How can I turn off annoying instrument cluster 'chime'

[ncranchero]

Why not post the self-diagnosis information here on the forum rather than emailing it to the OP and make this ridiculous thread actually useful?

Maybe then I won't feel like I wasted 5 minutes of my life reading through this thread...

Because it's pages and pages of copyrighted material, 88 pages to be exact. Be glad to send it to those that need it and ask for it................:smoke:

I doubt this is the most time you've wasted! :mattmoon:

 

[Exproblems]

Once again, question not answered; this time, we've added a comedian to the mix. Read my question.....I shouldn't have to BUY anything to disable the chiming...unbelievable!!!

A stupid suggestion and a few quips are not a substitute for an answer. In your case, silence is golden....

Blively2,

I read your original post here the day it went up on the board and avoided responding to it like the plague. I've also read thru all 22 posts so far on this issue. I knew when I saw your post and that you wanted to find out how to disable the warning chime in the dash, you would get no help, other than people telling you what to fix to get the chime warning to go away. Telling you to fix the issue causing the chime warning to go off, doesn't answer your original question. The question of "how to disable the dash warning chime" has been beaten to death in here a few times before, and out of all the non- helpful responses that I read thru on this issue, was one poster that understood the orginal question(as did I), said he cut the 2 wires going into the chime device/speaker itself, and soldered them together. I assumed soldering the 2 wires together kept the circuit intact, just removed the chime speaker from the system/equation. He didn't give any other details on it than that. I don't remember his screen name, but it was either earlier this year or last year when it was posted on the board. Maybe do a search on it and look for those old posts on "how to disable the dash warning chime" and try to find that post. I'm not telling you to go ahead and do this type of alteration to the chime, I'm only telling you of what I read in here and what one poster said about this issue. Anything you attempt is at your own risk!
I don't think there is a way to disable the chime fully thru the vehicle's diagnostic system or computer, other than some type of alteration like I just told you about. I too, wanted to disable the chime device, because it keeps me from hearing the engine sounds during start up with the series of chimes that go off each and every time you start the vehicle. It's a redundant, nuisance device that you don't need because there are flashing dash icons and message center messages that will notify you of a problem in the vehicles system. I understand your frustration in getting any real help on this issue.

 

[ncranchero]

He is wanting to disable the chime caused by a fault not necessarily all chimes. In the OP's case the chime is allegedly caused by either a faulty charging system (which IIRC I didn't see caused a chime) or a bad instrument cluster,possibly at which point disabling all chimes would be his preference.
Congratulations on understanding his original post, you don't.

Can anyone help assist me in being able to shut off the annoying chiming from instrument cluster, specifically going off every few seconds due to charging system warning light going off?

Since you remember such a post disabling the speaker and just suggesting he search for it then your post is now one of the non-helpful posts you describe. In a two second search I found the POST you're referring to in another thread in which you also rant about helpfulness. Geez !!!:thumbdwn: There's also the opinion that

the chime is part of the GEM module , fiddling with this is not a good idea.

 

[mendy]

Blively2

The best way to disable it it to fi the problem being the cluster.

No point in masking a minor problem as if you get something major you won't hear the dinga ling as its disabled.

I'm fairly new here as well a word of advice from one novice to another.
Learn your place! as there is a mountain of knowledge to be had from this forum.
Search before asking and divulge as much info as possible. Think of the forum as your mother or boyfriend? Would you talk to her/him like that

 

[Exproblems]

He is wanting to disable the chime caused by a fault not necessarily all chimes. In the OP's case the chime is allegedly caused by either a faulty charging system (which IIRC I didn't see caused a chime) or a bad instrument cluster,possibly at which point disabling all chimes would be his preference.
Congratulations on understanding his original post, you don't.

Since you remember such a post disabling the speaker and just suggesting he search for it then your post is now one of the non-helpful posts you describe. In a two second search I found the POST you're referring to in another thread in which you also rant about helpfulness. Geez !!!:thumbdwn: There's also the opinion that

First off, I actually thought you gave the OP'er one of the better response's with that info you emailed to him and you weren't one of the people I considered not being helpful to his question. You at least gave him something to look at.
The OP'er knows he has a charging system issue and yet many just told him to fix the charging system, rather than tell him how to disable the chime which is what he asked how to do. He didn't ask how to fix the charging system issue right or just turn off the charging system chime? He wanted info on disabling the chime device period! Thats what I gave him.
I'm assuming you sent this above(top) nonsense to me, so I'll give you my response to it. I understood the OP's original post perfectly, did you? He simply wanted info on how to turn off the chime device, which means all chimes would be turned off. The only chime I know of that one could deactivate thru the vehicle computer is the seat belt chime, so I gave him the only info I knew of to date from a past read post to get rid of the chime. I also told him if he decides to do that type of alteration to the chime, he does so at his own risk. On you calling my post non-helpful is BS! Whether you want to believe the info I gave him from a past post I read to be truthful or not, I could careless. I know what I saw and read and I would never make up something or steer anyone in the wrong direction. I pride myself on my honesty in here and in life in general and just because I told him to do a little research for himself and double check what I told him, doesn't make the post non-helpful. You just got your panties in a bunch because you thought I included you in my "non'helpful" suggestion group and I didn't. As far as rants go, you obviously have never seen a true rant before.

 

[Turdle]

First off, I actually thought you gave the OP'er one of the better response's with that info you emailed to him and you weren't one of the people I considered not being helpful to his question. You at least gave him something to look at.
The OP'er knows he has a charging system issue and yet many just told him to fix the charging system, rather than tell him how to disable the chime which is what he asked how to do. He didn't ask how to fix the charging system issue right or just turn off the charging system chime? He wanted info on disabling the chime device period! Thats what I gave him.
I'm assuming you sent this above(top) nonsense to me, so I'll give you my response to it. I understood the OP's original post perfectly, did you? He simply wanted info on how to turn off the chime device, which means all chimes would be turned off. The only chime I know of that one could deactivate thru the vehicle computer is the seat belt chime, so I gave him the only info I knew of to date from a past read post to get rid of the chime. I also told him if he decides to do that type of alteration to the chime, he does so at his own risk. On you calling my post non-helpful is BS! Whether you want to believe the info I gave him from a past post I read to be truthful or not, I could careless. I know what I saw and read and I would never make up something or steer anyone in the wrong direction. I pride myself on my honesty in here and in life in general and just because I told him to do a little research for himself and double check what I told him, doesn't make the post non-helpful. You just got your panties in a bunch because you thought I included you in my "non'helpful" suggestion group and I didn't. As far as rants go, you obviously have never seen a true rant before.

Sorry I twisted your panties and got put into the "non helpful" group. I thought I gave good advice--according to how I would fix the problem. Sure we can remove the " low oil" or "low charge" light bulb, but that would leave an unsettling feeling, to me anyway. Besides, the title is kind of hard to understand.

I'm sticking with my answer. The way to fix the chime is to fix the problem. That will turn it off.

 

[Exproblems]

Sorry I twisted your panties and got put into the "non helpful" group. I thought I gave good advice--according to how I would fix the problem. Sure we can remove the " low oil" or "low charge" light bulb, but that would leave an unsettling feeling, to me anyway. Besides, the title is kind of hard to understand.

I'm sticking with my answer. The way to fix the chime is to fix the problem. That will turn it off.

You can think you gave good advice all you want, it means nothing to me or the OP'er since You didn't tell him how to do what he asked. So yes, you were non-helpful to him. What part of that don't you understand? The OP'er already told you guys he isn't spending $900 on a new cluster and he obviously believes he doesn't have a charging system problem and just wants to eliminiate the chime sound all together. Obviously some of you guys feel the need for a chime, well I don't and neither does the OP'er. There are plenty of other dashboard warning icons (like the ones you described above) or message center displays for the same thing the noisy chime is there for.

 

[jjaganashi]

i want to throw in an un-helpful post!

You can take it for what its worth, my 2 cents isnt worth much.
For starters: The admins and mod's on this board, are a hell of a lot better on this board than any ive found.. They do "legitimatly" try to help as best as they can and will usually go that extra mile to try to find a solution if they do not know of one themselves... As for the sarcasm and so called "disrespectful" remarks you are recieving, i believe its totally called for..
The mod's are here for running the site and providing realistic answers and troubleshooting advise. in my opinion, they should not even respond to post like this. Any true enthusiast is not going to give you an out on how to modify your vehicle in a way they see is not in a direction of the well-being of the driver or vehicle. You should never expect to post a question of this sort and not expect heat for it...

i do the same to my own vehicle! ive modded my seat belt chime to never come on(5 point harnesses), ive removed my check engine light bulb(stays on because of unconventional motor modification), ive even gone as far as removing factory frame supports on my truck..
i dont post these things on this site or ask questions about them because i know that the these modifications are not user or vehicle friendly and could be dangerous additions, but they go best with my application and i would more than expect to hear about everything wrong ive done with my vehicle because this is a family friendly enviroment and the people here seem to genuinly care about one anothers saftey..

As for your responce post saying " If you don't know the answer, just leave it to the pros who do"..... Really!!! you took it to the pro's at the "stealership" and what did they do... they told you its and instrument cluster and replace it...just like everyone else in this post has...


As for your answer... i do know the answer to rigging it without costing...
all you have to do unplug the chime bell, its not in the instrument cluster, it is usually located under the drivers side of the dash somewhere near the fusebox. its a simple 2-wire plug connection that u can just unhook. this will disable all your dash chimes..

just remember that this is an unhealthy choice...
just for a "what if"
some oil pressure gauges are not live gauges, they are three position switch(off, low, normal) it can take in excess of 30 seconds to even register and switch to the next notch. the chime indicator is a real-time device, it acts immediatly.
so when your driving down the road and something pops up and takes out your oil pan and you dont notice.. you dont hear a chime and by the time your oil pressure guage says "hey stupid" you just ran the motor dry and wonder why its knocking so bad. so that horrible chime modification just cost you $3500 for an r&r reman motor...

 

[Exproblems]

You can take it for what its worth, my 2 cents isnt worth much.

As for your answer... i do know the answer to rigging it without costing...
all you have to do unplug the chime bell, its not in the instrument cluster, it is usually located under the drivers side of the dash somewhere near the fusebox. its a simple 2-wire plug connection that u can just unhook. this will disable all your dash chimes..

just remember that this is an unhealthy choice...
just for a "what if"
some oil pressure gauges are not live gauges, they are three position switch(off, low, normal) it can take in excess of 30 seconds to even register and switch to the next notch. the chime indicator is a real-time device, it acts immediatly.
so when your driving down the road and something pops up and takes out your oil pan and you dont notice.. you dont hear a chime and by the time your oil pressure guage says "hey stupid" you just ran the motor dry and wonder why its knocking so bad. so that horrible chime modification just cost you $3500 for an r&r reman motor...

First off, I don't doubt your auto mechanical skills over mine anyday, reading about some of the mods you did to your vehicles. I also give you congrats, for giving the OP'er an actual, driect answer to his original question, how to disable the chime device.
Now for the other part of your post, on the chime device being a 'real time device" acting immediately. I'm sure you'll agree, the chime could sound off for all sorts of problems with the vehicle as you drive down the road right? So lets say you are driving down the road and the chime sounds off due to "something (a rock?) blowing a hole in your oil pan(as per your scenario) and you start" losing oil pressure due to loss of oil of course, does the chime tell you what is wrong with the vehicle or just alert you to some type of problem or issue happening now? What do you do next, you start looking at the dash for a flashing icon warning for a specific problem(low oil pressure), check your various gauges(for low oil pressure) or you look at your message center (if you have one) for a specific warning message(low oil pressure) right? It seems to me, the other 3 backup warning signs/devices give you a specifc problem listed, where as the chime just tells you, "hey somethings up with the vehicle", you better start looking at your dash icons, gauges and messages.
As for the chime being an immediate sounding device of a problem isn't going to save your engine from the hole in the oil pan, because you won't know what the problem is until you look at your oil gauge, low oil pressure dash icon flashing or the low oil pressure message on the message center and by then, it will be too late anyhow to save the motor. You would still have to wait for one of those other non-immediate warning devices to go off before you would ever know what is wrong with the vehicle. Am I wrong with this assumption or did I miss something? This is the problem I have with your oil pan scenario and the relation to the chime device.
For me, the chime is useless and a nuisance since it goes off for all sorts of reasons or issues, some non serious and I will see a lighted up dash icon come on or spot a gauge spiking or see the message come up on my message screen as soon as it happens if there is a serious issue with the engine or electrical system, because I pay attention to what I am doing behind the wheel of a car and the internal functions associated with the care of the car. I could also mention that when the excessively loud warning chime sounds off, startling you as you drive down the road in traffic, it can cause you to take your eyes off of the road all of a sudden to check for the issue, not at the best of times in traffic, because you fear a serious problem with the vehicle. That in itself is a danger to you and the other people driving down the road around you and could cause you to have an accident.
BTW, some of us drove cars/trucks for decades with nothing more than quiet dash gauges or flashing idiot lights(dash warning lights) before they ever came out with these loud, nuisance warning chimes we are speaking of here and got by without them just fine and no major problems. Other than this I was glad to see you give the OP'er a "helpful" direct answer to his question.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!

 

[Mr Dubya]

:

 

[Skyelyte]

Can anyone help assist me in being able to shut off the annoying chiming from instrument cluster, specifically going off every few seconds due to charging system warning light going off? I have a 2005 Ford xlt 4.0 - thank you in advance!!

I know this is an old post but I do agree. I have a 2009 Ford Explorer and the chimes, audio alarms are awful and they create a distraction which can be a hazard. Of course it is no one's fault but the manufacturer of the vehicle but it would be nice if there is a way to totally disable audio chimes/alarms in the vehicle. My mechanic replaced a bearing on the wheel of my car and he damaged the ABS. So I constantly have alarms going off when I drive as a result of the issue with the ABS. It is extremely costly to replace the ABS and as it goes, us dinosaurs drove for many years without it, so it isn't critical to have. I was wondering if anyone has found a way to disable audio alarms completely in the vehicle. The dashboard warnings are sufficient to tell us there is a problem. Thanks in advance if anyone does know if alarms can be disabled.

 

[Skyelyte]

First off, I don't doubt your auto mechanical skills over mine anyday, reading about some of the mods you did to your vehicles. I also give you congrats, for giving the OP'er an actual, driect answer to his original question, how to disable the chime device.
Now for the other part of your post, on the chime device being a 'real time device" acting immediately. I'm sure you'll agree, the chime could sound off for all sorts of problems with the vehicle as you drive down the road right? So lets say you are driving down the road and the chime sounds off due to "something (a rock?) blowing a hole in your oil pan(as per your scenario) and you start" losing oil pressure due to loss of oil of course, does the chime tell you what is wrong with the vehicle or just alert you to some type of problem or issue happening now? What do you do next, you start looking at the dash for a flashing icon warning for a specific problem(low oil pressure), check your various gauges(for low oil pressure) or you look at your message center (if you have one) for a specific warning message(low oil pressure) right? It seems to me, the other 3 backup warning signs/devices give you a specifc problem listed, where as the chime just tells you, "hey somethings up with the vehicle", you better start looking at your dash icons, gauges and messages.
As for the chime being an immediate sounding device of a problem isn't going to save your engine from the hole in the oil pan, because you won't know what the problem is until you look at your oil gauge, low oil pressure dash icon flashing or the low oil pressure message on the message center and by then, it will be too late anyhow to save the motor. You would still have to wait for one of those other non-immediate warning devices to go off before you would ever know what is wrong with the vehicle. Am I wrong with this assumption or did I miss something? This is the problem I have with your oil pan scenario and the relation to the chime device.
For me, the chime is useless and a nuisance since it goes off for all sorts of reasons or issues, some non serious and I will see a lighted up dash icon come on or spot a gauge spiking or see the message come up on my message screen as soon as it happens if there is a serious issue with the engine or electrical system, because I pay attention to what I am doing behind the wheel of a car and the internal functions associated with the care of the car. I could also mention that when the excessively loud warning chime sounds off, startling you as you drive down the road in traffic, it can cause you to take your eyes off of the road all of a sudden to check for the issue, not at the best of times in traffic, because you fear a serious problem with the vehicle. That in itself is a danger to you and the other people driving down the road around you and could cause you to have an accident.
BTW, some of us drove cars/trucks for decades with nothing more than quiet dash gauges or flashing idiot lights(dash warning lights) before they ever came out with these loud, nuisance warning chimes we are speaking of here and got by without them just fine and no major problems. Other than this I was glad to see you give the OP'er a "helpful" direct answer to his question.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!

Perfect response. I am not sure why the person that asked for help to shut off the chimes was responded to in the way he/she was. It is perfectly reasonable to want to disable the chimes for the reasons you discuss. They are pretty well useless and in the worst case they are a distraction and dangerous. Of course, the panel gives the information needed to know what the problem is. Beyond that of course the mechanic informs us of the problem and what is needed if anything to repair the problem. It seems to me they installed an extremely loud alarm so people are forced to pay for costly repairs when at times they are not necessary. In the end it is the audio alarm itself in many cases that is the biggest safety issue in the vehicle. Furthermore, the same is true for the warning notices on the panel. Most of us are not idiots. If we see the warning once we know to have the vehicle checked so there should be an easy method to turn off the warning lights/notices on the panel. Of course when there are warning notices on the panel, at least in my vehicle, that disables the odometer. It is incredible that so many of us got through driving for decades without cars attempting to bully us with alarms and red lights to engage in behavior that is convenient for people that profit from these annoying and hazardous features in modern cars.