Fasten Safety Belt Indicator
The instrument panel cluster (IPC) illuminates the fasten safety belt indicator
when the following occurs:
| • | The IPC detects that the driver's seat belt is unbuckled. The IPC illuminates
the indicator for 20 seconds and then flashes the indicator for 55 seconds.
The IPC activates the audible warning for 8 seconds or until the seat belt is buckled. |
| • | The IPC performs the displays test at the start of each ignition cycle.
The indicator illuminates for approximately 3 seconds. |
Restraint System
Seat belts are the primary means of occupant restraint.
Seat belts help to keep the occupants inside the passenger compartment and
to gradually reduce the impact forces during the following events:
| • | Frontal impact type crashes |
| • | Rear impact type crashes |
| • | Side impact type crashes |
All seat belt retractors have emergency locks. The retractors remain unlocked
during normal operation and under normal driving conditions. The retractors remain
unlocked during normal conditions in order to allow free movement of the upper body
of each occupant.
A pendulum locks the seat belt webbing into position. The pendulum causes
a locking bar to engage a cog on the spool of the retractor mechanism when the following
conditions occur:
| • | A rapid extraction of the seat belt webbing from the retractor |
| • | An abrupt change in the vehicle speed |
| • | An abrupt change in the vehicle direction |
| • | Operation of the vehicle on a steep upgrade |
| • | Operation of the vehicle on a steep downgrade |
The seat belts have an automatic locking feature, or cinch feature. The cinch
feature is recommended for securing a child seat. The cinch feature is engaged by
fully extending the seat belt from the retractor. Once engaged, the seat
belt can retract, but cannot be extended again until the cinch feature is cancelled.
The cinch feature is cancelled when the seat belt has fully retracted.
This vehicle is also equipped with a supplemental inflatable restraint (SIR)
system. Refer to
SIR System Description and Operation
in SIR.
Front Seat System
The front seat belt system includes the following components:
| • | The driver and the passenger seat buckle-side belts, attached to the
inboard side of the seat frame |
| • | The driver and the passenger seat retractor-side belts, attached to
the lock pillar behind the lock pillar trim panel |
The driver seat belt system includes a seat belt switch in the driver seat
buckle-side belt. The seat belt switch controls the fasten safety belt indicator
and a tone alarm. The fasten safety belt indicator and the tone alarm will not operate
when the following conditions exist:
| • | The driver seat belt is buckled. |
| • | The driver door is closed. |
| • | The ignition switch is turned ON. |
The following events will occur when the driver door is closed and the ignition
switch is turned ON, but the driver seat belt is not buckled:
| • | The tone alarm will operate for 4-8 seconds and then turn
off. |
| • | The fasten safety belt indicator will operate until the driver seat
belt is buckled, or until approximately 1 minute has elapsed. |
Refer to
Seat Belt Indicator Circuit Malfunction
in Seat Belts in order to diagnose faults in the fasten safety belt
indicator or Wiring Systems in order to diagnose faults in the tone alarm.
