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09-13-2013, 12:30 PM
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Ford Rangers
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Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 200
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Adding chime to "Check Gauge" light?
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?
__________________
2000 Ford Ranger XLT 4x4 Supercab
4.0, 5-speed
Live axle 4x4 - 3.73 gear ratio - open diff
Stock (or OEM equivalent) everything except
Gibson Cat-Back Dual Extreme exhaust system
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09-13-2013, 08:10 PM
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Ban Survivor. (x2)
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Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 6,764
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Re: Adding chime to "Check Gauge" light?
Yeah, should be able to hook up a dinger to receive side connection on the cluster.
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09-13-2013, 09:01 PM
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Ford Rangers
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Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 200
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Any thoughts on how to go about doing that? I'm pretty good with the mechanical side of machines, electrical is another story
__________________
2000 Ford Ranger XLT 4x4 Supercab
4.0, 5-speed
Live axle 4x4 - 3.73 gear ratio - open diff
Stock (or OEM equivalent) everything except
Gibson Cat-Back Dual Extreme exhaust system
---HOME OF THE FREE, BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE---
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09-13-2013, 09:04 PM
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Ban Survivor. (x2)
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Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 6,764
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Re: Adding chime to "Check Gauge" light?
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.
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09-13-2013, 09:10 PM
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Ford Rangers
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Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 200
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Sounds good. Would I just be able to check polarity with a multimeter? Also do I need a special type of solder for that?
__________________
2000 Ford Ranger XLT 4x4 Supercab
4.0, 5-speed
Live axle 4x4 - 3.73 gear ratio - open diff
Stock (or OEM equivalent) everything except
Gibson Cat-Back Dual Extreme exhaust system
---HOME OF THE FREE, BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE---
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09-14-2013, 12:30 AM
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Electronics Tech
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Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,194
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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
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2005 2.3L XL 5SOD 3.73 K&N
KYB Shocks Husky Toolbox
Alpine / Rockford Fosgate Sound
"Ask me about my AC Vent fix!"
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09-14-2013, 04:08 AM
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Ban Survivor. (x2)
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Join Date: Jun 2010
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Re: Adding chime to "Check Gauge" light?
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
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Maybe a relay to power it would work....?
And you can unplug your oil sensor, that will trip the light
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09-14-2013, 04:37 AM
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Electronics Tech
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Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,194
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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
__________________
2005 2.3L XL 5SOD 3.73 K&N
KYB Shocks Husky Toolbox
Alpine / Rockford Fosgate Sound
"Ask me about my AC Vent fix!"
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09-14-2013, 05:42 AM
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Ford Ranger Driver
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Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,319
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Re: Adding chime to "Check Gauge" light?
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/
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1997 4x4 Mazda B4000 SE, Ext.Cab
Last edited by cvar; 09-14-2013 at 05:47 AM.
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09-14-2013, 08:30 AM
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Like the Forums
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Join Date: Jul 2013
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Re: Adding chime to "Check Gauge" light?
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.
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09-14-2013, 10:13 AM
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Ford Ranger Driver
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 6,268
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Re: Adding chime to "Check Gauge" light?
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?
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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.
__________________
2004 Ext Cab, 4WD, 4.0, Auto, 154k. (4.0 engine is out of a 2009 Ranger w/96k) ( as of 7/1/2017)
2004 Ranger, Ext Cab, 2WD, 3.0, 5 speed , 4WABS, crank windows, no cruise, Edge 116k.(6/5,2014) (SOLD).
1999 Ford Ranger, Reg Cab, 2.5, 5 speed, 2WD, no AC, 150k (SOLD).
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09-14-2013, 10:27 AM
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Electronics Tech
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Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,194
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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
__________________
2005 2.3L XL 5SOD 3.73 K&N
KYB Shocks Husky Toolbox
Alpine / Rockford Fosgate Sound
"Ask me about my AC Vent fix!"
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09-14-2013, 10:33 AM
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Ford Ranger Driver
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 6,268
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Re: Adding chime to "Check Gauge" light?
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
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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!
__________________
2004 Ext Cab, 4WD, 4.0, Auto, 154k. (4.0 engine is out of a 2009 Ranger w/96k) ( as of 7/1/2017)
2004 Ranger, Ext Cab, 2WD, 3.0, 5 speed , 4WABS, crank windows, no cruise, Edge 116k.(6/5,2014) (SOLD).
1999 Ford Ranger, Reg Cab, 2.5, 5 speed, 2WD, no AC, 150k (SOLD).
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09-14-2013, 04:09 PM
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Ban Survivor. (x2)
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Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 6,764
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Re: Adding chime to "Check Gauge" light?
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
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09-14-2013, 05:25 PM
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Ford Rangers
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Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 200
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Re: Adding chime to "Check Gauge" light?
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
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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
__________________
2000 Ford Ranger XLT 4x4 Supercab
4.0, 5-speed
Live axle 4x4 - 3.73 gear ratio - open diff
Stock (or OEM equivalent) everything except
Gibson Cat-Back Dual Extreme exhaust system
---HOME OF THE FREE, BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE---
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