2003 Escape Warning Chime

Hello:

I have a 2003 Escape XLS, about every half hour I get a series of 5 warning chimes that sounds like a door ajar chime or seatbelt chime. It repeats for 3 or 4 cycles then stops. No lights come on on the dash or anything, just the chimes and everything seems normal. Had anyone experienced this before?

Cheers

Greg

Hey Greg, Welcome to the forum.

I just looked through my whole owner's manual to see what triggers the periodic chime, and only came up with the seatbelt reminder. But it says that the dash light icon will also light at the same time. Since you didn't have any lights come on and I assume were wearing your seatbelt I can't help explain it. Just a stretch here, but is your rear liftgate window not fully clicked shut? Might be worth unlatching and giving it a good slam shut to see if it helps. Could be some ice in the mechanism.

Here's another stretch, but might be something to think about....on a Buick I used to own, the chime would purposely come on if you left the turn signal on for over 3 minutes or so - with no dash lights to help you understand what was going on. Maybe these Fords have tied something like that to the alarm system but left it out of the owner's manual.

By the way, the manual gives a nine-step procedure to disable the chime.....if you want to try that if nobody else here has a theory as to the cause.

Good luck, let us know what you find out.
Tom

Tom:

Thanks for the info, I have checked the rear gate and glass, but no luck. The chime doesn't seem to have a definite schedule, just cuts in for a few cycles and then out. I called the dealership but they won't let me in on anything over the phone. Fair enough I may have to take it in. I'll try disarming it and see if that does anything.

I did read somewhere it could be something to do with the airbag warning if the dash light is out or something. Not sure what that's all about.

The Escape is great other than that though.

Cheers

Greg

Hi my daughter's 2002 escape did the same--it was a burnt out airbag light--to check turn on the ignition--if the airbag light ( just below the seatbelt light) doesn't light up it is burned out. Not hard to change--2 screw on the trim around the speedo /tach etc.--then 4 screws holding the instrument cluster in. Hope this helps.

My 2002 escape has been doing the same thing for almost a year but it stops after a few weeks or month. I even took it to my mechnic and he couldn't find the cause. Thank you so much, I will have him take a look at the bulb.

My daughter has a 2002 escape that also had a warning chime continuely going off with no dash light indication of what wrong. Thanks to the above thread I notices the airbag light was not lighting when the ignition was turned on. Removed the cluster and found the airbag light was burned out. Replaced it and the chime stopped but the airbag light now flashed and stayed on. Found that if you unplug the plugs under the seat, clean the contacts, and replug; the airbag light now worked properly and goes out after the car starts (no chime and no light). Understand the electrical under the seats lets the airbags know someone is sitting in the seat so the airbag is turned on. The contacts over time stop making good contact. Try this before you take the car to a dealer as it is expensive to have the system trouble shot.