# What's with all the chimes in American cars? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 7, 2009, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-the-chimes-in-american-cars/492232 "2009-04-07T05:42:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![emmaliminal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@emmaliminal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emmaliminal)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2009, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-the-chimes-in-american-cars/492232/21 "2009-04-07T14:40:13Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > But “properly” means I have to fasten my seatbelt _before_ I start the car, which can be mildly annoying at times. It’s my deeply-ingrained habit to put the keys in the ignition, then fasten seatbelt, then turn key, because I hatez teh chimes. My husband does not do this. I have a little mental argument with myself every time he doesn’t do it. The side that so far has always won the argument says, “Just because you’re OCD about the damn chimes doesn’t mean he has to be. What next, telling him off because he puts the toilet paper in with free end over instead of under? You do not want to be that kind of wife. Self, chill.” ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2009, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-the-chimes-in-american-cars/492232/22 "2009-04-07T16:12:43Z")
> [@Renee](#): > > Americans usually drive with headlights on in the rain (almost no one here in Okinawa does that, to my annoyance), and it’s easy to forget to turn them off when it isn’t dark out. I don’t know if it’s the case in all states, but in this one driving with your windshield wipers on and your lights off is something you can be fined for. From the first page of google hits, it’s also the case in SC and CA at the very least too. I asked people on yahoo answers this weekend what the alarming and unfamilar chime in my car was, and it turns out that if a. the door is open b. the lights are on and c. you turn the car on, it chimes. Which makes sense because I was about to get out of the car to check that both headlights were on. I’d only heard the sound one other time, so I’m kind of surprised that I’ve only fulfilled a-c twice in two and a half years. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2009, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-the-chimes-in-american-cars/492232/23 "2009-04-07T16:28:35Z")
> [@Renee](#): > > I used to have a 300 Z that said, in a sexy woman’s voice “left door is open, keys are in the ignition, etc.” I loved that. Nitpick: that would have been a 300ZX. > [@Rick](#): > > Of the main three, I know for a fact one is required in Europe, and I think the key in ignition one is also, but I don’t know that for a fact. So to me it looks like the headlight one is the only one a European might not be familiar with. > > Saudi Arabia has a chime if the speed of the car exceeds a preset speed BTW. Headlight warning and door opening. The Gulf states nearly all have identical traffic laws and vehicle requirements, so you get the chime everywhere there. It’s usually at 120 km/h (77 mph). ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2009, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-the-chimes-in-american-cars/492232/24 "2009-04-07T16:30:04Z")
> [@Mr.Duality](#): > > It would be extremely valuable to have an audible warning for engine overheating. An engine will be ruined in a very short time by overheating, and many people will not notice the heat guage or the little red warning light until too late. I know this from hard experience with my wife’s '97 Ford Probe GT. > > Some vehicles probably have that. It should be required. My manufactured-by-Ford vehicle chimes anything anything at all goes wrong. Not a continuous, never-ending chiming, of course, but just an alert chime to get me to look at the information center. So, low washer fluid, burnt-out tail light, door ajar, trunk lid open, low fuel, are all broadcast. I see sensors on my coolant tank, so I assume that that would be reported, as well as any number of other conditions. In some cars in Mexico, chimes start going off over 100 k/h or so. The little Chevy is one, and I think I’ve been in a VW that did the same. Nothing I’ve every personally rented or driven, do, though (Suburbans, Edges, CTS’s, Safari’s, come to think of it, all US market cars). ---
**Author:** ![groman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@groman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/groman)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2009, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-the-chimes-in-american-cars/492232/25 "2009-04-07T16:31:17Z")
What I don’t get is why my German car does BOTH: a) Turn off the headlights if the ingition is off b) Buzz very very loudly and continuously if you open the doors with the headlight switch in the “On” position and the key out of the ignition The only logic I can see here is that you don’t assume your headlights are broken if you turn them on and go to check without turning the car on. But still 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2009, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-the-chimes-in-american-cars/492232/26 "2009-04-07T16:34:56Z")
That is odd. One of favorite small tricks is how the Japanese and Korean manufacturers handle the “headlights left on” issue- if you take out the key, they switch off. If you want them back on (to illuminate your midnight basketball game or whatever), you switch them off and on. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2009, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-the-chimes-in-american-cars/492232/27 "2009-04-07T20:52:28Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > That is odd. One of favorite small tricks is how the Japanese and Korean manufacturers handle the “headlights left on” issue- if you take out the key, they switch off. If you want them back on (to illuminate your midnight basketball game or whatever), you switch them off and on. But then how does a timer work? You have to manually turn them back on, but then they’re on for good… or don’t Asian cars have timed headlight auto-turner-offers? ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2009, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-the-chimes-in-american-cars/492232/28 "2009-04-07T21:11:02Z")
My '64 LeSabre has a little knob on the speedometer you use to dial in a speed and it makes a godawful buzzing if you drive over it. You can’t set it any higher than 90, though, but I hear if you had a Riviera or an Electra you could set it to 120! ---
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2009, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-the-chimes-in-american-cars/492232/29 "2009-04-07T22:19:40Z")
[QUOTE=Bob Pease] Chimes: I am always amused when I rent a car with chimes. I don’t want to BUY one, or to OWN one, but it’s fun to drive one, for a change. Some cars have chimes to warn if you are leaving your keys in the car when you open the door. Or if you leave your directional signals blinking absent-mindedly for too long. I am always reminded of the story of the man who gave out an awful belch. A very proper lady nearby was horrified, and she said so. He responded, “Exactly what were you expecting? Chimes?” [/QUOTE] [Source](http://electronicdesign.com/Articles/ArticleID/6092/6092.html) ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2009, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-the-chimes-in-american-cars/492232/30 "2009-04-07T22:51:47Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > There are three main chimes in cars sold in America. > **Seat belt chime** : goes off for the first 10 seconds or so if the driver’s seat belt is not fastened. Europe has a similar requirement, but on some European cars the chime is continuous until the belt is fastened. Required by regulation. > **Head light warning** : Primarily on American and Japanese cars. On cars built in Europe the convention is that the headlights go off with the ignition going off. On American and Japanese cars typically the headlights will stay on with the key off and a chime is added. Why not do it like the Europeans? Beats me. Not required by regulation as far as I know. > **Key in ignition** : Goes off when the key is in the ignition and the driver’s door is opened. Required by regulation here in the US. I’m not sure about other countries. > Other cars may have other chimes (convertible top not all the way up or down is one that comes to mind) but these are the main three. Of the main three, I know for a fact one is required in Europe, and I think the key in ignition one is also, but I don’t know that for a fact. So to me it looks like the headlight one is the only one a European might not be familiar with. > Saudi Arabia has a chime if the speed of the car exceeds a preset speed BTW. ‘Required in Europe’ is not the same as ‘required in some European countries’. Seat belt alarms? Not in any car I’ve driven in Britain, although I remember the novelty of one in a friend’s parents’ Volvo many years ago. Headlights off without the ignition? Depends on the make & model, but many keep them on (sometimes dimmed, as in my Ford), with an alarm. Again, Scandinavian cars are a law unto themselves with headlights. I’ve not encountered a key-in-ignition alarm outside of America. ---
**Author:** ![Bookkeeper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bookkeeper/32/281_2.png) [@Bookkeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bookkeeper)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-the-chimes-in-american-cars/492232/31 "2009-04-08T01:40:35Z")
The daylight driving lights go on and off with the ignition, but my car (05 Chevy Cavalier) chimes if you open the driver’s door with the ignition off and the regular headlights or the marker lights on. It also chimes for key in ignition if the ignition is turned off and the driver’s door is open. My father’s 300ZX has the sexy female voice alert. ---
**Author:** ![mecaenas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/91b2a8/32.png) [@mecaenas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mecaenas)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-the-chimes-in-american-cars/492232/32 "2009-04-08T01:57:18Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > Where do you live? They seem pretty standard on new German cars as well. There’s two major automobile producing countries right there. What do you drive? Where do you drive it? I live in Australia and drive a Holden Commodore. While Holden is a subsiduary of GM there’s very little derived from the parent company beyond maybe some engine bits, although I do believe they occassionally ship Monaros over to the US and badge it as a Pontiac. > **[Site Maintenance](https://www.holden.com.au/commodore)** ---
**Author:** ![mecaenas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/91b2a8/32.png) [@mecaenas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mecaenas)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-the-chimes-in-american-cars/492232/33 "2009-04-08T02:01:46Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > There are three main chimes in cars sold in America. > **Seat belt chime** : goes off for the first 10 seconds or so if the driver’s seat belt is not fastened. Europe has a similar requirement, but on some European cars the chime is continuous until the belt is fastened. Required by regulation. > **Head light warning** : Primarily on American and Japanese cars. On cars built in Europe the convention is that the headlights go off with the ignition going off. On American and Japanese cars typically the headlights will stay on with the key off and a chime is added. Why not do it like the Europeans? Beats me. Not required by regulation as far as I know. > **Key in ignition** : Goes off when the key is in the ignition and the driver’s door is opened. Required by regulation here in the US. I’m not sure about other countries. > Other cars may have other chimes (convertible top not all the way up or down is one that comes to mind) but these are the main three. Of the main three, I know for a fact one is required in Europe, and I think the key in ignition one is also, but I don’t know that for a fact. So to me it looks like the headlight one is the only one a European might not be familiar with. > Saudi Arabia has a chime if the speed of the car exceeds a preset speed BTW. Thanks Rick. Oh and to clarify a couple of points from before, I just realised my car’s headlights switch off once the key is removed from the ignition regardless of whether doors are locked. ---
**Author:** ![mecaenas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/91b2a8/32.png) [@mecaenas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mecaenas)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-the-chimes-in-american-cars/492232/34 "2009-04-08T02:07:15Z")
> [@tetranz](#): > > In New Zealand we import used cars from Japan. The few that I test drove starting dinging if you go faster than 100 km/h. You may find that it’s configurable, my car’s trip computer allows you to set a limit for the warning if you like and set it at whatever speed you like. I used it quite a lot (e.g. at 120km/h) when I was doing long, fast, boring trips between Brisbane and the Gold Coast because of the wide highway and long straight stretches it was easy to slip into speeding. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-the-chimes-in-american-cars/492232/35 "2009-04-08T02:12:39Z")
> [@mecaenas](#): > > I live in Australia and drive a Holden Commodore. While Holden is a subsiduary of GM there’s very little derived from the parent company beyond maybe some engine bits, although I do believe they occassionally ship Monaros over to the US and badge it as a Pontiac. > > [http://www.holden.com.au/commodore](http://www.holden.com.au/commodore) Most current Holden models are based on (GM) Opel or Daewoo platforms, and some of the engines (including the 5.7 liter) are sourced directly from GM in the US and Isuzu (another GM subsidiary). The Monaro is sold in the US as the Pontiac GTO, and in the UK as the Vauxhall V-something. ---
**Author:** ![mecaenas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/91b2a8/32.png) [@mecaenas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mecaenas)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-the-chimes-in-american-cars/492232/36 "2009-04-08T02:31:16Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Most current Holden models are based on (GM) Opel or Daewoo platforms, and some of the engines (including the 5.7 liter) are sourced directly from GM in the US and Isuzu (another GM subsidiary). > > The Monaro is sold in the US as the Pontiac GTO, and in the UK as the Vauxhall V-something. Well what I meant was that it wasn’t derived from the US GM brands/models. I realise the Astra and Vectra are just re-badged Opels. As for the new Commodore it was designed and built in Australia for the princely sum of $1billion dollars so I’d say that counts as original. ---
**Author:** ![mecaenas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/91b2a8/32.png) [@mecaenas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mecaenas)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-the-chimes-in-american-cars/492232/37 "2009-04-08T02:37:52Z")
> [@mecaenas](#): > > Well what I meant was that it wasn’t derived from the US GM brands/models. I realise the Astra and Vectra are just re-badged Opels. > > As for the new Commodore it was designed and built in Australia for the princely sum of $1billion dollars so I’d say that counts as original. Well what I meant was that the current Commodore wasn’t derived from the US GM brands/models beyond sharing some engine parts. I realise the Astra and Vectra are just re-badged Opels. As for the newest Commodore it was designed and built in Australia for the princely sum of $1billion dollars so I’d say that counts as original and not derivative. /edit time limit ☹ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-the-chimes-in-american-cars/492232.md?page=1)