hi everybody, iam a new member to the site. i have a 1994 lincoln continental executive. not to long after i bought this car, the wiring harness to the instrument cluster burnt up. the mechanic i took the car to say he would have to try and find one from a wrecking yard as they are no longer available from the manufacturer. well he found one with one difference from the original one. the used one did not have the necessary input to drive the message center. the car is running now but after about a 1/2 hr or so a chime goes off. it chimes exactly 12 times and then stops. since the message center is disabled how can i tell whats causing the chime? sorry for the long thread, but i need some help. thanks pete g

:W to :V I'm sure one of the Conti guys on here can help

ok.. sounds like it might be the SRS (driver and pass airbag) system yelling at ya. does it have an airbag light on dash (my 91 is on the long narrow trim piece of dash, just about right below radio, next to the ABS light)? if so, does that light up at all? it should light for a bulb check when starting, then go out. These things can sense a burned out or disconnected bulb and will yell at ya if they find one!

ok.. sounds like it might be the SRS (driver and pass airbag) system yelling at ya. does it have an airbag light on dash (my 91 is on the long narrow trim piece of dash, just about right below radio, next to the ABS light)? if so, does that light up at all? it should light for a bulb check when starting, then go out. These things can sense a burned out or disconnected bulb and will yell at ya if they find one!
the airbag lite does lite up momentarily, then goes out. iam wondering, would it harm anything if i just disconnected the chime module? iam at a point in my life when i feel the need to keep things simple. thanks foryour response.

the airbag module detecting a light problem is only one of the possibilities.. you said your message center isnt working.. On my 91, the message center is a part of the instrument panel, and does not have any connections going exclusively to it (3 plugs, all 3 feed the 3 main parts of the instrument panel).. maybe there is a problem with the instrument panel or message center???