Warning Chime Characteristics

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2008 Mercury Mariner and 2008 Ford Escape. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Each warning chime has unique characteristics that help 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 instrument cluster (IC) prioritizes the chimes according to a preset hierarchy programmed into the instrument cluster (IC) software. When more than one chime request is received by the instrument cluster (IC), 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
Tic-toc

The following table provides a summary of the chime characteristics including the chime priority.

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER (IC) CHIME CHARACTERISTICS/PRIORITY

Chime Name	Priority	Number of Chime Tones	Condition/Description
Safety belt	1	6 one-second duration tones.	On for as long as the safety belt is unbuckled and the instrument cluster (IC) receives the chime on command.
Air bag	2	5 one-second duration tones.	Consists of five sets of chimes that make up a chime cycle. Each chime set is five one-second on/one-second off chimes followed by a 5 second delay. There is a 30 minute delay between each cycle of chime sets.
Key-in-ignition	3	Repetitive, 0.5-second duration tones.	On for as long as the key is in the ignition with the ignition in OFF or ACC and the door ajar, the instrument cluster (IC) receives the chime on command and the battery saver has not activated.
Engine on reminder (Hybrid)		Repetitive 0.5-second duration tones for 10 seconds.	On for 10 seconds with the key in the RUN position and the LH front door ajar.
Turn signal left on	4	Repetitive, 0.37-second duration tones.	On for as long as the RH or LH turn signal is on, the vehicle has travelled 3.2 km (2.0 miles) and the instrument cluster (IC) receives the chime on command.
Door ajar	5	Single one-second duration tone.	This is a single tone chime that sounds when the key is in the RUN position and a door changes from closed to ajar.
Turn signal	6	Repetitive, 0.37-second duration tic-toc tones.	On for as long as the RH or LH turn signal command is received by the instrument cluster (IC).
Hazard signal	7	Repetitive, 0.37-second duration tic-toc tones.	On for as long as the hazard on/off command is received by the instrument cluster (IC).
Headlamps on	8	Repetitive, 0.25-second duration tones.	On for as long as the headlamps are on and the instrument cluster (IC) receives the chime on command.
Message center (if equipped)	9	Single one-second duration tone.	This is a single tone chime that sounds once per ignition cycle whenever the instrument cluster (IC) receives a new message commanding on one of the message center warnings except for the park brake warning.
Parking brake on	10	Repetitive, 90 one-second duration tones.	On for as long as the parking brake is applied and the instrument cluster (IC) receives the chime on command.
Belt-Minder® A/B	11	Belt-Minder® A: 6 one-second sequences of 0.5-second on/0.5-second off. Belt-Minder® B: 6 one-second sequences of 0.2-second on/0.2-second off then 0.3-second on/0.3-second off.	On for as long as the instrument cluster (IC) receives the Belt-Minder® chime request.