(Copied from the Australian Forum, but this should work on any 8, I think.....!)

The chime is fitted to the RX-8 as a reminder to remove your key when you open the drivers door with the key in the ignition, it's also known as the key reminder chime. I like to occasionally run the stereo with the drivers door open...unfortunately the key needs to be in the ignition to power the stereo, and the result is unpleasant to the ear!

Okay, I could remove the instrument cluster and kill the chime.....but then the redline beeper and headlight on warning would not work. Turned out there was an easier way, anyway. Disabling the door open switch on the rear door would kill the interior (and exterior mirror ground illumination) lights, and I wanted to keep them functional.
There is a two wire connector on the ignition switch that sends a signal to the keyless control module when a key is inserted. I disconnected this and tied it back to prevent any annoying rattles.

Disconnecting this connector does a few things.....it stops the door open chime (hooray), it prevents the interior light and exterior mirror lights coming on when the key is removed from the ignition (this still happens when a door is opened, so no big deal), and removes the signal that disables the central locking remote ....ie you can now lock the doors (and open the trunk) with the fob remote while the key is in the ignition (Edit: With restrictions.....my car only enabled the fob in Acc or Lock, others have reported fob also works in "On" .....). If you have an alarm installed, it may affect its arming in some way, too.

Pics attached......

There is a lower steering column cover that just clips out to allow easy access. The shroud over the ignition switch is easily removed with 3 screws to be undone from beneath.....here you see I have left the lower half of the shroud dangling by the key illumination wiring.....make sure you disconnect and tie back the connector with the blue and pink wires! You can see it dangling down here and in the above picture.......Reassemble, and you're done!

All too easy.........now I tried to get the stereo to run without the key by shorting out the accessory relay contacts with the relay removed. This worked, but the clock was permanently illuminated, even with the stereo off and key out. Doing this also permanently powered the cigarette lighter and accessory socket....no bad thing IMO. If I can suss out a way to remove the backlighting power from the clock/info display, I'll be home and hosed!
The relay is this one where the tip of the key is....

Gomez

If you're a bit of a contortionist you can get to the connector without taking the steering column shroud off....may be a little hard to tie it back though......

A *very* nice DIY, Gomez!

And if you do figure out how to power just the stereo, please start a new DIY thread on how to do it.

Following two posts from another thread http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=405334#post405334

Originally posted by Gomez
Tried it today....you can't lock the car with the keys in the ignition. Unless you use another key or remote. I couldn't lock the car using the lock button on the door....as soon as you push it, it pops out again.....
Originally posted by Gomez
How I love an experiment...!!! Okay, the door would not lock in Acc, Lock, or On positions......Nor would the door lock with the key removed from the ignition...ie, in my pocket....!

So, I think you're safe....you can't lock the keys in the car...the passenger door will lock, not the drivers....

Regards, Gomez.

Hi Gomez,
Am I understanding correctly that when you said "Nor would the door lock with the key removed from the ignition...." it means after this mod the car cannot be locked by pressing the driver's side door lock switch even with no key in the ignition?

rx8cited

That's correct...you either need to put the key in the door to lock it, or use the fob.

The chime is there to remind you to remove your key when you open the door.....if you always use the fob to lock the car, the chime is redundant.

Try it yourself, remove the connector, takes 15 minutes to do.....

Gomez.

Hi Gomez,
Thanks for all the info. You may want to add to the list in your first post of this thread that the drivers-side door switch cannot be used to lock the car.

I'm in the habit of locking my car with the door switch. I was interested in understanding the full effects of disconnecting the "ignition key reminder" connector - and it's all clear now thanks to your help :) .

cheers,
rx8cited

May I ask if there is a reason you use the door switch? I find the fob to be much more convenient....and the transmitter works for miles....well I can open my car from over 400 ft away! It has locked itself by the time I get to the car, but that's not the point!
Impress your friends...... damn the cost of the little batteries!!!!

Gomez.

Originally posted by Gomez
May I ask if there is a reason you use the door switch?

I'm usually carrying my briefcase, lunch, etc when I walk from my car to the office - so I usually hit the door lock switch before loading my hands up. I do use the fob to unlock the car, however.

You mentioned that expensive little battery - I'm using mine 50% less than you :D.

rx8cited

Originally posted by rx8cited
I'm usually carrying my briefcase, lunch, etc when I walk from my car to the office - so I usually hit the door lock switch before loading my hands up. I do use the fob to unlock the car, however.

You mentioned that expensive little battery - I'm using mine 50% less than you :D.

rx8cited FYI, and this is probably a moot point now, but I'm not sure that locking the car with the door switch sets the alarm - I think it just locks the car. Of course, I may be remembering this from another vehicle...

Originally posted by Omicron
FYI, and this is probably a moot point now, but I'm not sure that locking the car with the door switch sets the alarm....

Most definitely sets the alarm - I'm not letting my alarm / shock sensor go for naught :). It's in the manual too!

rx8cited

Cool. Now that I think about it, I guess that was my last car. ;)

I tried this on my US spec 8 and you most definally can lock the keys in the car. I did it intentionally having the key in ACC and hit the drivers door lock...both doors locked and did not auto-unlock. Then I shut the door locked...it stayed locked. Tried it with the key in the ON position and did the same. Looked like all the other information given above reguarding the disconnect is accurate.

Not sure if this is only US spec cars or not, but wanted to let you all know.

Originally posted by XcelR8
I tried this on my US spec 8 and you most definally can lock the keys in the car. I did it intentionally having the key in ACC and hit the drivers door lock...both doors locked and did not auto-unlock......

When you tried this, was it after doing this "chime disable" mod or not?

rx8cited

Interesting.......our cars are different in a lot of ways, but I'm surprised to discover that the locks would work differently. XcelR8, does your car have an alarm or some non standard mod?

Gomez.

Yes, after the mod the doors would lock with key in.

No aftermarket alarm system.

I left the mod done and will just be careful when the keys are in the car. I normally use the key fob to lock the doors anyway.

Okay, next question is.......Do the U.S cars allow you to lock the doors with the key in the ignition (in Off, Lock or On) when the car hasn't had the mod done?

Gomez.

Edit....wind the window down before you try this!!!

Or stay in the car. ;)

Originally posted by Gomez
Okay, next question is.......Do the U.S cars allow you to lock the doors with the key in the ignition (in Off, Lock or On) when the car hasn't had the mod done?

Gomez.

Edit....wind the window down before you try this!!!

Gomez,
Caution ......... long reply:

My car does not have the mod.

If I have the key in the ignition, as long as all the doors are closed, I can hit either the door-lock switch or door-lock knobs and lock both doors - but I'd have to be sitting in the car or have the windows down to do this. I don't think you care about that scenario, but I'm throwing it in to be complete.

If I open the driver's side door, then try to lock it by pressing either the door-lock switch or door-lock knob, both knobs pop open as expected, because the car is preventing me (the driver) from trying to lock the car while the key in the ignition.

Now, key in ignition, doors locked, I'm sitting in the driver's seat and I reached over and flipped the passenger door-lock knob to unlocked, opened the passenger door, flipped the passenger door-lock knob to locked, closed the door .......... and with my key sitting in the ignition all doors now locked!!!! (Wow, this is a new trick I learned thru this experiment). This simulates dropping a passenger off and shows that they can lock their side before closing their door so the driver does not have to lock the passenger door.

I tried it again from passenger seat and was able to lock my key in the car while it was in the ignition. I had to use my second key to unlock the car.

If I opened the passenger door, then hit the door-lock switch on the passenger side, both knobs popped to unlocked, preventing the car from being locked with key in ignition.

Another way I have locked the car while the key is in the ignition is using a second key in the driver's side door.

In summary, I can only lock the key in the ignition two ways: using the passenger's side door-lock knob (not switch) or using a second key in the driver's side door.

rx8cited

PS: XcelR8's post saying key could be locked in the ignition puzzles me too! I'd expect that the disconnected "key in ignition" switch connector would make the system think the key was always in the ignition if the chime never goes off. So I'd expect the car to definitely prevent door locking if the key is in the ignition and the driver's door-lock switch is pressed while the door is opened.

Originally posted by rx8cited
XcelR8's post saying key could be locked in the ignition puzzles me too! I'd expect that the disconnected "key in ignition" switch connector would make the system think the key was always in the ignition if the chime never goes off. So I'd expect the car to definitely prevent door locking if the key is in the ignition and the driver's door-lock switch is pressed while the door is opened.

Actually, what the mod does is remove the signal to the keyless control module.......so the module never sees the key in the ignition signal from the ignition switch. If it can't see the signal, it won't operate the key reminder chime. It thinks the key is removed.......

Thank's for your investigation.....I'd say my car still works the same way. When I get a break I'll reconnect the connector and check out what my car does with regards to locking with the door switches......

Gomez

Originally posted by Gomez
Actually, what the mod does is remove the signal to the keyless control module.......so the module never sees the key in the ignition signal from the ignition switch. If it can't see the signal, it won't operate the key reminder chime. It thinks the key is removed.......

Yeah, I knew that, why did I say the opposite :) ? Thanks for correcting me on it.

If the car cannot see the "key in ignition" signal, then it makes sense that one could now lock the car with the keys in the ignition. Argh! - this was my original concern :).

It will be interesting to see what results you come up with when you do your un-mod'd test.

If I ever have reason to get near that connector, I'll repeat my experiment, but I don't envision that happening any day soon.

rx8cited

Glad that was worked out before I logged back on!! :)

Okay, reconnected today and checked the behavior of an Australian 8, re: the door lock switches. Nothing had changed. I could not lock the drivers door with the door open (R/H door). Pushing the door switch resulted with it popping out again, regardless of ignition switch position or even with key out. This R/H door operation is the same as reported by rx8cited previously.

The key reminder chime is handy in LHD models if you yourself are conditioned to push the switch and hold the handle up while closing the door, as rx8cited does. The chime would remind you to pull out the key before you lock the door. Owners of RHD cars, I've discovered, cannot lock the keys in the ignition when exiting from the drivers side. The door wont lock.

It seems that Mazda has designed the car for a RHD market and added the key chime to prevent LHD owners from locking their keys inside. The door locks behave the same LHD or RHD, it's just that LHD owners are getting out of the passenger door when they pull up!!

In summary, doing this mod will not change the behaviour of the door switch or door lock operation, but it will kill the key reminder chime. If you are in a LHD car and are in the habit of holding the handle up and locking the drivers door when you exit the car, BE WARY.!!

I've had a response from a Canadian forum member who is rapt with this mod. He can now lock the car with the engine running while he goes to the shops for a minute or two.....he lives in a small town (no thieves!). Normally, pre-mod, the fob is disabled with a key in the ignition. Post-mod, he leaves the engine running, fobs the car locked, and races in to collect his mail from the Post Office. Prevents flooding if the car has only been running a few minutes before getting out...........

I can't do this on my car, the fob I have will only work when the key is in Lock or Acc.....

There you go, I hadn't realised one simple mod could be beneficial in this many ways!

Gomez.

P.S......Now I know exactly where the connector is, I can remove/install it without any disassembly at all......on a RHD car...........

Originally posted by Gomez
...... Pushing the door switch resulted with it popping out again, regardless of ignition switch position or even with key out. This R/H door operation is the same as reported by rx8cited previously. ......

Gomez,
In my test, I did not bother to describe all scenarios without the key in the ignition.

If the key is not in the ignition , I can lock either door with the fob, either door-lock switch, and either door-lock knob regardless of either door open or closed.

You said:

Pushing the door switch resulted with it popping out again, regardless of ignition switch position or even with key out.

Our R/H door operation is not the same for the case of key out.

I'm not sure which handle your describing holding up in the following?:
If you are in a LHD car and are in the habit of holding the handle up and locking the drivers door when you exit the car, BE WARY.!!.

rx8cited

rx8cited, I was talking about having to hold up the exterior door handle when closing the L/H door after pushing the door lock switch. Most Japanese cars I've had experience with require you to do this, otherwise the door unlocks when it closes. My L/H door on my RX-8 is like this. As I said in an earlier post, I can't use the door lock switch on the inside of my R/H door when the door is open, it just pops out again.

This new info from rx8cited indicates there is a difference in the way that the doors lock b/w RX-8 models in different markets. REGARDLESS, doing this mod will not change the way your doors lock. Whatever lock behaviour you have pre-mod, you will have post-mod. Just be aware that disabling the key reminder chime may result in you locking the keys in if you don't use the fob to lock your car. This is not an issue for me however, I can't do it on my car! I suspect (nothing is certain now!) that all RHD cars will act the same as mine.

It appears that us RHD owners win one, and lose one. We can't lock the keys in when exiting from the drivers door, but we can't do as my Canadian buddy does, and lock the doors with the engine running to do a quick errand and avoid a flood........

Having made that generalisation, maybe the Americans can't do it either! You all know where to post your findings when you find out...........

Regards, Gomez.

Originally posted by Gomez
rx8cited, I was talking about having to hold up the exterior door handle when closing the L/H door after pushing the door lock switch. ..... ...... can't do as my Canadian buddy does, and lock the doors with the engine running to do a quick errand and avoid a flood........

Gomez,
Got ya' ....... yet another difference - the US model does not require the exterior door handle to be held out during any sort of locking operation. Ours exterior handles pull out - do yours really pull up ;)?

Also, only our drivers side door has a keyhole, don't have one on the passenger's side. Same on the Aussie 8's or keyholes on both doors?

By carrying two sets of keys (valet and fob for example), you could use the second key in the exterior door lock to lock the car while it's running I bet - would that help? Don't do this if there are car thiefs around :D.

rx8cited

I admit I did wonder about how you held the handle "out" with a handful of briefcase etc........Yeah, our doorhandles are the same as yours!

...and we only have the keyhole on the drivers door, too.

And yes, you could lock the car with a second key......but who's gonna carry around 2 bloody keys! If you're like me, you'd lose both! And the idea was to QUICKLY fob the car locked and RACE in to do a QUICK errand.......not fumble through your pockets for a second key, scratch the door trying to fit it into the lock (been so long, I bet we have all forgotten how to do it!), and then have to do it all again trying to get back in, all the while getting drenched in a torrential downpour...... ;)

rx8cited, just bite the bullet, do the mod, never hear that bloody chime again.....it's not like you're ever likely to lock your keys in after all this unforgettable dialogue.:D

Gomez.

I have a better idea. Just wait until you're old as dirt like me and you won't be able to hear those high pitched chimes.

Originally posted by RX4+30Years=RX8
I have a better idea. Just wait until you're old as dirt like me and you won't be able to hear those high pitched chimes.

HUH, WHAT ..... WHAT CHIMES? :D I don't hear any chimes?

I wanna hear the chimes when I leave my key in the ignition or leave my headlights on.

rx8cited

Originally posted by rx8cited
HUH, WHAT ..... WHAT CHIMES? :D I don't hear any chimes?

I wanna hear the chimes when I leave my key in the ignition or leave my headlights on.

rx8cited

Hey, I can't hear the tach beep at 8500 over the roar of the engine and it is stock, no catback, no intake. For some reason though it does seem to be louder than others I have heard.

Originally posted by Gomez
.......And yes, you could lock the car with a second key......but who's gonna carry around 2 bloody keys! If you're like me, you'd lose both! ....

Okay, then no bloody complaints from you mates about how you stopped to do an errand 1 minute after starting your cold car and flooded it pleeze! ;)

There's a reason why Mazda gave us 3 keys (at least in the US) - so we could loose two and still get in :D.

cheers,
rx8cited

PS: Experiment request: Try locking your door without pulling up on the handle - I can't believe Mazda actually has different locking hardware for different parts of the world.

Originally posted by rx8cited

PS: Experiment request: Try locking your door without pulling up on the handle - I can't believe Mazda actually has different locking hardware for different parts of the world.

Believe it, baby.......that's the way it works here, on the LHS passenger door..........

Gomez.

Hey mate,

I've decided I wanted to do this mod to my car :D. But I want to have my cake and eat it too, so I'm going to add a switch to allow me select between mod/no-mod. I guess I won't be using my torque wrench for this one ;).

rx8cited

Strewth, talk about dusting off an old thread......I'm choking down here!

Yeah, well I know you'll be happy with the results. I did this to my car when Adam was a kid and I have yet to find a single negative effect as a result of this mod. Let me know how it goes.....

Gomez.

........ I've had a response from a Canadian forum member who is rapt with this mod. He can now lock the car with the engine running while he goes to the shops for a minute or two.....he lives in a small town (no thieves!). Normally, pre-mod, the fob is disabled with a key in the ignition. Post-mod, he leaves the engine running, fobs the car locked, and races in to collect his mail from the Post Office. ...........

Gomez,
Damit! No fob operation for me if the car is running.

....I can't do this on my car, the fob I have will only work when the key is in Lock or Acc.....

Yep, that's what it does for me.

P.S......Now I know exactly where the connector is, I can remove/install it without any disassembly at all......on a RHD car...........

How do you do that? You don't have to remove the lower steering column cover? Bloody amazing :D.

My whole reason for doing this mod was to be able to fob with the car running :(. I'm glad I did not install the switch.

rx8cited

Damit! No fob operation for me if the car is running.


rx8cited

Sorry man....must be a Canadian thing. I'm amazed at the weirdo differences in these cars from market to market.

Gomez.

P.S......Now I know exactly where the connector is, I can remove/install it without any disassembly at all......on a RHD car...........

Hey mate, please do tell how you do that? Are you talking about the connector that plugs into the ignition switch?

I wish I was in Australia so you could show me :D. We're about to get a foot of fresh snow in the next two days. Okay, okay, I know someone from further north will jump all over that one.

rx8cited

Hey mate, please do tell how you do that? Are you talking about the key that plugs into the ignition switch?

I wish I was in Australia so you could show me :D. We're about to get a foot of fresh snow in the next two days. Okay, okay, I know someone from further north will jump all over that one.

rx8cited

It's simple. I lie down in the drivers footwell on my back with my head on the pedals, reach up and pull the connector out of the ign switch. Da Dum....! Jobs done.

Gomez.

Pics reloaded...they had dropped off for some reason. There you go mikey :) .

Great mod, ive had it done on my JDM 8 for a couple of months with no negative side effects. that door ding drove me crazy!

I wanna hear the chimes when I leave my key in the ignition or leave my headlights on.

rx8cited

rotor man bumping this thread bought the above post by rx8cited to my eye.......

In summary, doing this mod by disconnecting this connector does not affect the operation of the headlight reminder chime/buzzer. The only effect chime wise is the cancellation of the chime when the key is in the ignition, and the door is open.

This mod enables you to run the stereo with the door open, minus the annoying chime. I did this mod for another forum member recently and he was very happy with the result.

Gomez.

anyone know how to wire it so we (US) can use the remote while the car is running???

All too easy.........now I tried to get the stereo to run without the key by shorting out the accessory relay contacts with the relay removed. This worked, but the clock was permanently illuminated, even with the stereo off and key out. Doing this also permanently powered the cigarette lighter and accessory socket....no bad thing IMO. If I can suss out a way to remove the backlighting power from the clock/info display, I'll be home and hosed!
The relay is this one where the tip of the key is....

Gomez

dude, is that rotary symbol on your key something you stuck on there? is it part of the key? that's tight!

dude, is that rotary symbol on your key something you stuck on there? is it part of the key? that's tight!

That key was a dealer option...no longer available now, I believe.

http://www.rx8club.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=139164&stc=1&d=1242960505