Seat Belt Systems: Description and Operation
SAFETY BELT SYSTEM DESCRIPTIONWARNING:
- 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 portion of this section, 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.
When installing any new active occupant restraint components, use only the replacement parts specified in the Mazda Customer Service Division Master Parts Catalog.
Safety Belt, Lap/Shoulder
While the vehicle is in motion, the combination lap and shoulder belt adjusts to the occupant's movement. However, if the vehicle brakes hard, corners hard or if the vehicle receives an impact of 8 km/h (5 mph) or more, the lap and shoulder belt locks and helps reduce the occupant's forward movement.
Dual Locking Mode Retractors
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 portion of this section, 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.
NOTE: When installing a new dual locking mode retractor, the retractor should be checked to make sure it is not in the automatic locking retractor (ALR) mode after installation in the STOWED position.
All outboard continuous-loop, 3-point retractor systems, except the driver position, are equipped with the dual locking mode system.
The emergency locking retractor (ELR) mode will allow the occupant freedom of movement, locking only on hard braking, hard cornering or an impact of approximately 8 km/h (5 mph). The ELR mode helps to reduce the forward movement of the driver and passengers. The ELR mode is continuously in operation at all seating positions.
The ALR portion of this system does not allow the occupant freedom of movement. The ALR mode is used when locking a child seat in an outboard seating position or when a tight belt fit is desired. The ALR mode is automatically engaged when the webbing is fully extracted from the retractor and then allowed to retract. As the webbing is retracted back onto the spool, an audible clicking sound is made indicating the retractor is in ALR mode and the webbing will not pull back out of the retractor. To disengage the ALR mode, let the webbing retract back onto the spool. The ALR mode is disengaged when the webbing is free to move out and back into the retractor.
The automatic locking mode must be used when installing a child safety seat in the front or rear passenger seating positions where dual locking mode retractors are provided.
4-Door, Cab Plus
When installing new safety belt buckles or retractor assemblies, use only the replacement parts specified in the Mazda Customer Service Division Master Parts Catalog. The outboard safety belt for the front seat is a continuous-loop 3-point system. The combination lap and shoulder (continuous-loop) uses a common sliding tongue and retractor. The front seat safety belt retractor and the front seat shoulder safety belt height adjuster are both located in the rear door. The rear seat has a safety belt bolted to the rear seat frame. The rear safety belt buckle is located in the rear door.
The shoulder harness retractor is designed to let the webbing move freely in or out at all times, except during vehicle hard braking, hard cornering, or an impact of 8 km/h (5 mph) or more, when it is automatically locked by a mechanically actuated inertia sensor. The front outboard safety belt retractors can also lock by jerking on the belt.
Energy Management Retractor
This vehicle has a safety belt system with an energy management feature at the front seating positions to help further reduce the risk of injury in the event of a head-on collision.
This safety belt system has a retractor assembly that is designed to pay out webbing in a controlled manner. This feature is designed to help reduce the belt force acting on an occupant's chest.
Belt Tension Sensor (BTS)
The safety belt tension sensor (BTS) is part of the passenger front safety belt and retractor assembly and is not serviced separately. The safety BTS is located at the safety belt anchor point and is used in conjunction with the occupant classification sensor (OCS) system.
- If the safety belt is not buckled before the ignition is turned to the ON position, the chime will turn on for 4-8 seconds and the indicator lamp will illuminate for 1-2 minutes.
- If the safety belt is buckled while the indicator lamp is on and the chime is sounding, both the indicator and chime will turn off.
- If the safety belt is buckled before the ignition is turned to the ON position, neither the indicator lamp nor the chime will be active.
Safety Belt Buckle and Pretensioner Assembly - Front
The driver and front outboard passenger safety belt buckle and pretensioner are secured to the front seat assembly on the seat track. This allows the front safety belt buckle end to move with the front seat. The belt and buckle assembly pretensioner is a pyrotechnic device that removes excess webbing from the safety belt system. The belt and buckle assembly pretensioner uses the same crash sensor system as the air bag supplemental restraint system (SRS). When the belt and buckle assembly pretensioner deploys, the buckle moves downward, pulling excess webbing from the lap and shoulder safety belts. If the safety belt buckle and pretensioner assembly is deployed, a new assembly must be installed.
Safety Belt Extension Assembly
In certain cases, the safety belt may be too short even when it is fully extended. About 20 cm (8 in) can be added to the belt length by using a safety belt extension. Safety belt extensions are available at no cost from any Mazda dealership parts department. Safety belt extensions are only available with black webbing and the extender must be from the same manufacturer as the belt system to which it is attached.
Attaching Safety Seats with Tether Straps
Some manufacturers make child safety seats that include a tether strap that goes overthe back of the vehicle seat and attaches to an anchoring point. Other manufacturers offer the tether strap as an accessory. Contact the manufacturer of the child safety seat for information about ordering a tether strap.
Child Safety Seat Tether Anchor
Child safety seat tether anchors have been provided in the vehicle at the passenger and center (60/40 bench only) positions. They are located directly beneath the seat back cushion attached to the frame. To use these anchors, refer to the Owner's Literature. Any child safety seat tether anchor in use during a collision must be inspected and a new seat frame installed if damaged.
Warning System - Driver Safety Belt
The driver safety belt buckle incorporates a safety belt warning indicator switch, warning indicator and chime. The warning indicator lamp and chime are reminders to fasten the safety belt.
Safety Belt Warning Indicator and Chime
The safety belt warning indicator lamp and chime remind the driver to fasten their safety belt. The following conditions will take place:
- If the driver's safety belt is not buckled before the ignition is turned to the ON position, the chime will turn on for 4-8 seconds and the indicator lamp will illuminate for 1-2 minutes.
- If the driver's safety belt is buckled while the indicator lamp is on and the chime is sounding, both the indicator and chime will turn off.
- If the driver's safety belt is buckled before the ignition is turned to the ON position, neither the indicator lamp nor the chime will be active.
Belt Minder(R)
The Belt Minder (R) feature is a supplemental warning to the safety belt warning function. The feature provides additional reminders by intermittently sounding a chime and illuminating the safety belt warning indicator in the instrument cluster when the driver's and front passenger's safety belt is unbuckled.
The Belt-Minder(R) feature uses information from the front passenger sensing system to determine if a front seat passenger is present and therefore potentially in need of a warning. To avoid activating the Belt-Minder(R) feature for objects placed in the front passenger seat, warnings will only be given to large front seat occupants as determined by the front passenger sensing system. Both the driver's and passenger's safety belt usages are monitored and either may activate the Belt-Minder(R) feature. The warnings are the same for the driver and front passenger. If the Belt-Minder(R) warnings have expired (warnings for approximately 5 minutes) for one occupant (driver or front passenger), the other occupant can still activate the Belt-Minder(R) feature.
The Belt-Minder(R) feature uses information from the OCS system on the front passenger seat to determine if a front seat passenger is present and therefore potentially in need of a warning. The warning is activated if the OCS system senses weight exceeding a programmed set point.
The driver and front passenger Belt-Minder(R) feature is deactivated/activated independently. When deactivating/activating the Belt-Minder(R) for a seat, do not buckle the safety belts on the other seat, or the process will be terminated. To deactivate/activate the Belt-Minder(R) feature, See SAFETY BELT MINDER DEACTIVATING/ACTIVATING or the Owner's Literature. Service and Repair
