Occupant Detection Sensor - Description

DESCRIPTION





An Occupant Detection Sensor (ODS) is located below the passenger side front seat cushion trim cover. On vehicles without the optional heated seats, the sensor is located on top of the cushion foam directly beneath the trim cover. On vehicles with the optional heated seats, the sensor is still located on top of the cushion foam, but is covered by the seat cushion heater mat. This sensor provides information to the Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) used for control of the passenger belt alert feature.

The ODS consists of a flexible clear plastic sensor mat (1) containing several resistive membrane, force sensing resistor cells that is secured by adhesive strips (2) to the top surface of the seat cushion foam and, if the vehicle is so equipped, beneath the heater element mat. There are two versions of the sensor used that are similar, but not interchangeable. One version is for vehicles with a base seat without the fold flat seat option, and one version is for vehicles with the fold flat seat option.

On the base seat, the short, two-conductor pigtail wire and connector (4) are oriented toward the rear of the seat cushion, while the fold flat seat has the pigtail wire oriented toward the front of the seat cushion. Either pigtail wire connects the sensor to the vehicle electrical system through a dedicated take out and connector of the seat wire harness. A hot melt adhesive block (3) encapsulates and protects the connections between the electrical conductors in the tail of the sensor mat and the pigtail wires as well as a diagnostic resistor.

The ODS cannot be adjusted or repaired, and must be replaced if damaged or ineffective. On vehicles without the heated seat option, the sensor is available for separate service replacement. On vehicles with the heated seat option, the sensor is serviced as a unit with the seat cushion foam and the heater mat.