Adding chime to "Check Gauge" light?

lone-ranger · #1 09-13-2013, 12:30 PM

Hey all,

Just wondering if anyone has done this or has any ideas on how to do this? I personally think it would be nice to have a chime ring when the check gauge light (and possibly other lights) come on.

Thoughts?

pooleo · #2 09-13-2013, 08:10 PM

Yeah, should be able to hook up a dinger to receive side connection on the cluster.

lone-ranger · #3 09-13-2013, 09:01 PM

Any thoughts on how to go about doing that? I'm pretty good with the mechanical side of machines, electrical is another story

pooleo · #4 09-13-2013, 09:04 PM

Well, on the back of the cluster where the bulb twist in. One side will ground and the other side will be the hot. I dont know which is which. But you should be able to just solder onto the terminal, then run your wire.

lone-ranger · #5 09-13-2013, 09:10 PM

Sounds good. Would I just be able to check polarity with a multimeter? Also do I need a special type of solder for that?

Mike In Bama · #6 09-14-2013, 12:30 AM

You'll probably have to disconnect a sensor to make the truck throw a code. Then use your multimeter to figure out the polarity. There won't be a lot of current going to light the bulb, so whatever alarm you use will have to be a light load.

2005 2.3L XL Electronics Tech since '70's

pooleo · #7 09-14-2013, 04:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike In Bama

There won't be a lot of current going to light the bulb, so whatever alarm you use will have to be a light load.

2005 2.3L XL Electronics Tech since '70's

Maybe a relay to power it would work....?

And you can unplug your oil sensor, that will trip the light

Mike In Bama · #8 09-14-2013, 04:37 AM

Yep. A relay would work. It add a little more complexity that some people want to avoid.

The first thing I can reach when I open my hood is my MAF, but oil sensor would work too.

2005 2.3L XL Electronics Tech since '70's

cvar · #9 09-14-2013, 05:42 AM

Yeah, a relay would do it. Powered from the same wire as the bulb itself.
You'd probably want to add a weensy RC circuit to limit the duration of the chimer? Too bad you have to get into the cluster to access it, rather than taking a signal off the GEM.

See Ford wiring diagram here: http://imgur.com/RZiYENx

Optional RC here: http://www.buildcircuit.com/rc_circuit/

nopwcb · #10 09-14-2013, 08:30 AM

Since the wiring goes from the MIL light to back to the pcm I think instead of fighting with the cluster I would tie in for a relay closer to the pcm.

modelageek · #11 09-14-2013, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lone-ranger

Hey all,

Just wondering if anyone has done this or has any ideas on how to do this? I personally think it would be nice to have a chime ring when the check gauge light (and possibly other lights) come on.

Thoughts?

I bursted out laughing when I read this. Not because I thought it was a bad idea but only because I have been trying for 3 years to get members to buy a codereader for $10 and check for codes when they have issues. While doing this I have been called a moron, an a$$hole, a loser, I have been trolled and I have been banned from the site as an indirect result of pushing for Code reading. . . I pretty much ended my code reading campaign. Imagine if I tried to get people to do what the op is doing.

It is an interesting idea. Keep us posted.

Mike In Bama · #12 09-14-2013, 10:27 AM

You make a really great point. It is a tremendous waste of time to not have a code reader with these newer vehicles. You can't do any effective troubleshooting without one.

I'm looking at this from this perspective. During the day my dash lights and odometer are virtually invisible. A dinger might catch my ear in traffic where the light might not catch my eye right away.

Taking this a little further, lamps fail. Having a backup plan doesn't seem like that bad of a deal. It won't help you fix anything, but you might get to the side of the road before you have serious damage.

2005 2.3L XL Electronics Tech since '70's

modelageek · #13 09-14-2013, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike In Bama

You make a really great point. It is a tremendous waste of time to not have a code reader with these newer vehicles. You can't do any effective troubleshooting without one.

I'm looking at this from this perspective. During the day my dash lights and odometer are virtually invisible. A dinger might catch my ear in traffic where the light might not catch my eye right away.

Taking this a little further, lamps fail. Having a backup plan doesn't seem like that bad of a deal. It won't help you fix anything, but you might get to the side of the road before you have serious damage.

2005 2.3L XL Electronics Tech since '70's

These kids are spending more than $10 in gas to drive to AZ in the hopes the guy knows how to read codes and the code is still there. And we have not even mentioned pending codes or pid's The "dinger idea might come in handy with a misfire!

pooleo · #14 09-14-2013, 04:09 PM

How about tying into the chime thing behind the radio...?

It looks like a stack of quarters. If one could get a detail of the wiring for that and the wire from the pcm to the check gauge light. One might be able to make all the work right there behind the radio

lone-ranger · #15 09-14-2013, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pooleo

How about tying into the chime thing behind the radio...?

It looks like a stack of quarters. If one could get a detail of the wiring for that and the wire from the pcm to the check gauge light. One might be able to make all the work right there behind the radio

That sounds like a good place to start. And I wasn't trying to say that I don't believe in code readers or anything like that! In fact, it's on my shopping list! I just think a "dinger" would be kind of nice to have cruising the highway where I'm not checking my gauges often