Principles of Operation

PRINCIPLES OF OPERATION

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 2 different chimes as listed below:
- Repetitive
- Single tone

The following 5 distinct chime rates are used to indicate warning:
- Safety belt warning is a repetitive chime with 1 chime per second
- Key-in-ignition warning is a repetitive chime with 2 chimes per second
- Headlamps on warning is a repetitive chime with 4 chimes per second
- Door ajar warning is a single tone chime
- Air bag warning is a repetitive chime with 5 chimes per second

Safety Belt Warning Chime
The safety belt warning chime warns the driver that the front safety belt is not fastened. The safety belt warning chime sounds when the driver safety belt is not fastened and when the ignition lock cylinder is turned from the OFF/LOCK or ACC to the ON or START position. The safety belt warning chime stops sounding if any of the following conditions are met:
- The safety belt is fastened
- The ignition lock cylinder is switched from the ON or START to the OFF/LOCK or ACC position
- The chime has sounded for 6 seconds

The safety belt warning chime inputs are the:
- Ignition switch position
- Driver safety belt switch

Belt-Minder(R)

NOTE: The Belt-Minder(R) feature is configurable. To configure using the scan tool, refer to Information Bus (Module Communications Network). To configure without using the scan tool, refer to Belt-Minder(R) Deactivating/Activating.

The Belt-Minder(R) feature supplements the current safety belt warning function and is enabled after the current safety belt warning is complete. The Belt-Minder(R) reminds the driver that the driver or front passenger safety belt is unbuckled by intermittently sounding a chime and illuminating the safety belt warning lamp in the instrument cluster once the vehicle speed has exceeded 10 km/h (6 mph), and remains active for 5 minutes from the time it is started. While activated, the Belt-Minder(R) chime and indicator flash and chime simultaneously from on for 6 seconds to off for 30 seconds.

The Belt-Minder(R) reminder stops if any of the following conditions are met:
- The driver and/or front passenger safety belt is buckled
- The ignition lock cylinder is turned to the OFF or ACC position
- Five minutes of driving time have elapsed since the Belt-Minder(R) has started
- Safety belt warning indicator is illuminated and the reminder is active with the vehicle speed dropping below 5 km/h (3 mph).

Key-In-Ignition Warning Chime
The key-in-ignition warning chime warns that the key is in the ignition lock cylinder when the driver door is ajar. The key-in-ignition warning chime sounds when:
- the driver door is ajar, the ignition lock cylinder is in the OFF/LOCK or ACC position, and the key is in the ignition lock cylinder.

The key-in-ignition warning chime stops sounding if any of the following conditions is met:
- The driver door is closed
- The key is removed from the ignition lock cylinder
- The ignition lock cylinder is turned to the RUN position

The key-in-ignition warning chime inputs are the:
- Ignition switch position
- Key-in-ignition warning switch (part of the ignition switch)
- LH door ajar switch

Headlamps On Warning Chime
The headlamps on warning chime warns that the headlamps are on when all the following conditions are met:
- The driver door is ajar
- The headlamp switch is in the PARK or HEADLAMPS position
- The ignition lock cylinder is in the OFF/LOCK position
- The key is out of the ignition lock cylinder

The headlamps on warning chime stops sounding when any one of the conditions above are removed.

The headlamps on warning chime inputs are the:
- Ignition switch position
- Headlamp switch position
- Driver door ajar switch
- Key-in-ignition warning switch

Door Ajar Warning Chime
The door ajar warning chime warns that a door has become ajar. The door ajar warning chime is a single tone with the duration of 1 second. The tone sounds when the driver or any passenger door initially becomes ajar while the ignition lock cylinder is in the ON position.

The door ajar warning chime inputs are the:
- Ignition switch position
- Door ajar switches

Air Bag Warning Chime
The air bag warning chime warns that the air bag warning indicator is inoperative or an active fault is present within the air bag system. The audible warning format consists of 5 sets of tones in 1 second increments.

The air bag warning chime input is the restraints control module (RCM).