Chime Warning System: Operation

The chime warning system operates on battery voltage received through a fuse in the Junction Block (JB) on a non-switched fused B(+) circuit so that the system may operate regardless of the ignition switch position. The chime warning system also monitors the ignition switch position so that some chime features are functional only with ignition switch in the On position, while others are functional regardless of the ignition switch position.

The chime warning system provides an audible indication to the vehicle operator or occupants under the following conditions:

• Airbag Indicator Warning  - The ElectroMechanical Instrument Cluster (EMIC) transducer will generate one short chime when the ignition switch is in the On position, and an electronic message is received over the Programmable Communications Interface (PCI) data bus from the Airbag Control Module (ACM) requesting "Airbag" indicator illumination. This warning will only occur following completion of the "Airbag" indicator bulb test, and will only occur once during any ignition cycle.
• Anti-Lock Brake Indicator Warning  - The EMIC transducer will generate one short chime when the ignition switch is in the On position, and an electronic message is received over the PCI data bus from the Controller Anti-lock Brake (CAB) requesting "Antilock Brake System (ABS)" indicator illumination. This warning will only occur following completion of the "ABS" indicator bulb test, and will only occur once during any ignition cycle.
• Charging Indicator Warning  - Each time the ignition switch is turned to the On position, the EMIC transducer will generate a single chime the first time an electronic message is received over the PCI data bus from the PCM requesting "Charging" indicator illumination. This warning would indicate that the monitored electrical system voltage is either too low or too high.
• Compass Mini-Trip Computer Global Reset  - The EMIC transducer will generate one short chime when the ignition switch is in the On position, and an electronic message is received over the PCI data bus from the optional Compass Mini-Trip Computer (CMTC) requesting that the CMTC elapsed time, average fuel economy, and/or trip odometer data has been reset. The CMTC monitors hard wired inputs from the U.S./Metric and Reset button switches, and electronic messages received from the Body Control Module (BCM) to determine the proper reset messages to send to the EMIC.
• Door Ajar Indicator Warning  - On vehicles without an Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC), the EMIC transducer will generate one short chime for each of three display sequences when the ignition switch is in the On position, and electronic messages are received over the PCI data bus from the Body Control Module (BCM) indicating that the status of any door ajar input has changed, and from the PCM indicating that the vehicle is moving.
• Electronic Throttle Control Indicator Warning  - On vehicles equipped with a diesel engine, the EMIC transducer will generate a single chime the first time an electronic message is received over the PCI data bus from the PCM requesting Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) indicator illumination, either solid or flashing. This chime will only occur once during any ignition cycle.
• Engine Coolant Temperature High Warning  - Each time the ignition switch is turned to the On position, the EMIC transducer will generate chime tones the first time an electronic message is received over the PCI data bus from the PCM indicating that the engine coolant temperature is too high. This chime will sound for five consecutive tones, unless an electronic message is received from the PCM indicating that the engine coolant temperature is not too high, or unless the ignition switch is turned to the Off position before the five tones have completed.
• Electronic Vehicle Information Center Warning  - On vehicles equipped with an EVIC, the EMIC transducer will generate chimes when an electronic message is received over the PCI data bus from the EVIC indicating that the EVIC is displaying certain warnings.
• Fasten Seat Belt Indicator Warning  - The EMIC transducer will generate repetitive chimes at a slow rate each time an electronic message is received over the PCI data bus from the ACM requesting "Seatbelt" indicator illumination. This message indicates that the driver side front seat belt is not fastened with the ignition switch in the On position. These chimes will continue to sound for a duration of about six seconds each time the ignition switch is turned to the On position, or until the driver side front seat belt is fastened, whichever occurs first. This audible warning occurs independent of the visual warning provided by the "Seatbelt" indicator. With the "Beltminder" feature enabled, the slow repetitive chimes will also sound while the seatbelt indicator is flashing.
• Gate Ajar Indicator Warning  - On vehicles without an EVIC, the EMIC transducer will generate one short chime for each of three display sequences when the ignition switch is in the On position, and electronic messages are received over the PCI data bus from the BCM indicating that the status of the tailgate ajar input has changed from closed to not closed, and from the PCM indicating that the vehicle is moving.
• Glass Ajar Indicator Warning  - On vehicles without an EVIC, the EMIC transducer will generate one short chime for each of two display sequences when the ignition switch is in the On position, and electronic messages are received over the PCI data bus from the BCM indicating that the status of the rear flip-up glass ajar input has changed from closed to not closed, and from the PCM indicating that the vehicle is moving.
• Head/Park/Fog Lamps-On Warning  - The EMIC transducer will generate repetitive chimes at a fast rate when the ignition switch is in any position except On, and electronic messages are received over the PCI data bus from the BCM indicating that the exterior lamps are On and the driver side front door is opened. The chimes will continue to sound until the exterior lamps are turned Off, the driver side front door is closed, or until the ignition switch is turned to the On position, whichever occurs first.
• Key-In-Ignition Warning  - The EMIC transducer will generate repetitive chimes at a fast rate when the ignition switch is in any position except On, and electronic messages are received over the PCI data bus from the BCM indicating that the key is in the ignition lock cylinder with the driver side front door opened. These chimes will continue to sound until the key is removed from the ignition lock cylinder, the driver side front door is closed, or the ignition switch is turned to the On position, whichever occurs first.
• Low Coolant Indicator Warning  - On vehicles equipped with a diesel engine, the EMIC transducer will generate a single chime when the ignition switch is first turned to the On position and a hard wired input from the engine coolant level sensor to the EMIC indicates that the coolant level is low for more than about one-quarter second. Any time after the ignition switch is first turned to the On position, the EMIC uses internal programming to check the status of the engine coolant level sensor inputs about once every second, then adjusts an internal counter up or down based upon the status of this input. When the counter accumulates thirty inputs indicating that the coolant level is low, a single chime is sounded. This strategy is intended to reduce the effect that coolant sloshing within the coolant reservoir can have on reliable chime warning operation. This chime will only occur once during any ignition cycle.
• Low Fuel Indicator Warning  - Each time the ignition switch is turned to the On position, the EMIC transducer will generate a single chime the first time an electronic message is received over the PCI data bus from the PCM requesting "Low Fuel" indicator illumination. The chime will only occur a second time during the same ignition cycle if another electronic message has been received from the PCM indicating that there is an increase in the fuel level equal to about 3 liters (0.8 gallon), then a subsequent electronic message from the PCM requests "Low Fuel" indicator illumination. This strategy combined with filtering performed by the internal programming of the PCM on the fuel tank sending unit input is intended to reduce the possibility of fuel sloshing within the fuel tank causing multiple low fuel warning chimes during a given ignition cycle. The EMIC will also respond with the low fuel warning chime when electronic fuel level messages are received from the PCM indicating that the hard wired input to the PCM from the fuel tank sending unit is an open circuit (greater than full), or a short circuit (less than empty).
• Low Oil Pressure Indicator Warning  - Each time the ignition switch is turned to the On position, the EMIC transducer will generate a single chime the first time three sequential sets of electronic messages are received over the PCI data bus from the PCM indicating that the engine oil pressure is too low with the engine running.
• Low Wash Indicator Warning  - On vehicles without an EVIC, the EMIC transducer will generate one short chime for each of two display sequences when the ignition switch is turned to the On position and a hard wired input from the washer fluid level switch to the EMIC indicates the washer fluid is low for more than about one-quarter second. Any time after the ignition switch is first turned to the On position, the EMIC uses internal programming to check the status of the washer fluid level switch inputs about once every second, then adjusts an internal counter up or down based upon the status of this input. When the counter accumulates thirty inputs indicating that the washer fluid level is low, a single chime is sounded. This strategy is intended to reduce the effect that fluid sloshing within the washer reservoir can have on reliable chime warning operation. This warning will only occur once during any ignition cycle.
• Overspeed Warning  - The EMIC transducer will generate repetitive chimes at a slow rate when the ignition switch is in the On position, and an electronic message is received over the PCI data bus from the PCM indicating that the vehicle speed is over a pre-programmed speed value. These chimes will continue to sound until the vehicle speed messages are below the pre-programmed speed value, or until the ignition switch is turned to the Off position, whichever occurs first. This feature is only enabled on a BCM that has been programmed with a Middle East Gulf Coast Country (GCC) country code.
• No Airbag Indicator Message Warning  - The EMIC transducer will generate one short chime and turn on the "Airbag" indicator when the ignition switch is in the On position, and a PCI data bus "Airbag" indicator on or off message is not received from the ACM for six consecutive seconds.
• No Antilock Brake Indicator Message Warning  - The EMIC transducer will generate one short chime and turn on the "ABS" indicator when the ignition switch is in the On position, and a PCI data bus "ABS" indicator on or off message is not received from the CAB for six consecutive seconds.
• No Fuel Level Message Warning  - The EMIC transducer will generate one short chime and turn on the "Low Fuel" indicator when the ignition switch is in the On position, and a PCI data bus fuel level message is not received from the PCM for twelve consecutive seconds.
• Remote Keyless Entry Transmitter Programming  - On vehicles so equipped, the EMIC transducer will generate a single short chime when an electronic message is received over the PCI data bus from the BCM indicating that a Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter has been successfully programmed by the customer into the RKE module memory.
• Sentry Key "Customer Learn" Mode Announcement  - On vehicles so equipped, the EMIC transducer will generate one short chime to confirm that an electronic "Customer Learn" message has been received over PCI data bus to indicate that the Sentry Key REmote Entry Module (SKREEM) is prepared for programming additional sentry key transponders. This chime feature is only active on vehicles equipped with the optional Sentry Key system, and sold in a market where "Customer Learn" programming is an allowed feature.
• Turn Signal On Warning  - The EMIC transducer will generate repetitive chimes at a slow rate to indicate that a turn signal has been active continuously for a distance of about 3.2 kilometers (about two miles). The chime will continue until the turn signal input becomes inactive, until the hazard warning system is turned On, or until the ignition switch is turned to the Off position, whichever occurs first.
• Water-In-Fuel Indicator Warning  - On vehicles equipped with a diesel engine, each time the ignition switch is turned to the On position, the EMIC transducer will generate a single chime the first time an electronic message is received over the PCI data bus from the PCM requesting "Water-in-Fuel" indicator illumination. This warning will only occur once during any ignition cycle.

The EMIC provides chime service for all available features in the chime warning system. The EMIC relies upon its internal programming, numerous hard wired inputs, and electronic message inputs received from other modules over the PCI data bus network to provide the chime warning system features. The internal programming of the EMIC determines the priority of each chime request input that is received, as well as the rate and duration of each chime that is to be generated.

The hard wired chime warning system inputs to the EMIC, as well as other hard wired circuits for this system may be diagnosed and tested using conventional diagnostic tools and procedures. However, conventional diagnostic methods may not prove conclusive in the diagnosis of the EMIC, the PCI data bus, or the electronic messages received by the EMIC from other modules. The most reliable, efficient, and accurate means to diagnose the EMIC, the PCI data bus, or the electronic message inputs used for the chime warning system requires the use of a diagnostic scan tool. Refer to BODY DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES article.