Refurbishing warning chime module

[BuffaloRider]

The warning chime in my 1990 Grand Marquis slowly became feint to the point where it could barely be heard and as a result I've left the lights on a handful of times and drained my battery so I had to get to the bottom of it

I located the chime module under the dash just above the accelerator held on to a bracket by a single t15 torx screw. Googling the first number on a list of patent numbers brought up this website.

http://www.allfordmustangs.com/forums/audio-video-nav-alarms/304272-how-refurbish-1989-1991-mustang-chime-module.html

This guy explains (via pdf file) how to take apart the chime, scrape away the foam crap that compresses and falls apart over time and replace with hot glue. Pretty simple really. It was written for mustangs but other than the module being white where mine was black, everything was identical.

I thought I'd pass it on for reference.

[miamibob]

Cool! FORDPARTSGIANT.COM still has it but it is over $56 so yeah - I'd try to fix it!!!

[VicCrownVic]

lithdoc's 89 MGM LS has this problem, I was over there today and I couldn't even hear it but he said he could hear it really quiet.
I suppose his car originally being an Arizona car the heat may have contributed to this problem occurring.
I may swipe the module out of one of my cars (since I have it disconnected in both), trade for his and try this out.

[gadget73]

I consider the slow and graceful death a bonus. Door dingalings irk the hell out of me. Mine was installed into the circular file years ago after it decided to talk to me for 30 minutes while driving somewhere for an "encounter" one evening.

[VicCrownVic]

I consider the slow and graceful death a bonus. Door dingalings irk the hell out of me. Mine was installed into the circular file years ago after it decided to talk to me for 30 minutes while driving somewhere for an "encounter" one evening.

Haha yes! I hate the thing too. I had it disconnected in my 89 for years so one of the first things I did when I got my 91 was disconnect the damn thing.

[alchemist]

Damn 'chime' on my old 98 'Burb is worse. Sounds like the 'bell' that announces time to change classes.

[purplebomb302]

Damn 'chime' on my old 98 'Burb is worse. Sounds like the 'bell' that announces time to change classes.

If you can find an old box caprice the chime will swap right in. The buzzer in my '96 c series was annoying with just the buzz.

[85crownHPP]

I fixed one of these in a tempo at work using a large rubber o-ring to space the thin metal plate away from the magnet. The customer actually had us unplug it at his next oil change because it was 'way too loud' lol... I wonder if using a smaller diameter o-ring would have muffled it some...

[HiFiMerc]

I ran a small piece of weather-stripping around the outside edge of the disc on mine. Sounds like it did 10 years ago.

[DerekTheGreat]

lithdoc's 89 MGM LS has this problem, I was over there today and I couldn't even hear it but he said he could hear it really quiet.
I suppose his car originally being an Arizona car the heat may have contributed to this problem occurring.
I may swipe the module out of one of my cars (since I have it disconnected in both), trade for his and try this out.

Ashley's doesn't work and if it's all the same to you, lets trade! They're not obnoxious like the buzzer in the F150. "EEEEEEEEEE"

[Raymond]

Mine doesn't chime at all, so I'll give it a shot. I might try with a junk yard donor instead

[VicCrownVic]

Ashley's doesn't work and if it's all the same to you, lets trade! They're not obnoxious like the buzzer in the F150. "EEEEEEEEEE"

I think lithdoc ended up getting a junkyard chime module, or maybe he fixed his, I don't quite remember what he did. Either way I still have my chime module in my 91 MGM that you can have on the 13th, I just have to remember to remove it.
I suppose I should plug it back in to see if it still works since it has been unplugged for 2.5 years.

[87gtVIC]

I removed my chime for a buzzer from a mustang. Me likey the 80's annoying goodness.

[DerekTheGreat]

I think lithdoc ended up getting a junkyard chime module, or maybe he fixed his, I don't quite remember what he did. Either way I still have my chime module in my 91 MGM that you can have on the 13th, I just have to remember to remove it.
I suppose I should plug it back in to see if it still works since it has been unplugged for 2.5 years.

We got two or three from the yards last year. One for my '85 which was aftermarket deal that didn't sound the same so I trashed it and a few others that didn't work so I just figured it wasn't worth the gamble anymore. Surprised the one in my '88 works perfect. Waiting for it to die haha.

I removed my chime for a buzzer from a mustang. Me likey the 80's annoying goodness.

I gotta admit, I like it on the bummy truck (Which if anyone wants it's going for best offer now) but with the cars I like the tone style, I consider it like a uplevel option type deal.