What's this chime?

Yury
09-02-2008, 06:42 AM
Hi All

I am trying to figure out this warning type chime I hear sometimes. I heard it twice within a couple of days. Both times the scenario was similar: I drive slowly on a parking lot (first time was a gas station actually), slow down to a stop or almost to a stop and then release the brake and slowly start creeping forward. This unexpected chime sounds a couple of times. All people in the car are buckled in. It comes and goes and I don't see any lights or messages (well, perhaps there is something of DIC or some light flashes somewhere, but I was not able to catch it, when I look everything over after the chime all is clear).
What can it be?

Truitt
09-02-2008, 08:24 AM
A quick chime is usually the door or your seat belt. The passenger's seat belt makes a more annoying double-chime sound.

Yury
09-02-2008, 08:25 AM
A quick chime is usually the door or your seat belt. The passenger's seat belt makes a more annoying double-chime sound.

no that's not it, everybody is buckled up and the doors are closed and locked. maybe some gremlin in the wiring...

Truitt
09-02-2008, 08:31 AM
You could have a Gnome running around your car and not buckled in.

I'd suggest just being on alert, and the next time it happens you look at the DIC and see if you notice anything. I'd also suggest checking the passenger seat belt light as well in the lower portion of your console. If it is registering that they are not buckled in, there could be a sensor problem.

Yury
09-02-2008, 08:44 AM
You could have a Gnome running around your car and not buckled in.

I'd suggest just being on alert, and the next time it happens you look at the DIC and see if you notice anything. I'd also suggest checking the passenger seat belt light as well in the lower portion of your console. If it is registering that they are not buckled in, there could be a sensor problem.

yes, will keep an eye on it. it's so infrequent and happens quickly leaving me with no messages/lights...the lower portion does not display anything when I examine it. So if there's anything there it's gone quickly.

Also I find it interesting that it happened in similar scenarios.

Ardvark
09-02-2008, 10:23 AM
Your Malibu will chime if your turn signals have been on for about 20 seconds. It will go off sometimes if I have to wait a long time at a stop light. Could that be the issue?

Yury
09-02-2008, 10:41 AM
Your Malibu will chime if your turn signals have been on for about 20 seconds. It will go off sometimes if I have to wait a long time at a stop light. Could that be the issue?

that's a possibility...however, I just tried to leave the turn signal on for a long time...no chime. Tried while driving too, no chime.

lcurle
09-09-2008, 07:59 PM
that chime means there are unicorns in your exhaust punching holes in your muffler, you need a anti-unicorn system cleaner, it just so happens I have some of that.....

DOACanada
09-10-2008, 04:21 AM
that chime means there are unicorns in your exhaust punching holes in your muffler, you need a anti-unicorn system cleaner, it just so happens I have some of that.....


LOL - Should make sure he tops up his headlight fluid also!, maybe he needs some 7I0 fluid....you never know that could be what the chime is?

thelongone13
09-10-2008, 12:11 PM
The 710 cap is not on tight? That can cause the Kehnutsen valve to malfunction...

Seriously though, is the sound the same as the door/belt chime? This has happened to me before... My driver's seatbelt buckle sensor stopped working and it would ding for extended amounts of time.

lcurle
09-11-2008, 04:13 PM
what you should do is get a large garbage bag and get me an exhaust sample so I can test it and see what that chime is.

malibudragon
09-11-2008, 05:33 PM
Ok I noticed this double chime 3 times today while driving home.. It would only chime when slowing to a stop.,

Nothing on the DIC, Everyone buckled, No turn signals

DOACanada
09-12-2008, 03:58 AM
Ok I noticed this double chime 3 times today while driving home.. It would only chime when slowing to a stop.,

Nothing on the DIC, Everyone buckled, No turn signals

Oh Oh, Sounds like your headlight fluid is low also. :eek:







In all seriousness this is kind of strange, I wonder if a call to GM Customer Service would help to answer the questin???

lcurle
09-12-2008, 05:22 AM
Maybe it could be your tire pressure sensors, brake pad life sensors, Traction control sensor, Oil life %

Ardvark
09-12-2008, 10:09 AM
The chime is a low fuel warning. It chimes when releasing the brake pedal to warn you of a low fuel condition. It will happen every few miles until you fill up. I just had this happen on my way back from lunch....

malibudragon
09-12-2008, 10:13 AM
I have a full tank currently and mine did it.. Nor was it Oil Life, the car is only a week old. Tire pressure is fine as well

It chimes but there is no information on the DIC about any trouble condition

Yury
09-12-2008, 11:12 AM
The chime is a low fuel warning. It chimes when releasing the brake pedal to warn you of a low fuel condition. It will happen every few miles until you fill up. I just had this happen on my way back from lunch....

I am not hearing the chime anymore.

Now, the low fuel warning - wouldn't it be combined with a light on the instrument cluster? There was nothing at all there, no DIC messages, no abnormal lights on the center console.

malibudragon
09-12-2008, 12:19 PM
Same with mine, No indication just a soft tone chime.. It did it 3 times last night driving home, I will have to listen out for it again tonight

If you have the radio up you will surely miss the sounds its very faint

thelongone13
09-12-2008, 06:11 PM
Have you had a passenger when this happens? Could be a faulty weight sensor in the seat...

Yury
09-12-2008, 07:26 PM
Have you had a passenger when this happens? Could be a faulty weight sensor in the seat...

yes, both times. however I had passengers many times since it happened last time.

malibudragon
09-13-2008, 06:36 AM
Yeah I had a passenger when mine chimed and they were buckled in, It did not do it at all yesterday when I was by myself

TMoneyR523
09-14-2008, 06:25 PM
Perhaps if you have OnStar do a diagnostic test they MIGHT have some info on what's going on?

Yury
09-14-2008, 06:50 PM
I had OnStar set up after those occurences and received a diagnostics report after that - everything's ok.

Now, a wild thought....Could it be somehow related to OnStar not being setup? Nah..probably not :)

anyway, i haven't heard the chime since..with pasengers or without.

TMoneyR523
09-14-2008, 07:29 PM
You mean the dealerships in Canada don't have OnStar and XM all up and running before you pick up your car? Every car we've had all features have been up and running the moment we first stepped in.. btw I love the pics of your car I'm getting the exact same one this Tuesday and your pics are helping me with the anxiousness LOL

Truitt
09-14-2008, 07:33 PM
When I received my 'Bu, I received a full sweep and overview of the car, and then they set up the OnStar and XM right there, as a way for me to know how to do it.

Yury
09-18-2008, 07:36 AM
You mean the dealerships in Canada don't have OnStar and XM all up and running before you pick up your car? Every car we've had all features have been up and running the moment we first stepped in.. btw I love the pics of your car I'm getting the exact same one this Tuesday and your pics are helping me with the anxiousness LOL

:) thanks...So I suppose you got yours at this point? Congrats !

Actually, OnStar and XM were up and running right away...What I mean is that I was supposed to call them and get some an introductory talk. What was set up during that call is e-mails for diagnostics and I received an email couple of days after showing no problems.