Door ajar buzzer replacement
Hate the high-pitched tweet of the key reminder?
I was disappointed when I first got the car that there was just a simple high-pitched
squeal when you leave the key in. I've found a suitable replacement, however. Radio
Shack sells a "ding-dong" chime (#273-071) for 8.99 that has a pleasant "Ding-dong
Ding-dong (pause) (repeat)" tone. Not nearly as annoying as the squeal of the piezo.
To make this replacement:
- Find the old buzzer underneath the dash by the driver's right leg.
(It's actually attached to the center console piece next to the stereo.)
- Unscrew the buzzer.
- Pull the stereo out of the dash
- Pull off the front bezel piece (gently pry the edge with a screwdriver,
but protect the dash with cloth)
- Unscrew the four screws holding the stereo in
- Pull the radio out and disconnect its' plugs
- Look for little white tabs on the inside left wall of the radio compartment
- Press them together and you'll be able to pull out the buzzer connector
- Clip off the old buzzer but note the position of the red and black wires
- Take the ding-dong chime and solder or splice the red and white wires to
the connector tab with the old red wire
- Solder the black wire to the tab with the black wire
- Get a plastic tie-wrap (zip-tie) and loop it around the chime w/o tightening it
- Get another tie-wrap and loop it through the other loop (This second loop will
be used to screw the chime in) Tighten the first loop, then tighten the second
one around the buzzer screw. (( [TS:] Hint: You can also get tie-wraps with built-in
screw mounts. Check a hardware store, or ask you local car stereo shop for a
few.))
- Reconnect the connector and snap it back into the side panel
- Then screw in the mounting screw
- Put the radio back the way you found it and replace any other trim pieces you
may have removed
Now, put the key in the ignition and open the door. Isn't that much better?
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Last modified: July 17, 1997
Copyright 1997, Tom Stangl
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