Seat Belt Systems: Description and Operation

Seat Belt System Description and Operation

Front Seat Belt System Operation

Caution: To help avoid personal injury from unrepaired crash damage to a restraint system, perform the seat belt check for each seat belt system. Replace the seat belt system if there is any doubt about the condition of system components.

1. The front seat belt system consists of a driver and passenger seat belt retractor and buckle.
2. The driver seat belt has a seat belt switch mounted within the seat belt buckle. The seat belt switch communicates the status of the seat belt to the inflatable restraint sensing and diagnostic module (SDM). The SDM communicates the status of the seat belt to the instrument panel cluster (IPC) which controls a seat belt indicator and an audio alarm. When the driver seat belt is buckled with the LF door closed and the ignition switch in the ON position, the following events occur:

* The audio alarm will not operate.
* The seat belt indicator will not operate.

3. When the driver seat belt is not buckled with the LF door closed and the ignition switch in the RUN position, the following events will occur:

* The audio alarm will operate for 4-8 seconds and then turn OFF.
* The seat belt indicator will operate for 20 seconds or until the driver seat belt is buckled.
* The seat belt indicator will flash for an additional 55 seconds before turning OFF.
To diagnose further failure of the seat belt indicator Refer to Symptoms - Seat Belts.

Child Seat Restraint System

Caution: A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be seriously injured if the right-front passengers air bag inflates. This is because the back of a rear-facing child restraint would be very close to the inflating air bag. NEVER use a rear-facing child restraint in this vehicle. If a forward-facing child restraint is suitable for your child, ALWAYS move the front passenger seat as far back as it will go and then install the child restraint. Be sure the child restraint position does not conflict with any additional requirements provided by the manufacturer. For more information, refer to the vehicle owners manual and the instruction that came with the child restraint.

The child seat may only be used in a forward facing seating location. The child seat should be installed and secured according to the manufacturer's directions. If the child seat has a top strap it will need to be anchored. Refer to Child Restraint Tether Anchor Replacement.

All vehicles are equipped with a dual-mode type retractor with emergency and automatic locking features. The automatic locking feature is for restraint of a child seat. The child seat can be secured by pulling the seat belt all the way out to lock it. Then, tighten the seat belt around the child seat.

If a child seat is to be used in the second seat position, a special dealer-installed anchor must be used to anchor the child seat top strap. (This only applies to the seats designed with the top strap provision and for the vehicles sold in Canada). In order to assure the correct top strap angle, the child seat is only to be used at the seating position for which the top strap anchor is installed.

Fasten Safety Belt Indicator

The fasten safety belt indicator may only be illuminated during RUN. The instrument panel cluster (IPC) illuminates the fasten safety belt indicator under the following conditions:

* During bulb check
* The inflatable restraint sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) sends the status of the driver seat belt switch to the IPC via a class 2 message. If the driver seat belt is unfastened, the IPC will illuminate the fasten safety belt indicator for 72 seconds or until the driver seat belt is fastened. If the driver seat belt is unfastened within 8 seconds following the bulb check, the IPC will send a class 2 serial message requesting 5 chimes to sound.