Seat Belt Reminder Lamp

The seat belt reminder lamp gives a visual reminder to the vehicle occupants to fasten their seat belts. The lamp is turned on by the instrument cluster circuitry for about seven seconds when the ignition switch is turned to the On position.

The instrument cluster also receives a hard wired input from the driver seat belt switch. However, this input only affects the chime function and has no effect on the seat belt reminder lamp operation. If the driver seat belt switch is closed (seat belt is not buckled), the instrument cluster will send a chime request to the Central Timer Module (CTM) lasting the duration of the seat belt reminder lamp illumination. The chime warning will stop when the driver seat belt switch is open (seat belt is buckled).

The seat belt reminder lamp also serves as a backup for the airbag indicator lamp. About twenty seconds after the ignition switch is turned to the On position, if an inoperative airbag indicator lamp circuit was detected during the bulb test sequence, the instrument cluster circuitry will flash the seat belt reminder lamp on and off for about thirty seconds. If the seat belt reminder lamp stays on after flashing for thirty seconds, or comes on at any time other than about twenty seconds after the initial ignition-on sequence, it indicates an airbag system fault has been detected and that the airbag indicator lamp is inoperative.

Refer to Air Bags and Seat Belts/Air Bags for more information on the airbag system.