beep when key in ignition and driver's door open

94 Civic EX. I find it quite annoying that the alert that sounds when
the key is in the ignition and the driver's door is open apparently
can't be turned off easily. There are plenty of times that I want the
door open while listening to the radio, and that infernal beep either
drives me bananas or, more likely, I'm forced to shut the door.

So, I'm trying to figure out how best to deal with this. On the one
hand, I could simply disconnect the piezo buzzer, but that would
completely disable the key alert, which can be useful in avoiding
locking the keys in the car, so perhaps I could install a switch in the
line to disable it when I want. If I wanted a fail-safe means of
ensuring that it went back on when the ignition went to position 0, I
suppose I could rig up a relay mechanism, but that would burn the
battery up faster and would probably be overkill... ;-)

Where the heck is the buzzer? And anyone know of a source for very low
power relays, in case I go nuts?

 

-------------------

Alarm companies use delay timers for things like panic exits and they
are fairly low-current. Install a touch button that's a one-shot into
the timer, and set it for five or twenty minutes (or whatever) to jump
out the door contact. Power the timer off the ACC so you don't drain the
battery when key is out.

'Curly'

 

You can just push the button on the door jamb that causes the buzzer to
sound. Just cut a small block of wood that fits between the open door and
the button. Very simple and it does not involve messing with the electrical
system in your car.

 

Roll down your window (s)?

 

The buzzer is in the Integrated Control Unit, ICU, which is plugged into
the back side of the fuse box. It has a connector plugged to the back of
it. This connector has 2 wires that are BLU/WHT. One of these wires are
at the end of the connector, the other is the second one in from the
other end. The one at the end is the wire from the key-in-ignition
switch. Cut this wire, and the key-in-ignition alarm is disabled.

On mine (also a '94) the beeper does not work with the ignition "on",
only in "off" and "acc". So, couldn't you just either remove the key or
turn the ignition on?

If you want the beeper to not work with the ignition to "acc", it can be
done with a simple automotive relay (must be the 5 pin kind, 4 pin ones
don't have the 87a terminal. Terminal 85 to ground (I have used the
mounting bolt for the fuse box for ground for other circuits), terminal
86 to options connector #5 (rightmost one in the photo at
http://www.geocities.com/ng_randolph/Civic/options.jpg). Cut the BLU/WHT
wire mentioned above. The end that goes to the ICU goes to terminal 30
on the relay, the end that goes to the key-in-ignition switch goes to
thermal 87a.

Now the beeper will only work with the ignition off. This circuit will
draw current only with the ignition to "acc" or "on".

 

I don't know if the 94 Civic works the same way as 2001 Civic, but if I turn
the ignition to the ON position rather than ACC, it stops beeping after 5
seconds.

 

My '93 Accord works in the same manner, except there is no delay--unless
the beeping during this delay you speak of is actually your seatbelt
reminder.

 

Yeah, it's probably the seatbelt reminder. In any case, Abeness, I think
this would be a lot simpler than hacking the buzzer. =)

 

and/or open the window.

my blaupunkt will stay on for an hour with no key in the ignition if i
push the "on" button. then it shuts off.

 

Use a swinging "J" hook on a string. Slam door and J hook falls
away from door switch by force of gravity.

 

I have my radio hooked up to constant power. Its
and aftermarket with removeable face, and I did this in
order to keep from forgetting to remove the faceplate.

But it also will play without a key in the ignition.

t

 

Yeah turn your ignition to ON, no beep and you can run fan and windows, duh.
Disadvantage, dummy lights on dash, and reverse light burns if parked in R.

 

Thanks, everyone, for the suggestions. I don't like to leave the
ignition in the on position because I don't like keeping the fuel pump
and engine systems powered on or the dash lights burning--OR allow the
fan to run in case I forget to turn it off and burn up the battery quickly.

A block of wood is an interesting idea, but I have no idea how that
J-hook suggestion would do it as described.

I'll have to give this some more thought. Block seems easiest.

 

Also keep thieves from stealing the car. The block of wood is an idea
but tends to get smash to pieces. But, it's a simple, single part. The "J"
hook I pointed out works only for the L type switch. What ever
type of switch, what you want is to be able to reuse the wood,
flexible plastic or whatever object you can find to jam in the switch
to keep it latch. Tie that to a string so that if the switch is pushed in
any slightly the object will fall off to be reuse again.

The other method is to unplug or unscrew the 2-pin connector on
the ignition cylinder. Then attach a spare key to a magnet. Hide
the magnet/key inside the steel fender if you don't want to lock
yourself out. ((The key has to be filed off a tumbler or so near the
handle for the car can't be started but able to open the door. (The
ignition has, say, eight tumblers but door has five-six.))

 

I had to look at the switch to respond--for the 94 Civic configuration,
neither a block nor a J-hook would work, as the button is at the bottom
corner closest to the latch, not in the hinge, where a block would be
perfect. But, it looks like a large clip would do the trick--e.g. a
jumper-cable-sized clip. I'll continue to mull it over--this isn't a
terribly urgent issue now that it's getting below 35 around here... ;-)

An interesting idea, though inadvisable here in New York City. Even if I
were to file off the appropriate portions, I don't really want to give
anyone ideas.

Anyway, do you have a reference (preferably with pix) to exactly which
portions of the key should be filed to disable ignition without
disabling the door lock?