Warning Chime Characteristics

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2008 Mercury Sable, 2008 Ford Taurus X, and 2008 Ford Taurus. 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. Generally, 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	Number of Chime Tones	Condition Description
Key-in-ignition	Repetitive 120 chimes per minute	On for as long as the key is in the ignition with the door ajar and the instrument cluster (IC) receives the chime on command. Shuts off when battery saver has expired (approximately 10 minutes).
Headlamps on	Repetitive 240 chimes per minute	On for as long as the headlamps are on and the instrument cluster (IC) receives the chime on command. Shuts off when battery saver has expired (approximately 10 minutes).
Safety belt	Repetitive	Six cycles of 0.5 second on/0.5 second off for as long as the safety belt is unbuckled and the instrument cluster (IC) receives the chime on command.
Air bag	5	Five sequences of 1 second ON and 1 second OFF (10 seconds total)
Turn signal/hazard	Repetitive tic-toc	On for as long as the RH or LH turn signal, or hazards are on and the instrument cluster (IC) receives the chime on command.
Message center	Single tone	This is a single one-second 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.
Parking brake on	Repetitive	On for as long as the parking brake is applied and the instrument cluster (IC) receives the chime on command.
Belt-Minder®	Repetitive	On for 6 seconds then off for 30 seconds. Sequence repeats for up to 5 minutes for as long as the instrument cluster (IC) receives the Belt-Minder® chime request.