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.
- The front seat belt system consists of a driver and passenger seat belt
retractor and buckle.
- The driver's 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's 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. |
- When the driver's 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 to 8 seconds and then turn OFF. |
• | The seat belt indicator will operate for 20 seconds or until the
driver's seat belt is buckled. |
• | The seat belt indicator will flash for an additional 55 seconds
before turning OFF. |
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.
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 witch 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:
• | 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's seat belt is unfastened, the IPC will illuminate the fasten safety belt
indicator for 72 seconds or until the driver's seat belt is fastened. If the
driver's 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. |