but I still haven't solved the puzzle.

 

[budwich]

Count the number of chimes / bongs per second. That will tell you which system the system "thinks" is complaining.

 

[kert0307]

its a common problem with fords its the dore switch thats making it do it u can get a new one but it will prob start again after a while just remove the fuse you will loose your dome light but its a cheap fix

I agree, this happend to me too. I'd be driving and the door adjar light would come on and it would ding, then after i'd hit a bump later down the road it'd go off. Didn't happen very often, but got worse as time went on. (btw the dome light won't come on if you've been driving for longer than like 2 min if the door adjar light comes on) Then my dome lights started staying on when the truck was off eventhough the door was shut with the doors locked. I didn't notice once and the lights stayed on all night and drained the battery... all it was was the switch in the door, from what I read it is a very common problem, and it's fairly easy to replace. I'd replace it soon, before you drain your battery like me....

 

[Vinniety]

I had this issue on my 99 mazda pickup which is close enough to a Ford ranger. ANyway a friend at the dealer stated to spray wd40 in the door locks and latches becasue it is a commen problem that the latch that has the switch for the light gets stuck. I sprayed the hell out of all the doors and it worked. Had a bad puddle of wd40 on the floor for a few days but besides that two years later when i sold it the problem still was gone.

 

[kfkodiak]

Thanks for all the replies so far.

After further testing, this only happens when I hit 75 mph; not at any other time. It seems to be the safety belt chime (60/Min. 740 Hz), but no lights come on. WTF?

 

[solopilot64]

Similar but different

I have a 94 XLT with a similar problem but my chime comes on whenever I turn the headlights on and doesn't go off til I turn them off. Is this an error mesage or like the others a problem with the switch?

 

[budwich]

It sounds like your key switch has a problem. Question: if you open your door with your keys in the switch, do you get an audible indication that you left your keys in the ignition?

 

[solopilot64]

more details

The chime comes on when I turn the headlights on while the engine is running and only shuts off(engine still running) when I turn them off.
Other than that the chime only sounds off as it should normally.

 

[solopilot64]

Problem slved

I found the source of my chime..faulty door jamb switch...when you turn the headlights on, the sensor thinks there's a door open.
New switch...6 bucks
Time spent....20 min
Driving at night without a constant chime.....PRICELESS!

 

[kfkodiak]

I'm still trying to figure this one out. I've tracked it down to the overspeed chime, since it only comes on when I hit 76 mph, and dings continuously until I drop back below that speed. I found some information on this problem with Windstars and Crown Vics, but not for the Explorer.

Hopefully I can disable it with the scanner.

 

[daffy]

There's an over-speed chime?

Hmmm, mine must be set a little higher, I've had mine up to 95 with narry a peep (except for the horrible wind noise, that is).

 

[kfkodiak]

I fixed this months ago but forgot to post the answer. The problem was my own fault.

A while before the problem started I had been exploring the computer settings using a scan tool. At some point I must have turned on the overspeed alarm.

I used the scanner to turn it back off. Problem solved.