How-to: Auto-reset door chime disabler project

[rwenzing]

95~2003 Ranger
95~2001 Explorer 4-door
95~2001 Explorer 2-door
2001 Explorer Sport Trac


Why?

If you're like me, you probably find the "key sense" reminder chime to be a real nuisance when working on the truck or just listening to the radio with the door open. On the other hand, the chime has saved me from locking myself out on more than one occasion.

This mod uses a simple pushbutton and a relay to give you the option to silence the chime when the ignition switch is in the Accessory position and the driver door is open. I find this arrangement perfect for cleaning or working on the truck with the driver door open and the radio on with the key in Accessory mode.


Operation:

• If the pushbutton has not been pressed, the chime works exactly as it did from the factory
• Pressing the pushbutton silences the annoying key sense chime and turns off the dome light when in ACC mode with the driver door open
• Reverts to factory operation automatically whenever the ignition switch is moved from ACC or the driver door is closed
• The headlight-on chime is not affected by this mod

(The automatic chime re-enable feature reduces the risk of locking the keys in the truck at a later time. Obviously, it can't help you when the chime disabler is actually in use. As a precaution, I always roll down the window when the chime has been silenced.)

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Supplies:

• Pushbutton (Normally open): Radio Shack P/N 275-609
• Bosch-pattern Automotive Relay (SPDT): Ford P/N FOAZ-14N089-A
• Bosch-pattern Automotive Relay socket: www.allelectronics.com P/N SRLY-2
• 3M ScotchLok wire tap
• 3M Double-sided mounting tape
• Solder
• Heatshrink tubing
• scrap wire (16~18ga)

The part numbers above are what I happened to use. All of these parts are generic and readily available from many other sources.

Approximate cost: $10~15

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A relay socket makes wiring the relay easy and reliable. It is also possible to use 5 individual wire terminals pushed directly onto the relay spades:

The wire colors that I used as seen on the back of the relay socket
(Also see diagram below):

Blacks (Pins 85 & 87): connect together and then to one lug of the pushbutton
Blue (pin 86): tapped to the ACC power wire in the radio harness (Yellow/Black)
Yellow/Black (center pin 87A): to GEM (cut Yellow/Black near GEM)
Yellow/Black (lower pin 30): to driver door switch (cut Yellow/Black near GEM)

The relay was mounted up inside the dash using double-sided tape. Another way would be to get the type of relay that has a mounting tab molded into the cover, then fasten it using a screw or bolt.

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This is the Radio Shack pushbutton that I used. It has two black wires soldered to its lugs: one is connected to two of the relay pins (85 & 87) and the other goes to chassis ground. Any momentary-on, normally open (NO) pushbutton that can handle a half amp at 12v should work just as well.

I installed the button by drilling a hole in the cover for the Restraints Control Module just forward of the floor shifters. Later, I moved it to the side of the Explorer center console that I swapped into my Ranger. There are lots of other places available that would work. Just be sure to check for adequate clearance for the hidden part of the switch and its wires.

Important stuff



Yellow/Black wires: (yellow main color with black trace).

Note that there are two independent wires in this mod that happen to have the same color code. One goes from the GEM to the door switch and the other is power for the radio. As the schematic shows, these wires are not to be connected together.



Generic Electronic Module (GEM) Notes:

The factory Wiring Manuals show that there are 2 kinds of GEM for these models. In the factory configuration for both types, the Yellow/Black goes from the GEM to the driver door ajar switch. For this mod, the Yellow/Black wire needs to be cut near the GEM connector and the 2 cut ends are extended to separate pins on the relay. The difference is in the pin locations of the Yellow/Black wire at the two types of GEM.


GEM Type 1:
1995~2001 Explorer Four-door
1995~2001 Explorer Two-door (2001 model year - early production before 7/24/2000)
2001 Explorer Sport Trac (2001 model year - early production before 7/24/2000)

For the above years/models, the GEM is inside the dash to the left of the radio and probably has 4 plug connectors. The Yellow/Black wire is found in pin position #8 of the largest of the connectors (26-pin). CAUTION: There may be Yellow/Black or Black/Yellow wires in other GEM pin locations - do NOT cut them.


GEM Type 2:
2001~2003 Ranger
2001 Sport Trac (normal production 7/24/2000-on)
2001 Two-door Sport (normal production 7/24/2000-on)

For these years/models, the GEM is located inside the dash to the left of the radio and has 2 connectors, one black and one gray. The yellow/black door sense wire is in position #13 of the gray GEM connector (20 pins).


Don't forget to disconnect the battery when working on the wiring.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Nice how to thread with helpful information!

 

[00GT]

Operation:

• If the pushbutton has not been pressed, the chime works exactly as it did from the factory
• Pressing the pushbutton silences the annoying key sense chime and turns off the dome light when in ACC mode with the driver door open
• Reverts to factory operation automatically whenever the ignition switch is moved from ACC or the driver door is closed
• The headlight-on chime is not affected by this mod

Anyone know if there is a way to wire this so that it works as described above, except, closing the drivers door does not re-enable the chime? Basically so that it is only reset if the key is moved from ACC to another position.

I don't worry about locking my keys in the car since I have keyless entry.

Thanks!!!