Principles Of Operation

Safety Belt System

WARNING: After any crash, all of the following safety belt assemblies and attaching hardware must be inspected by an authorized dealer to verify correct function:
- Retractors
- Buckles
- Belt tension sensor (BTS) (if equipped)
- Front safety belt buckle support assemblies (slide bar) (if equipped)
- Safety belt shoulder belt height adjusters (if equipped)
- Child safety seat tether bracket assemblies
- Automatic locking retractor (ALR) feature for child safety seats (passenger seating positions only)
If any safety belt assembly is damaged, does not operate correctly or does not pass all of the Functional Tests in the Diagnosis and Testing, a new safety belt assembly must be installed. If any safety belt assembly attaching areas are damaged or distorted, the sheet metal must be restored to its original structural integrity and new safety belt assembly and attaching hardware must be installed. Failure to install new safety belt assemblies and attaching hardware may increase the risk of serious personal injury or death in a crash.

After any crash that results in deployment of the driver and/or front outboard passenger safety belt pretensioners, new driver and/or front outboard passenger safety belt systems (including retractors, buckles and height adjusters) must be installed. Failure to install new safety belt systems increases the risk of serious personal injury or death in a crash.


Principles of Operation


Safety Belt Warning System

The safety belt warning system is a reminder to fasten the driver safety belt. The following conditions will take place:

- if the driver safety belt is not buckled before the ignition is turned to the ON position, the chime will turn on for 4 to 8 seconds and the indicator will come on for 1 to 2 minutes.
- if the driver safety belt is buckled while the indicator is on and the chime is sounding, both the indicator and chime will turn off.
- if the driver safety belt is buckled before the ignition is turned to the ON position, neither the indicator nor the chime will turn on.


Belt-Minder(R)

The Belt-Minder(R) feature is a supplemental warning to the safety belt warning function. This feature provides additional reminders to the driver that the driver safety belt is unbuckled by intermittently sounding a chime and illuminating the safety belt warning indicator in the Instrument Cluster (IC). The Belt-Minder(R) feature will time out after approximately 5 minutes.

To activate or deactivate the Belt-Minder(R) feature, refer to Instrument Panel, Gauges and Warning Indicators.