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Old Nov 27, 2022 | 08:40 PM
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From: Dallas-Ft.Worth,TX
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Question Phantom "Dong" Noise

On my 2-lane suburban street, I get a single "Dong" noise when I approach my home, roughly 100 yards away. It's the same noise you hear when you leave a seatbelt unbuckled. Oddly, this occurs only on my street... nowhere else.

I've checked (pulled and released) all the seatbelt straps, and jiggled the buckles, etc. While driving, I'm the only one buckled, and there is nothing sitting in any of the other seats. I've found no codes with my iCarsoft scanner. And there are no fault displays that accompany the sound. The Blue "P" icon sometimes lights up, but this reflects my speed, maybe 10-15mph.

I'd like to think this is a random noise that started to sound just a couple weeks ago, but it now occurs quite reliably, shortly after I make the left turn onto my street at the end of a drive. It's just a minor annoyance, but I would like to figure out why it is (suddenly) happening. Any ideas?
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Old Nov 27, 2022 | 09:29 PM
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From: In the Shadow of the Tetons
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Does it do it when your COMAND display is turned on/off? (could it be navigation related)
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Old Nov 27, 2022 | 10:15 PM
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From: Dallas-Ft.Worth,TX
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Originally Posted by rapidoxidation
Does it do it when your COMAND display is turned on/off? (could it be navigation related)
Interesting idea, thanks. Yes, COMAND is on all the time. I'm currently listening to some XM-radio, but the noise started before I joined the annual Thanksgiving grace period. I'm not using Navigation, though.
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Old Nov 28, 2022 | 07:09 AM
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Hey dude, that single dong is usually associated with a notice in the dash display, like hood is open, low washer fluid, lamp is out, low gas, service interval reminder, etc. So, no messages are saved as you scroll through the display?
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Old Nov 28, 2022 | 07:29 AM
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From: Dallas-Ft.Worth,TX
2016 E350 Sport
Originally Posted by KEY08
Hey dude, that single dong is usually associated with a notice in the dash display, like hood is open, low washer fluid, lamp is out, low gas, service interval reminder, etc. So, no messages are saved as you scroll through the display?
You might be on to something... Just yesterday, I changed my oil and filter, 27 days later than the in-dash reminder. There was a service reminder in the display at each engine start, but no messages in the display after that (even when scrolling through). After the oil change, I did reset the reminder, though, and when I made a single, short (3-mile) post service trip. it still donged coming home. I'll check to see if it goes away on subsequent trips.

Funny, though, that it only happens on my street? Does my lower speed approaching home prompt it?

Last edited by DFWdude; Nov 28, 2022 at 08:21 AM.
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Old Nov 28, 2022 | 10:07 AM
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Do you have Parktronic? I know it activates at startup and shuts off at 18mph, I think. When I had a bad sensor I would get the single dong when I went below 18mph, letting me know the system had an error ( bad sensor).
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Old Nov 28, 2022 | 11:06 AM
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Mine is a '12 so older parktronic, but I will go out today and see if I can get a gong, I wonder if it's sensing between the curb mail boxes thinking for a second it found a good parking spot? crazy second thought; maybe the NAV is indicating destination reached as your house may be entered as a home destination? Hmm...
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Old Nov 28, 2022 | 01:26 PM
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From: Dallas-Ft.Worth,TX
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Originally Posted by KEY08
Do you have Parktronic? I know it activates at startup and shuts off at 18mph, I think. When I had a bad sensor I would get the single dong when I went below 18mph, letting me know the system had an error ( bad sensor).
Thanks, Keith. I do have Parktronic. I mentioned in my first note that the blue square "P" icon lights associated with the dong (IIRC). But when I ran the scanner, it showed no codes for sensor errors. If the noise continues I will run the scanner again.

Funny that the homes on my street are now festooned with outside Christmas lighting. Naw, that can't be it, right?
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Old Nov 28, 2022 | 01:30 PM
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From: Dallas-Ft.Worth,TX
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Originally Posted by pierrejoliat
Mine is a '12 so older parktronic, but I will go out today and see if I can get a gong, I wonder if it's sensing between the curb mail boxes thinking for a second it found a good parking spot? crazy second thought; maybe the NAV is indicating destination reached as your house may be entered as a home destination? Hmm...
OK, so the last time I used NAV, my home was indeed the destination location. I'll "cancel route guidance" next time I'm in the car (to see if it tells me Route guidance is inactive).

Boy, this little detective mystery is exciting (not really!)
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Old Nov 28, 2022 | 06:45 PM
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Originally Posted by DFWdude
On my 2-lane suburban street, I get a single "Dong" noise when I approach my home, roughly 100 yards away. It's the same noise you hear when you leave a seatbelt unbuckled. Oddly, this occurs only on my street... nowhere else.

I've checked (pulled and released) all the seatbelt straps, and jiggled the buckles, etc. While driving, I'm the only one buckled, and there is nothing sitting in any of the other seats. I've found no codes with my iCarsoft scanner. And there are no fault displays that accompany the sound. The Blue "P" icon sometimes lights up, but this reflects my speed, maybe 10-15mph.

I'd like to think this is a random noise that started to sound just a couple weeks ago, but it now occurs quite reliably, shortly after I make the left turn onto my street at the end of a drive. It's just a minor annoyance, but I would like to figure out why it is (suddenly) happening. Any ideas?
Hmmm that sounds very familiar to what I remembered, did you happen to hold or had something lean on the centre console rotating knob (I am sorry that I don't remember what is that called but hopefully you get the idea) by chance, because if you are on the NAV screen, holding it for a few seconds saves the coordinates as a POI and everytime you pass that location it will let you know with a sound. Try deleting all your personal POIs or stored destinations and see if it still triggers it.
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Old Nov 28, 2022 | 09:11 PM
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From: Dallas-Ft.Worth,TX
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Originally Posted by W205C43PFL
Hmmm that sounds very familiar to what I remembered, did you happen to hold or had something lean on the centre console rotating knob (I am sorry that I don't remember what is that called but hopefully you get the idea) by chance, because if you are on the NAV screen, holding it for a few seconds saves the coordinates as a POI and everytime you pass that location it will let you know with a sound. Try deleting all your personal POIs or stored destinations and see if it still triggers it.
Ah, something else to look into, thanks!
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Old Nov 28, 2022 | 09:50 PM
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Originally Posted by DFWdude
Ah, something else to look into, thanks!
You are very welcome, please keep us posted your findings.
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Old Dec 8, 2022 | 02:35 PM
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From: Dallas-Ft.Worth,TX
2016 E350 Sport
Originally Posted by DFWdude
OK, so the last time I used NAV, my home was indeed the destination location. I'll "cancel route guidance" next time I'm in the car (to see if it tells me Route guidance is inactive).

Boy, this little detective mystery is exciting (not really!)
OK, so it's not NAV related. I checked throughout the NAV settings and last destinations. There was no route guidance active, and therefore nothing to cancel.
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Old Dec 8, 2022 | 02:36 PM
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Originally Posted by W205C43PFL
Hmmm that sounds very familiar to what I remembered, did you happen to hold or had something lean on the centre console rotating knob (I am sorry that I don't remember what is that called but hopefully you get the idea) by chance, because if you are on the NAV screen, holding it for a few seconds saves the coordinates as a POI and everytime you pass that location it will let you know with a sound. Try deleting all your personal POIs or stored destinations and see if it still triggers it.
There are no pending POIs in play either, so it's not this. Thanks.
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Old Dec 8, 2022 | 02:39 PM
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I'm starting to revisit the Parktronic issue. The blue "P" button stays lit until at least 20 mph, which I think is a change from normal. Another scanner session doesn't show any faults in the Parktronic system. I'll need to find a place to parallel (and perpendicular) park to see if it fails to work. That might indicate a faulty sensor.
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Old Dec 8, 2022 | 02:41 PM
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Originally Posted by DFWdude
I'm starting to revisit the Parktronic issue. The blue "P" button stays lit until at least 20 mph, which I think is a change from normal. Another scanner session doesn't show any faults in the Parktronic system. I'll need to find a place to parallel (and perpendicular) park to see if it fails to work. That might indicate a faulty sensor.
Will go out now and see what speed my blue P goes away, mine is a "12 so older Parktronic system

Okay so my blue P is on until 21 mph then goes off, comes back on at 19 mph, did this a few times.

Just to rule out NAV, do you have a checkered flag on the NAV screen for your house?

Last edited by pierrejoliat; Dec 8, 2022 at 04:23 PM.
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Old Dec 11, 2022 | 01:22 PM
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From: Dallas-Ft.Worth,TX
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Originally Posted by W205C43PFL
Hmmm that sounds very familiar to what I remembered, did you happen to hold or had something lean on the centre console rotating knob (I am sorry that I don't remember what is that called but hopefully you get the idea) by chance, because if you are on the NAV screen, holding it for a few seconds saves the coordinates as a POI and everytime you pass that location it will let you know with a sound. Try deleting all your personal POIs or stored destinations and see if it still triggers it.
OK, so I decided a fresh day might give better results. Revisiting this post, I backed the car out into the street, turned-on NAV, and zoomed in to the 1/16 mile resolution. This was the key. Sure enough, there was now a crosshair on the street, 20 yards further up the street (beyond where I normally turn into my driveway). I don't know why this hasn't cleared before, as I did drive around the block several times previously, letting the car run over the NAV spot.

Anyway, I then fiddled among several menu screens, eventually (don't ask me how) landing on a POI "Audio Settings" screen. I selected "off" on the "alert on POI" option, and the crosshair disappeared and hasn't returned. No more "Dong" when entering my home street. Hallelujah!!!

Thanks, W205C43PFL, for this suggestion which put me on the right path. I didn't have to delete any POIs, but the alert is now gone.

Miller Time...
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Old Dec 11, 2022 | 03:11 PM
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If I use a memory card to save a poi/destination, the system will alert me as you have described. It will not do it otherwise.
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Old Dec 11, 2022 | 06:02 PM
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Originally Posted by DFWdude
OK, so I decided a fresh day might give better results. Revisiting this post, I backed the car out into the street, turned-on NAV, and zoomed in to the 1/16 mile resolution. This was the key. Sure enough, there was now a crosshair on the street, 20 yards further up the street (beyond where I normally turn into my driveway). I don't know why this hasn't cleared before, as I did drive around the block several times previously, letting the car run over the NAV spot.

Anyway, I then fiddled among several menu screens, eventually (don't ask me how) landing on a POI "Audio Settings" screen. I selected "off" on the "alert on POI" option, and the crosshair disappeared and hasn't returned. No more "Dong" when entering my home street. Hallelujah!!!

Thanks, W205C43PFL, for this suggestion which put me on the right path. I didn't have to delete any POIs, but the alert is now gone.

Miller Time...
Thanks for the update, glad you figured it out.
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Old Dec 12, 2022 | 02:50 AM
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Nice to see , you found it
I hope ,I will also be finding the cause of humming sound in my car as well
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