1988 Volvo 240 GL Wagon Automatic
Oh gosh, this has been driving me nuts! I'm actually driving around with ear plugs! I have to take a long drive in a couple of days.

Basically, the car seems to think the door is open all the time. That door chime is loud! I don't need door-open sensors -- I only use the interior courtesy light manually, so I am happy with where things are... I just want to know how to disconnect that chime/alarm! I've had a mechanic friend try to find it; he searched & searched for the chime, couldn't find it (even though it's ringing all the time), and my Chilton manual was worthless. I then bought the (infinitely better) Bentley Volvo 240 manual, but still can't find any reference to the door chime!

Tonight I offered $10 to any worker at my empty local Auto Zone who could disconnect the chime; they tried, but couldn't find it. But they DID manage to disconnect my instrument panel (speedo/ temp/ gas/ hand brake/ probably odometer, at least), which I didn't notice until I had driven away (and they were closing, so I couldn't head back). So if anyone knows how to reconnect that too (gulp), since the guy who did it won't be back in for awhile, I'd appreciate that, as well (what does it look like/where is it in the well).

I suppose I could go through the bother of visiting a junkyard and culling old door sensors, but I don't actually know that would fix it, and I'd just rather never hear that chime again. Everything else works to my satisfaction..

Thanks so much for your help.

Jones
(nephiah2 at bigfoot.com)


(Background, if you're interested:
I did have a situation where I had an intermittent brakelight bulb failure warning for a long time, which I still hadn't fixed by the time the chiming started. After this chiming started, but before I got the bulb situation sorted out, a friend inspected the fuse situation (we didn't find any blown ones, but I plan to replace a few fuses, though no manual I can find lists which fuse does the door chime), and actually looked at my door-open sensors/switches, and commented that several of them were 'blown' or not functional, by inspecting them (I'm not a mechanic). In the meantime, I've gotten the bulb situation sorted out (replaced both sides at the same time), and the bulb failure warning went away, but the door chime still goes all the time.)

It's been years since this thread started, but I found it in my search to fix a non-stop chime in my '91 240 wagon.

Did you ever diagnose and repair the issue?

If your dome light is burnt out or the fuse for the dome is burnt, then the door chime will constantly chime.
--
Post Back. That's whats makes this forum work.

Aleekat

I just subscribed to this forum, specifically to thank you for saving me hours of grief, agony and frustration, with your on spot answer, and amazing helpful comment: https://www.brickboard.com/RWD/volvo/1497761/220/240/260/280/help_constant_door_chime_88_volvo_240.html

My #8 fuse was broken. Just fixed in less than 20 seconds thanks to you!

Thanks a lot for posting this about the fuse being burned out causing a constant door chime saved me a lot of headache.

Wow, 16 years.

If this thread does get found by searches on the key and door dinger / seat belt reminder (officially), then I should add this info which may help those looking to troubleshoot with wiring diagrams and logic, in addition to "what fixed it for you" anecdotes.

Hella made a couple versions, but functionally they're the same, clipped to the right of the steering column up high:







Someone posted once after having added an audio playback chip, like you'd find in a singing card, to play "Brick House" to you while you buckle up. I think I'd prefer that new aria being used in the current Volvo commercials. Make for a laugh before the sound of the piston slap covered it up.

Being amongst the ignorant, I wondered what the aria was when I first saw the ad.

What a surprise. The Volvo version sounds like a walk in the park.

For the uninitiated, be sure to turn on closed captions





--
'80 DL 2 door, '89 DL Wagon, '15 XC70 T6

I liked Edda Moser @5:25.

https://youtu.be/KNYws1PNCH8
--
Art Benstein near Baltimore

What engineers say and what they mean by it:
Engineering says: "This project has low maintenance requirements."
Engineers meant: We wouldn't let the technicians change a light bulb, much less fool around with our baby.

i have a similar problem to you
the cause...so simple and yet so stupid at the same time
water would run along the water channel on my left hand side but would pool on top of my driver's side door pin ( hence the door open chime)...the water would then leak in and ground the switch causing my door pin to think the door is open

try double checking your door pin and see what kind of condition it is
hope that helps

The chime is a blue plastic box, shaped like a relay, clipped down near the gas pedal. It has a tiny "speaker grill" or hole in the top. You can block this hole with masking tape -- the more layers, the lower the volume.

Check the driver's side door switch. You'll find two wires connected. One is for the dome light, the other for the chime circuit. The wire might be touching ground or the switch might have failed. A grounded wire will tell the chime into thinking the door is constantly open.

All five door switches (including tailgate) are the same, and you can swap 'em around. If you scrounge a switch from a junk, use a rear door switch (less used than driver's door switch).

The chime will also sound when you hit the brakes but all brakes light bulbs are defective -- but only as long as your foot is pushing the brakes.

Also -- try resoldering the printed circuit board inside the chime. $0, 15 minutes, no risk, clean 'n easy work. If it doesn't help then you're out $0.
--
Don Foster (near Cape Cod, MA)

Thanks for the post, but the chime is not down by the gas pedal in my model year. I can't see any blue box anywhere, and when I stick my head under the steering column, I can hear the thing ringing in my left ear -- so loud it hurts -- but neither I nor anyone else can find it! I am wondering if it is hidden above that metal piece which runs beneath the steering column. I did manage to grab a red relay thing from up there, but that wasn't it. I just can't see what's ringing.

I also swapped out the door switch with 2 other switches in other car doors. I even sanded the contacts on one of them to shiny metal. I think the door is only supposed to chime when the driver's door is open (not other doors), so it shouldn't matter if there are busted (or no) sensor switches on the other doors (right?). This did not help. I just want to kill that chime.

I also looked for bad fuses and found none. I replaced some of the ones with the thinnest ribbons, though, and turned the rest of them a little to make sure the contacts were good. No luck.

Somebody please tell me exactly where it is (on my model year) and what it looks like... I'm getting desperate.

Thanks in advance..

Sorry for the misdirection, no harm intended.

The chime is where I described on my '86 and on brother's '89, so I assumed it would also be on your '88. I don't recall if it's above the felt pad or just inside the plastic panel, near the heater valve. It might have been black on the '89.....

"...only supposed to chime when the driver's door is open..."

Yes, and key in.

"...grab a red relay thing from up there..."

If it was round with about 20 wires going in, then it's the "light out" sensor.

I had the same issue with my 89 240DL wagon 5-speed. I found (and removed) the seatbelt door reminder chime above and ever so slightly to the right of the steering column. Mine was a blue box with a small speaker. I googled " seatbelt door chime" and found a pic and it was easy to find. I did have to remove the carpeting above and behind the pedals to get underneath the instrument panel. Cheers,

Corey H.
Western Mass

I cannot stand this chime either. Now maybe I have a look to where I can disconnect it.
My friend had a Cadillac and this sweet grannny voice comes on and says:
Your door is open - your door is open - your door is open - your door is open.
My friend hit the steering wheel and actually screamed SHUT UP.
We both laughed so hard.
Can you hear the voices: Your door is open - Your tires are low - You need more oil - serviceinterval No 4 is coming up - close your glove compartment
your dome light is on - your washerfluid needs replacement
It would drive one bonkers
Thats why I dont have a Kuckucksclock or a Big Ben in my home

ding ding ding ding ding

Imagine the opportunities to customize the message.
--
Don Foster (near Cape Cod, MA)