Idiot lights.?!

[munkee]

I have a problem with my passenger side power lock and my headlight reminder chime. Ever since I bought the car (90 MTX) the headlight chime has been acting very sporadicly. I usually don't use the headlight switch to turn on the lights and the chime doesn't sound when the lights are on auto. Every now and then though ( in no specific pattern) the chime sounds once when I open the door. The keys are never in the ignition when this happens and it doesn't matter if the auto lights are on or off or even if the car has been sitting all night? Any clues?
Also, tonight I was locking the doors from the passenger side and nothing happened when I pressed the button. I tried it again and found that there is a 2-3 second lapse between the pressing of the button and the action of the lock. Never seen that before. Again, any clues? Sorry for the novel.

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"It's not just the speed, it's how well you handle it."

 

[Bizzy]

Originally posted by munkee:
I usually don't use the headlight switch to turn on the lights and the chime doesn't sound when the lights are on auto.

Sounds like you may have some sort of short in your lock. You might try to clean the contacts off and clean around the button. This may help, but it's always easier to start with the small stuff first.

As for your chimes...my car doesn't chime when the autolamp has the headlights on. I spose it knows that they will go off. Mine does chime when the keys are removed and the lights are turned on with the switch. Now, sometimes it starts right away and sometimes it doesn't. Reason for this on my car is the little button located in the door jam sticks a bit. It releases enuf to turn the inside lights on, but not enuf to activate the chime...which is just fine with me. All in all, I wouldn't worry too much about your chime unless it's chiming while the door is shut.


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Proud to be an American!

Beth
'91 Plus MTX, Mostly stock
K&N Filter, Coneless
Colgan Custom Bra
Racing Series Driving Lights
Mods in the works
Many items on wish list!

 

[Jayman]

Next time it happens with the key out try moving the lock cylinder around until it stops. The connector inside the lock tumbler may be broken or misaligned. There is a whole directly under the lock cylinder - press a pointed object in there after you turn the ignition to the run position and pull the cylinder out. That brass tab is what controls the chime sounds by the position of the key. If it's bent try and straighten it out otherwise you might need to replace it. I don't know if you can buy it seperately but if you don't need it leave it out. I hope that helps it worked for me.

 

[munkee]

I'll give that a try. My ignition is pretty messed up and I probably should have that of that before. Thanks.

 

[myshonuff]

had the same problem on my 93atx the chime would sound even with the key out.turn out had to replace the egnition cylinder.now problem solved.

 

[93nighthawk]

The chime is definitely the ingnition lock, try moving it a little back and fourth, it will stop. For replacement see www.shotimes.com the talk about it. Ford will try to replace all of your locks, even though they don't have to. As for you passanger lock, it is the actuater is probably gone. Does it seem to really not work when it is cold out? There are two remidies for this, pull your door apart and replace it, or just reach over to lock/unlock it. Option two has been working for me for a while now.

Eric

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93 Green 'NITHAWK' ATX
120K MI, Fish tank ligts, Sho Shop Y Pipe, Sho Shop SFC's, Removed Silencer, Sho Shop 60K, Replaced Motor Mounts, New EGR/PFE

1978 Bronco
200K mi+ on body, 30Kmi on engine, 351M, 4brl Edelbrock carb, Edelbrock intake, duel exaust, lifted, rusted to **** but can go anywhere...

95 Mercury Mystique ATX
110K mi, 2.0 I4, studs, Great parts getter for the other two vehicles.