1997 Regular Cab

The annoying warning buzz sound that usually means you've left your headlights on constantly sounds when I open my driver's door, until I insert the key and start the truck. When I arrive at my destination, I turn the truck off, open the door (buzzer begins) and when I shut the door sometimes the buzzer continues. But seems to stop by itself after a few minutes (maybe a safety sleep mode to prevent any battery drainage for issues just like this?). Other times the buzzer stops as soon as I shut the door. I've tried playing with the headlight switch and also playing with the door latch in various ways to see if anything had any affect, but haven't noticed anything.

help?

 

If I remember correctly, there are two distinct tones made by the chime with the door open. One is a (medium duration) Ding….Ding….Ding….Ding with the key in the ignition and the door open. The other is a (faster duration) Ding..Ding..Ding..Ding..Ding..Ding with the park/headlights left on and door open. One is about twice the speed of the other.

Depending on the tone, it could be related to the ignition switch, GEM, or associated wiring.

 

Mine is the medium duration.

 

Baring you haven’t made any electrical modifications of late, I’d suspect the ignition lock cylinder warning switch might be sticking. Try squirting a shot or two of WD-40 deep into the lock cylinder. Insert the key and rack it in and out about 5-10 times. Cycle the switch between on, off, and into accessory 5-10 times. If it’s still chiming you’ll probably have to replace the Clockspring assembly.

 

Just bought the truck. It was doing it when I bought it. Now that you mention it, the ignition does feel a little funny. When you turn the truck off, it takes a little experience/skill to know exactly where to turn the key so you can pull it out. It doesn't take ANY effort to pass right over the "off" position and back into the "acc" position.

You mean shoot the WD-40 deep inside where the key is inserted? Or around the actual cylinder?

 

Where the key is inserted.

 

Never heard of anyone complain of this haha. The chime is supposed to turn on when the door is opened. As long as it goes off at some point and it isn't staying on you should be fine.

It doesn't bother me at all. If it didn't work or if the truck came without it I would probably forget to turn my headlights/marker lights off alot resulting in many jumps and new batterys ha. I used to have an 84 El Camino and it didn't come with a chime and I was always worried if I left the lights on.

 

I'm no Ranger pro, but every other car ever made does this sound only when the keys are in the ignition and the door is open.

So if you walk out to your truck right now, does your dinger sound the second you open the door to sit down? You mean I can't sit in my truck with the door open without this stupid ding sound sounding forever?

 

My issue is after getting in the truck and start driving it .there is a dinging sound coming from the dash area and sometimes it will last few minutes then will go off. then sometimes say after driving 15 miles or so it will start again. drives me crazy
any help?
Thanks

 

More than likely the wire at the switch has broken off and is intermittently touching the lock cylinder activating the chime.

 

I think its more of the sound the seat belt makes. I remove the radio and unplug the wires on the black box on the left side and it go's off. however so does everything else.

 

Try disabling the seat belt reminder before you start out and see if that stops the chime while driving Click Link

 

Ok accidently fixed it today. I was fixing my broke gear select dash indicator wire/bracket. I bumped the group of wires going up to the steering wheel and the dinging stopped. They were wrapped in a yellow plastic covering/loom. Looked factory. Maybe the lock cylinder had been replaced still though...

Anyway, I jiggled the wires until I found a orientation that made the buzzer work correct and then zip tied the bunch in place. I had far too many other things to do to worry about ripping apart the steering column to figure out exactly where the loose connection is.