GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only
Makes 🢒 Cadillac 🢒 2009 🢒 SLS 🢒 Safety and Security 🢒 Seat Belts 🢒 Seat Belt Does Not Retract

Circuit Description

Seat belts in your vehicle are provided with electrical tensioner reducers (ETR), which are dual-circuited and built into the seat belt retractor and located in the driver and passenger seat belt systems. It functions to reduce the tensioning of the seat belt and improve the riding comfortability as well. Turn on the ignition and buckle the seat belt. The ETR built-in seat belt retractor will adjust the seat belt to make it more comfortable. You may just pull the webbing, incline forward, and then sit back. The seat belt will retract slightly according to the actual situation of the passenger. When the seat belt is unbuckled or the ignition is off, ETR is disabled and the seat belt increases its tensioning until it retracts completely.

Diagnostic Aids

Thoroughly inspect the wiring and connectors. Failure to do so may result in error of diagnosis and the trouble may occur again even when you replace the parts. If there are intermittent conditions. Refer to Testing for Intermittent Conditions and Poor Connections .

Step

Definition

Yes

No

Schematic Reference: Seat Belt Schematics

Connector End View: Seat Belt Connector End Views

1

Have you reviewed the Seat Belt System Description and Operation and conducted necessary inspections?

Go to Step 2

Go to Seat Belt System Description and Operation

2
  1. Enter the vehicle and sit on the faulty driver or passenger seat.
  2. Ignition ON/Engine OFF.
  3. Buckle the seat belt.
  4. Pull up the seat belt so that the anchor is against you. The belt against you should be loose.

Is the seat belt system operating normally?

Go to Testing for Intermittent Conditions and Poor Connections

Go to Step 3

3
  1. Ignition ON/Engine OFF.
  2. Test the battery voltage of ignition 3 at the rear left fuse box.

Does the measured battery voltage meet the specified value?

Go to Step 4

Go to Circuit Testing

4
  1. Turn OFF the ignition switch.
  2. Remove central pillar trim panel. Refer to Center Pillar Garnish Molding Replacement .
  3. Disconnect the two-way connector for the seat belt retractor.
  4. Test if the voltage circuit of the seat belt retractor is short or open between the ignition 3 fuse and seat belt retractor. Refer to Testing for Intermittent Conditions and Poor Connections .

Did you find and correct the condition?

Go to Step 10

Go to Step 5

5
  1. Buckle the seat belt for the faulty seat.
  2. Test if the ground circuit between the seat belt retractor and well-grounded seat belt retractor is open or has high resistance.

Is the seat belt retractor grounding circuit well grounded?

Go to Step 8

Go to Step 9

6

Test if the ground circuit between the seat belt retractor and seat belt switch is open or has high resistance.

Did you find and correct the condition?

Go to Step 10

Go to Step 7

7

Test if the ground circuit between the seat belt switch connector and ground is open or has high resistance.

Did you find and correct the condition?

Go to Step 10

Go to Step 9

8

Replace the faulty seat belt retractor. Refer to Front Seat Belt Replacement .

Have you finished the replacement?

Go to Step 10

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9

Replace the seat belt switch with trouble. Seat belt switch is a part of the seat belt anchor pretensioner. Refer to Seat Belt Buckle Pretensioner Replacement .

Did you complete the replacement?

Go to Step 10

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10
  1. Connect all components.
  2. Review the seat belt circuit description.

Is the seat belt system operating as above-mentioned?

System OK

Go to Step 2