Principles of Operation

PRINCIPLES OF OPERATION

The instrument cluster controls the following warnings and chimes:
- driver or passenger safety belt not fastened warning chime (warning times out)
- key-in-ignition warning (repetitive chime)
- headlamp-on warning (repetitive chime)
- door ajar warning (repetitive chime)
- door ajar warning (single chime) (Escape Hybrid)
- turn signal left on warning (repetitive chime)
- turn signal tone (tic-tock chime)
- transmission not in PARK (repetitive chime)
- parking brake warning
- safety belt warning (repetitive chime)
- belt minder warning (repetitive chime after a delay and the safety belt chime has completed)
- message center general tone (single tone)
- engine off reminder chime (Escape Hybrid)
- odometer/trip select/reset switch feedback tone (single tone)

The safety belt warning chime warns that the safety belt is not fastened. The safety belt warning chime sounds when the driver or passenger safety belt is not fastened and the ignition switch is turned from the OFF/LOCK or ACC to the RUN or START position.

The safety belt warning chime stops sounding when the safety belt is fastened, when the ignition switch is switched from the RUN or START position to the OFF/LOCK or ACC position, or when the chime has sounded for approximately 6 seconds.

The safety belt warning chime inputs are:
- ignition switch RUN/START position.
- driver or passenger safety belt switch data communicated by the restraints control module (RCM) to the instrument cluster.

NOTE: The belt minder is configurable. To configure without using a diagnostic tool, refer to Belt Minder Deactivating/Activating. Belt Minder Deactivating/Activating

The belt minder feature supplements the current safety belt warning function. The belt minder is enabled after the current safety belt warning is complete. The belt minder reminds the driver that the driver or passenger safety belt is unbuckled by intermittently sounding a chime and illuminating the safety belt warning lamp in the instrument cluster once the vehicle speed has exceeded 5 km/h (3 mph). While activated, the belt minder alternates the chime and indicator from on for 6 seconds to off for 30 seconds.

NOTE: The belt minder is disabled for 1 ignition switch ON cycle if the safety belt is buckled then unbuckled during that specific cycle.

The door ajar warning chime warns that a door is not fully closed. The chime sounds when any door, the liftgate glass or the liftgate becomes ajar while the ignition switch is in the RUN position.

The door ajar warning chime stops sounding when all the doors and the liftgate are closed, or the ignition switch is turned to the OFF/LOCK or ACC position.

The door ajar warning lamp/chime inputs are:
- ignition switch RUN/START position.
- door ajar data communicated by the smart junction box (SJB) to the instrument cluster through the controller area network (CAN) communication.

The key-in-ignition warning chime warns that the key is still in the ignition switch when the driver door is ajar. The key-in-ignition warning chime sounds when the driver door is ajar, the ignition switch is in the OFF/LOCK or ACC position, and the key is in the ignition switch.

The key-in-ignition warning chime stops sounding when the driver door is closed, the key is removed from the ignition switch, or if the key is turned to the RUN position.

The key-in-ignition warning chime inputs are:
- ignition switch RUN/START position.
- key-in-ignition switch status data communicated by the SJB to the instrument cluster through the CAN communication.

The headlamp on warning chime warns that the headlamps are on when the driver door is ajar and the key is removed from the ignition switch. The headlamps on warning chime sounds if the driver door is ajar, the headlamp switch is in the PARK or HEAD position, and the ignition switch is in the OFF/LOCK position with the key out.

The headlamp on warning chime stops sounding when any one of the above conditions are removed.

The headlamp on warning chime inputs are:
- ignition switch position.
- key-in-ignition switch status data communicated by the SJB to the instrument cluster through the CAN circuits.
- driver door ajar data communicated by the SJB to the instrument cluster through the CAN circuits.
- headlamp switch data communicated by the SJB to the instrument cluster through the CAN circuits.

The airbag secondary warning chime warns that the airbag warning indicator light does not work correctly. The airbag secondary warning chime sounds if the ignition switch is in the RUN/START position and the RCM detects a fault within the airbag warning light circuit.

The airbag secondary warning chime inputs are:
- ignition switch RUN/START position.
- chime tone request data is communicated by the RCM to the instrument cluster.

The transmission not in PARK warning chime warns that the vehicle is not in PARK when exiting the vehicle.The transmission not in PARK warning chime sounds if the vehicle is not in PARK and the driver door is ajar.

The transmission not in PARK warning chime stops sounding if the gear selector is moved to the PARK position or if the driver door is closed.

The transmission not in PARK warning chime inputs are:
- driver door ajar data communicated by the SJB to the instrument cluster through the CAN communication.
- PARK position signal from the brake shift interlock.

The parking brake warning chime warns that the parking brake is engaged when the vehicle is in motion. The parking brake warning chime sounds if the ignition switch is in RUN position, the parking brake is engaged, and the vehicle speed is greater than 5 km/h (3 mph).

The parking brake warning chime stops sounding if the parking brake is released, the ignition switch is not in the RUN position, or if the vehicle speed is less than 5 km/h (3 mph).

The parking brake warning chime inputs are:
- ignition switch RUN/START position.
- parking brake switch data communicated by the SJB to the instrument cluster through the CAN communication.
- vehicle speed data communicated by the anti-lock brake system (ABS) module to the instrument cluster through the CAN communication (Escape, Mariner).
- vehicle speed data communicated by the traction control module (TCM) to the instrument cluster through the CAN communication (Escape Hybrid).

The turn signal left on warning chime warns that the turn signal has not been cancelled. The turn signal left on warning chime sounds if the left or right turn signal is on and the vehicle has traveled for more than 0.8 km (0.5 mile) (vehicles built before October 2005), or 3.2 km (2 miles) (vehicles built after October 2005).

The turn signal left on warning chime stops sounding if the turn signal is turned off, or if the ignition switch is moved to the OFF or ACCESSORY position.

The turn signal left on warning chime inputs are:
- turn signal data communicated by the SJB to the instrument cluster through the CAN communication.
- odometer count data communicated by the ABS module to the instrument cluster through the CAN communication (Escape, Mariner).
- odometer count data communicated by the TCM to the instrument cluster through the CAN communication (Escape Hybrid).

The turn/hazard tone provides an audible signal in addition to the turn/hazard indicator lamps. The turn/hazard tone sounds if the turn or hazard signals are on.

The turn/hazard tone inputs are:
- left turn indicator signal from the SJB to the instrument cluster.
- right turn indicator signal from the SJB to the instrument cluster.

The engine off reminder chime has the same audible sound as the existing key-in-ignition chime. The engine off reminder chime sounds for 10 seconds then stops when the following conditions are met (the chime resets if the ignition switch and the driver door switch have met the following conditions):
- the ignition switch is in the RUN or START position.
- the driver door is ajar.
- the transmission is in the PARK position.

The message center general tone sounds when a warning message is displayed on the message center. If multiple warning messages are present, a chime tone sounds for each of the warnings that are displayed.

A tone sounds to confirm that the message center buttons are pressed hard enough to make contact and activate the switch function.