Has anyone figured out how to disable the "you've left a key in the ignition and a door is open" beeper without killing the interior lighting automation?

 

Take the key out of the ignition? :D

No, seriously, the door open beeper uses the same beeper as a lot of other warning things, such as "you left your headlights on" and such. The simplest way to disable it is to somehow bypass the switch on the driver's door so that the switch is not activated when you open the door. Only draw back to this is you also lose the dome-light-coming-on-with-the-door feature, but that can't be helped.

Simplest way I've ever seen this done is with a little piece of metal, mounted to the door frame with a single screw. It swings/pivots on this screw, and can be swung down to cover and press on the switch that normally pops out when you open the door, activating the dome light. Alternatively, you can pull the door switch out and cut the wire to it... but I like the other solution better as it's less permanent.

Hope this helps.

 

Yes, I've figured this out already, but I was hoping someone knows if there is a wire which carries only the door-is-open-and-key-is-in info to the beeper. Logically there must be something like this, because the dome light comes on without the beeper when there is no key in the ignition switch. There must be a circuit that goes from the dome light, through the ignition switch key detect contacts, and then to the beeper.

 

No, there doesn't have to be a dedicated circuit for this. I believe the beeper, like so many other things on this car, is controled by the ECU. When it detects the correct combination of inputs (door open + key in ignition) it signals the appropriate output (warning beep). I really don't think you're going to find a hardware fix to disable only the door-ajar beep.

 

is your door open so much that this bothers you?

 

Sort of. I've been working on wiring up my cell phone and that requires the door to be open (for access to the fuse panel) and the accessory power to be on at times (key in ignition switch). The constant dinging is annoying.

Then I also have a habit of making closing the door the last thing I do when entering the car -- this is a habit I learned many years ago when I went drag racing almost every weekend. The starter would not start the race if a car had a door open, so you didn't close your door until you were ready to race.

I also sometimes shut the engine off and leave the stereo on until a song finishes or a radio program gets to a logical stopping point; I usually open the door during this time.

No, it's not a big thing, but I would like to change it.

 

So it's a logical circuit rather than a wire one. Why not remove the "key in ignition switch" signal from the ECU, either at the ECU, or at the ignition switch, or somewhere in between? I presume that there is a wire that connects the ignition switch "key in" contacts to the ECU -- or is it wireless?

 

Eccles is right, it will be detected and activated by the ECU. No amount of wire cutting is going to shut it up without disabling the 'in/out' entry lights.

The only solution is to find the little buzzer, and knobble it. A simple piece of tape over the mouth of the beeper should reduce volume by 90%, if you need total silence you would need to electrically disconnect it, or jam your screwdriver thru it...drastic, but very satisfying!

S

 

But if the logic is [input a] and [input b] = [output to beeper], won't removing either [input a] or [input b] stop [output to beeper]? If [input a] is from the door switch it can't be removed without disabling the dome light -- not acceptable; but if [input b] is from the key-in-ignition wire, removing it ought to do the job -- unless [input b] is needed for something else that is important.

 

I'm not sure about anything important, but I do seem to recall that the instrument lighting changes when you insert or remove the key. The interior lights come on when you remove it, too. There may be other things as well - guess you can "suck it and see."

 

Eccles, did you really return your 8 on 10/21? Just noticed your sig block...

 

Yeah, when I got laid off at the end of September, we returned the '8 to reduce costs. It sucked, but in reality it worked out well for us. I'll be back in another as soon as I land a new job.

 

I can't go test this right this moment, but I'm thinking that the door warning sound does NOT come on if the key is in the ON position. So, would it be bad for the car to turn the car off, then switch it back to ON without starting it again?

 

Bad idea to leave the car sitting in the "On" position without it running, as it powers up all the systems, including the fuel pump, etc. I think the ECU disables the ignition after some period of time to avoid damaging things.

Wow, that sucks, but now that you mention it I do recall you telling in another thread that you had to let your 8 go. Glad you're still hanging around, you've got a lot to contribute. But now I gotta ask, when you get your next 8, what will you do differently? Color? Interior? Packages?

 

Hmmm... maybe you could install a 2nd door switch and wire the buzzer so any power to it is cut unless the door is CLOSED BWAHAHA!!

Or, maybe just a toggle switch somewhere to cut the power to the buzzer. Label "STFU", and use whenever you want to do something wacky "illegal", like move from one part of a parking lot to the other without your seatbelts, or leave the key in the ignition while you step out to put a letter in the post box.

 

Ya know, I read somewhere in another thread that you could pull the ignition key out just a tiny bit, and it would silence the buzzer...

 

Yes, that is what I've been doing.

 

Maybe you could change it from a buzzer to say,

"Mr. Bob Clevenger, you're a great man and you are loved by all."

:-)

 

what about.........

......if you know where the speaker is for the buzzer/beeper, swap it out with an LED/low power light, this way you still have an indication without the annoying sound. just an idea....

 

No, I wouldn't want to barf all over that nice interior. :-)

 

Responding to my own question
Well, I found out how to do it!
There are two connectors on the ignition switch. One has only two wires connected to it -- that's the one to unplug. That's all there is to it. Pull off the cover on the top of the steering column and you can get at the connectors. It's easier to pull off both connectors and then put the one with four wires back on.
See attached photo.

 

Just had two small dents removed from rear right hand doors by paintless dent removal , so i have seen the connection that totally disables the beeper , its quite simple by removing the skin on the drivers rear doors and unplugging the unit , no connection no beeper .very easy to do, ten minute job .

michael

 

Wow Bob, could it be that easy?!? What a find! Can you tell us if there is any down side to unplugging this connector? What else does it disable? Thanks...

 

Good find. I was gonna say, just leave the stereo on real loud and you won't hear the beeper, but you've found a better solution.

 

Here's an idea. make the car think the door is closed, then manually turn on the dome light. Come on guys, life doesn't have to be that complex