Seat Belt Alarm System
The driver's seat belt system includes a switch in the driver's seat belt buckle which controls the seat belt indicator lamp and the chiming of the multifunction alarm. The indicator and the multifunction alarm receive ignition voltage through the IG fuse. The indicator grounds through the closed seat belt switch when the seat belt is unbuckled. The alarm sounds approximately two times per second for approximately six seconds if the driver's seat belt is unbuckled when the ignition switch is turned to the ON position. If at any time while the seat belt warning alarm is sounding, the driver's seat belt is buckled, the alarm will stop. The seat belt indicator will remain illuminated until the driver's seat belt is buckled or the vehicle is turned off.
The indicator circuit also provides an input signal to the inflatable restraint sensing and diagnostic module.
Restraint System
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.
Seat belts are the primary means of occupant restraint. Seat belts help to keep the occupant inside the passenger compartment and to ride down the crash forces more gradually during the following events.
| • | Frontal impact type crashes |
| • | Rear impact type crashes |
| • | Side impact type crashes |
| • | Roll over type crashes |
All seat belts have emergency locks in the retractors. During normal operation, the retractors remain unlocked to allow free movement of the occupant's upper body under normal driving conditions. The seat belt webbing is locked to position by a pendulum that causes a locking bar to engage a cog on the spool of the retractor mechanism under the following conditions.
| • | The rapid extraction of the seat belt webbing from the retractor. |
| • | The speed of the vehicle changes abruptly. |
| • | The direction of the vehicle changes abruptly. |
| • | The vehicle is on a steep upgrade or a downgrade. |
The seat belts have an automatic locking (cinch) feature. The cinch feature is activated when the seat belt webbing is completely extended from the retractor. The cinch feature will not allow the webbing to extend from whatever position it is allowed to retract. It is recommended that the cinch feature is used when securing a child seat. The cinch feature is canceled by allowing the webbing to be completely wound back into the retractor. After the cinch feature is canceled, the webbing is unlocked and will extend from the retractor.
The seat belts have a comfort lock feature which prevents full retraction of the webbing allowing the user to lock the seat belt into a comfortable position. The feature is activated by slowly allowing the webbing to wind in to the retractor. The user can readjust the comfort lock during vehicle operation. The feature is canceled by extending the webbing from the retractor or the user's door is opened allowing the webbing to fully retract to the stowed position.
Front Seat Belt System
The front seat belt system includes the following components:
- The driver and the passenger seat belt retractors. The driver and passenger seat belt retractors are located on the center pillar.
- The driver and passenger seat belt buckles. The driver and the passenger seat belt buckles are located between the two front seats. The seat belt buckles are attached to each seat.
- The driver's seat belt system includes a seat belt switch in the driver seat belt buckle which controls the fasten safety belt indicator and a tone alarm.
Rear Seat Belt System
The rear seat belt system includes the following components:
| • | The rear seat belt retractors, which are located under the rear quarter lower trim panels and are attached to the body. |
| • | The center rear seat belt on four door models, which is attached to the rear floor pan. The center seat belt is marked with the word "CENTER" on the latch plate. The center rear seat belt will only latch to the buckle marked with the word "CENTER". |
| • | The rear seat belt buckles, which are located beneath the rear seat cushion and are attached to the rear floor pan. The center seat belt buckle is marked with the word "CENTER". The center buckle will NOT latch if either of the outside rear seat belt retractors are inserted into it. The rear seat belt and the buckle marked with the word "CENTER" are the only ones that will latch together. |
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.
The vehicle is equipped with a child seat anchor bracket (2) for each rear seat position. The brackets (2) are located on the floor of the rear cargo area, along the rear floor rear trim plate (3).
Important: It will be necessary to raise the rear head restraint (1) and install the child seat top strap beneath it, when utilizing either the left or right anchor bracket.
If the child seat has a top strap it must be anchored to one of the anchor brackets (2).
Passengers should not be allowed to sit at locations where the seat belts are being used to secure the child seat.
All vehicles are equipped with a dual-mode type retractor with emergency and automatic locking (cinch) 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.
