Warning Chime Characteristics
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2011 Mercury Milan, 2011 Lincoln MKZ, and 2011 Ford Fusion. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
Each warning chime has unique characteristics to identify and differentiate each warning chime. The warning chimes use volume, chime frequency, length of time the chime sounds and the number of chime tones to identify which chime is sounding. The IPC prioritizes the chimes according to a preset hierarchy programmed into the IPC software. When more than one chime request is received by the IPC , the most important chime sounds. If a lower priority chime is currently sounding, the higher priority request takes over and replaces the lower priority chime.
There are 3 different chimes as listed below:
- Repetitive
- Single tone
- Tick-tock
The following table provides a summary of the chime characteristics.
INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER (IPC) CHIME CHARACTERISTICS TABLE
| Chime Name | Chime Type | Condition/Description |
|---|---|---|
| Air bag | Repetitive | Consists of five sets of chime sequences that make up a chime cycle. Each chime sequence consists of 5 1-second chime tones followed by a 5 second delay. The IPC sounds 5 chime sequences then turns off the air bag chime for approximately 30 minutes. If the condition still exists, the air bag chime repeats the chime cycle. |
| Belt-Minder® A/B | Repetitive | The chime sounds 6 chime tones/safety belt warning indicator flash sequences for as long as the IPC receives the Belt-Minder® chime request. |
| Door ajar | Repetitive | The chime sounds repetitive tones for as long as the IPC receives a door ajar chime command. |
| Headlamps on | Repetitive | The chime sounds repetitive tones for as long as the headlamps or the parking lamps are on and the IPC receives the chime on command. |
| Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) engine off | Repetitive | The chime sounds 5 chime tones with the ignition in RUN, the transaxle in PARK (P) and the driver door open or ajar. |
| Key-in-ignition | Repetitive | The chime sounds repetitive tones for as long as the key is in the ignition with the ignition in OFF or ACC and the driver door is ajar. |
| Memory feedback | Single | This is a single tone chime that sounds when the IPC receives a chime command as confirmation that the memory seat has been successfully set. |
| Message center | Single | This is a single tone chime that sounds once per ignition cycle whenever the IPC receives a new message commanding on one of the message center warnings. |
| Parking brake on | Repetitive | The chime sounds repetitive tones for as long as the parking brake is applied and the IPC receives the chime on command. |
| Perimeter alarm | Repetitive | The chime sounds 3 sequences of chime tones. The first sequence sounds 12 tones when the driver door is opened using a key and the alarm is armed. The second sequence sounds 9 chime tones followed by the third sequence of 12 tones. |
| Safety belt | Repetitive | shown in the illustrationor as long as the safety belt is unbuckled and the IPC receives the chime on command. |
| Service Roll Stability Control (RSC®) | Repetitive | The chime sounds 3 tones for as long as the IPC receives a chime on command from the ABS module following an initial 8-second delay. |
| Turn signal left on | Repetitive | Repetitive chime tone for as long as the RH or LH turn signal is on, the vehicle has travelled 3.2 km (2.0 miles) and the IPC receives the chime on command. |
| Turn signal Tick-tock | Repetitive | tick-tock tones for as long as the RH or LH turn signal command is received by the IPC . |