How to get rid of the "Key in Ignition" warning chime by PanEuropean

9 minute read

How to get rid of the "Key in Ignition" warning chime

Compliments of PanEuropean @ vwvortex.com

10-23-2004

The certification standards applicable to new cars sold in the United States require that the car sound an aural warning if the driver door is open and the key has not been removed from the ignition switch. This requirement was introduced in the 1970s. The objective is to reduce auto theft resulting from the driver leaving the key in the ignition, either intentionally or accidentally. A vehicle will still pass all applicable motor vehicle safety standards requirements after delivery to the first customer if this chime is disabled or otherwise inoperative - the legal requirement only states that the warning function is present on the car at the time it is manufactured or imported.
Because Volkswagen treats Canada and America as one single sales region, we in Canada 'benefit' from this warning chime as well. I have never liked these chimes, I think they are a nuisance. In the case of a Phaeton that is equipped with Keyless Entry (option code 4F6), the key in ignition chime is especially useless, because the car will not allow you to lock the exterior doors if there is an ignition key in the passenger cabin - it doesn't matter if it is in the ignition switch, in your jacket pocket on the back seat, or on the floor, if there is a key inside the cabin, you can't lock the doors of the car.
So - I decided it was time to get rid of this chime. Like almost everything else, this is accomplished by software coding, using either a VAG 5051 or 5052 programming tool (your dealer will have these), or using VAG-COM software running on a laptop computer (you can buy this yourself).
I provided a fairly detailed explanation of how programming is done in the post I made describing how to get rid of the seat belt warning message and chime (http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=1649757), so I won't repeat all that here. Getting rid of the key in ignition chime is almost exactly the same process, word for word, except that instead of changing the second digit of the 5 digit grouping in Controller Adjustment group 17 - Instrument Cluster, you change the third digit of the 5 digit grouping. The third digit sets the country of operation code.
Volkswagen offers 7 possible choices for country (or region) of operation. The choices are listed below, prefixed with the appropriate digit.
1 - Europe
Text and symbology on displays conforms to EU norms (see photo below), no door warning chime. Button to the right of the headlight switch controls the rear foglights.
2 - USA
Text and symbology on displays conforms to American norms, door warning chime is operative. All references to 'gallons' refer to an American gallon (3.78 liters). The button to the right of the headlight switch controls the 'valet lockout' function for the trunk.
3 - Canada
Same as USA, except that the default units of measure are metric.
4 - Great Britain
Same as Europe, except that default units of measure conform to what is used in the UK. References to 'gallons' refer to an Imperial gallon (4.54 liters). The button to the right of the headlight switch controls the rear foglights.
5 - Japan
6 - Saudi Arabia
Same as Europe, except that the speedometer chimes at or above 130 km/h.
7 - Australia
When I picked up my car from my (Canadian) dealer, Group 17, Function 10 was set to 07321. The 3 in the middle position indicates that Canada was set as the country of operation. I just changed the 3 to a 1, indicating Europe, and the key in ignition chime disappeared. For what it's worth, the whole process on the Phaeton is exactly the same as the same process on my Golf. Same actions, same number codes, same results.
As far as I can tell, changing the country of operation setting does not affect anything else on the car other than the text and symbology of the instrument cluster display, and the operation of the key in ignition chime. It does not, for example, get rid of the need to acknowledge and dismiss the myriad of legal warnings that appear on the infotainment system on Phaetons that are shipped to North America. It is possible that there is another coding function - likely in the navigation group, which is group 37 - that controls this. It is also possible (though I hope this is not so) that the navigation system is hard-coded such that when a North American CD is in use, legal warnings then appear.
The default unit of measures may switch to the European norms (kilometers, liters) when you change the country code. But, you have the ability to change back to American units of measure by making the appropriate selections from the "Settings" button on the infotainment system (Settings / Other Functions / Units of Measure). Whether you then get Imperial or American gallons in your MPG figures, I don't know.
Michael
PS: If you plan on asking your dealer to make this change for you, rather than doing it yourself, please be considerate about how and when you ask. If you make the request at the same time you drop the car off for regular, scheduled service, it only takes the technician about 30 seconds to make the change, because he or she will already have the 5051 or 5052 hooked up to check for fault codes.
If you take the car into the dealer for the sole purpose of having this change made, it will take the technician about half an hour (at least) to make the change - they have to do the following:
1) Put seat covers and floormat covers in the car.
2) Bring it inside to their workstation.
3) Get the programming tool, boot it up, hook it up.
4) Check for the presence of any fault codes - and rectify these - before making the programming change. This involves about a 10 minute polling process, plus taking the 5051 or 5052 back to where the printer is to print out the 6 or 7 page report.
5) Change the country code digit. (the 30 second part of the work)
6) Double-check that everything works OK.
7) Disconnect the programmer, roll it back to where it is stored.
8) Take your car outside.
9) Remove the seatcovers and floormats.
What I am trying to say here is that the technicians, who are usually paid on a flat rate basis (same as a consultant or contractor), will use up at least half an hour of their time to do a job that might only be listed in the flat rate book as paying for 1/10th of an hour of work. If the dealership does the work for you "free", you can bet that the technician did the work "free" also. No-one minds doing 30 seconds of work (step 5) free, but it is discourteous and inappropriate to ask a technician to do half an hour of work either for free, or for 6 minutes of pay as listed in the flat rate book.
Instrument Cluster with Country Code set to 1 (Europe)

8-29-2005

Some additional important information - please read before changing any coding...
Please be aware that if you change the coding of a North American Phaeton from either Canada or USA to Europe, for the purpose of getting rid of the key in ignition chime, you will also disable the 'valet lock' function that is provided by the button on the right side of the headlight switch.
This consequence arises because only North American Phaetons have this valet lock feature. It's not really a feature - the truth is, that button is used to control the rear foglight on Phaetons sold in the rest of the world (ROW). North American Phaetons don't have a rear foglight, and VW didn't want to have a blank plate there, so, someone dreamed up the valet lock function to provide a use for that button.
There is more detail about this ROW spec light switch at this post: Front Fog Lights, European Light Switch, Coding of Phaeton Lighting, and more detail about enabling rear foglight operation (a very expensive modification) at this post: Enabling (or retrofitting) a rear foglight on a North American Phaeton.
Michael
Phaeton Light Switch - Rest of World (outside Canada and USA)

10-27-2005

One further note regarding changing the 'country code' of the Phaeton:
It is possible that if you change the country code from Canada or USA to Europe, the car will calculate fuel mileage using Imperial gallons as the unit of volumetric measure, rather than American gallons. An Imperial gallon is 1.2 times more volume than an American gallon. This would result in a fuel mileage calculation that suggests your fuel economy (MPG) is actually 1.2 times better than actual, if you assumed the calculation was being done based on the American gallon unit of measure.
We haven't determined "for sure" if this happens or not, however, after recoding two cars from USA to Europe at a recent GTG, both owners reported that mileage reported on the trip computer jumped by about 20% - in other words, the car was burning fewer 'gallons of fuel' than it was before.
So - head's up. If someone ever does do the homework and figure this one out, please post the results here - many thanks in advance.
Michael

8-2-2009

Archival Note: Related post, with more information about the 'Imperial vs. American' gallon issue - looks like (4 years later) it can now be confirmed that switching the country of operation to Europe changes the definition of a gallon from a US gallon to an Imperial gallon.
I am getting 25.3 MPG in the Highway, WOW this car is efficient (Imperial or American gallon?)