Chime Warning System

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2014 Dodge Journey. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

The chime warning system uses a piezoelectric speaker that is soldered onto the circuit board of the Instrument Cluster (IC) (also known as the Common Instrument Cluster/CIC) to provide audible indications of various vehicle conditions that may require the attention of the vehicle operator or occupants. The instrument cluster utilizes electronic chime request messages received from the Body Control Module (BCM) (also known as the Common Body Controller/CBC) and other modules in the vehicle over the Controller Area Network (CAN) data bus along with hard-wired inputs to monitor many sensors and switches throughout the vehicle. In response to those inputs, the circuitry and programming of the cluster allow it to control the audible outputs that are produced.

The IC is capable of producing the following audible outputs:

Slow Rate Repetitive Click - Repeated click tones that are issued at a slow rate of about 90 clicks per minute.
Fast Rate Repetitive Click - Repeated click tones that are issued at a fast rate of more than about 180 clicks per minute.
Single Chime Tone - A single chime tone.
Continuous Repetitive Chime Tone - Repeated chime tones that are issued continuously.

Hard wired circuitry connects the IC and the various chime warning system switch and sensor inputs to their modules and to each other through the electrical system of the vehicle. These hard wired circuits are integral to several wire harnesses that are routed throughout the vehicle. These circuits may be connected to each other, to the vehicle electrical system, and to the IC through a combination of soldered splices, splice block connectors, and many different types of wire harness terminal connectors and insulators. Refer to the appropriate wiring information. The wiring information includes wiring diagrams, procedures for proper wire and connector repair, further details on wire harness routing and retention, and pin out and location views for the various wire harness connectors, splices, and grounds.

The chime warning system circuits and components cannot be adjusted or repaired. If the IC circuitry, or the speaker is damaged or ineffective, the entire IC unit must be replaced.