2008 Dakota - ANNOYING Problem

dakotarev · #1 03-27-2009, 10:58 AM

Hey guys! First post for me, too bad it's not a happy post.
I've got a Flame Red 2008 Dakota QC V6 with about 9,000 miles on it. I purchased the truck last August. In October I started getting this extra chime (you know, like the chime you hear when the low fuel light comes on) that would "ding" once after the truck had been running for a few seconds. But there was no warning light accompanying the chime to say what the chime was about.
I took it in to the dealership, they re-flashed the computer, and the problem went away.
Until December...
Took it in in January and this time they replaced the instrument cluster. Again the problem went away.
Until this morning...
Now I get this extra chime. But it doesn't just "ding" once a few seconds after starting the truck. It dings EVERY time I come to a stop - every stoplight, every stop sign, every time I stop in a parking lot, every time I stop for geese crossing the road.
I thought that I would post the problem on here with the hopes that someone might have any ideas of what's wrong or have had a similar problem. Thanks in advance for your time.

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importkiller76 · #2 03-27-2009, 11:03 AM

maybe try disabelling the seatbelt chime? Don't know if it will help or not but it's worth a shot. If I'm right the procedure is as follows:

1. Turn truck on
2. Unbuckle and buckle the driver's seat belt 3 times in 10 seconds
3. Turn truck off...

Just doing it from memory so might wanna check on the procedure or maybe on of the other guys here has it saved somewhere.

MonkeyWrench4000 · #3 03-27-2009, 11:40 AM

Yeah maybe a faulty seatbelt sensor. My friends charger had a bad one.

Holbrook.Jeremy · #4 03-27-2009, 12:16 PM

You can teach the truck this but not to unlock the doors when you put the truck in park?

BAdassR/T · #5 03-27-2009, 12:56 PM

idk how the dakotas wheel sensors work but i know in a silverado i had this problem.. the thing would constantly make the dam chime...
but i would start with the seatbelt first..

dakotarev · #6 03-27-2009, 01:35 PM

Thanks for the help so far! Keep the ideas coming. Also, if this problem keeps up, does it become a lemon law or Magnusson-Moss issue?

ericemery · #7 03-27-2009, 01:53 PM

well, I would do this... grab a code scanner and see if it pops up a code... maybe the "dummy" light isnt coming on because of an electrical issue...

We can pretty much eliminate the dash cluster its self since it was replaced... The computer could be the issue, since they didnt replace it, they just flashed it...

Are there any circumstances that makes it go off? like moving in the seat or plugging in the seat belt?

I am not sure its a seat belt thing... when the seat belt chime went off it was a constant beep beep beep ... but its worth a try.

dakotarev · #8 03-27-2009, 02:10 PM

Did the seat belt thing. Didn't work.

dakotarev · #9 03-27-2009, 02:14 PM

Unfortunately, I don't have a code reader. I seem to remember the techs saying the first time that I took it in it wasn't throwing any codes.

The only thing that I can predict is that it chimes when the truck is slowing down and gets below 7 mph. It doesn't happen when I'm moving in the seat or adjusting the seat belt.

Oh, and it also gives a single chime about 5 seconds after starting the truck along with the chime going off every time I stop.

Thanks for the continued help!

Boho · #10 03-27-2009, 02:36 PM

What about a burned out light? I seem to remember my caravan giving a chime about a burned out headlight.

Worth a check.