Seat Belt Systems: Description and Operation

SAFETY BELTS

CAUTION: REPLACE BELTS, RETRACTORS AND HARDWARE IN USE DURING ALL BUT MINOR COLLISIONS. ALSO, RESTRAINT SYSTEMS SHOULD BE REPLACED AND AND ANCHORAGES PROPERLY REPAIRED IP THEY WERE IN AREAS DAMAGED BY A COLLISION, WHETHER THE BELT WAS IN USE OR NOT. IP THERE IS ANY QUESTION, REPLACE THE BELT SYSTEM. DAMAGE TO THE BELT SYSTEM, WHETHER VISIBLE OR NOT, COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT.

NOTE: When fasteners are removed, always reinstall them at the same location from Which they were removed. If a fastener needs to be replaced, use the correct part number fastener for that application. If the correct part number fastener is not available, a fastener of equal size and strength (or stronger) may be used. Fasteners that are not reused, and those requiring thread-locking compound, will be called out. The correct torque values must be used when installing fasteners that require them. If the above procedures are not followed, parts or system damage could result.

THREE-POINT FRONT SEAT BELT SYSTEM
Sedan and Wagon have a front seat belt system (left and right ) that consist of a retractor a latch plate, buckle, turning loop and a height adjuster. The front seat belt system incorporates an emergency Locking Retractor (ELR), Which is designed to lock the seat belt webbing in place during emergency vehicle maneuvers. During all normal driving conditions, however the seat belt is free to unwind. The ELR system will lock the seat belt webbing under the following conditions:
^ When the vehicle is accelerating or decelerating.
^ When the vehicle is inclined.
^ When the webbing is pulled out rapidly.

In addition to the ELR system, the passenger belt system(Sedan and Wagon ) incorporates CHOM Which is designed to lock the seat belt webbing in place while using a child seat. To activate the CHOM system, feed the latch plate through the child seat and into the buckle. Pull the seat belt all the way out of the retractor, then feed buck in until the child seat is secure. While the CHOM is activated, a slight clicking sound will be audible when the belt is fed into the retractor. To de-activate the CHOM system, simply unbuckle the seat belt and feed if all the way into the retractor.

THREE-POINT REAR SEAT BELT SYSTEM
The rear seat is equipped with three seat belt system. The two outboard seat belt systems incorporate an emergency locking retractor (ELR), which is designed to lock the seat belt webbing in place during emergency vehicle maneuvers. However during all normal driving conditions the seat belt is free to unwind, the ELR system will lock the seat belt webbing under the following conditions:

CAUTION: LATCH BRACKETS MUST BE REPLACED IP IT IS EITHER VISIBLY DAMAGED OR THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT DURING WHICH THE LATCH SYSTEM WAS USED.

^ When the vehicle is accelerating or decelerating.
^ When the vehicle is inclined.
^ When the webbing is pulled out rapidly.

In addition to the ELR system, the two outboard seat belt systems (Sedan and Wagon) incorporates a CHOM which is designed to lock the seat belt webbing in place while using a child seat. To activate the CHOM system, feed the latch plate through the child seat and into the buckle. Pull the seat belt all the way out of the retractor, then feed buck in until the child seat is secure. While the CHOM is activated, a slight clicking sound will be audible when the belt is fed into the retractor. To de-activate the CHOM system simply unbuckle the seat belt and feed if all the way into the retractor.

On the LW the center seat belt system is equipped only with a lap belt Which is adjusted manually. The LW center seat belt does not incorporate an ELR. The rear center belt on the LS has a three-point belt.

SEAT BELTS
The seat belt system includes front seat outboard shoulder seat belts, rear seat outboard shoulder seat belts and center lap seat belts. A child tether bracket is standard on all models.

The driver's seat belt includes a reminder lamp and tone alarm to warn the driver that the seat belt is not buckled when the ignition is turned to the RUN position. If the driver's seat belt is buckled, the tone alarm will not operate and the reminder lamp will turn off.

If the driver's seat belt is not buckled, the sound signal will provide an audible reminder for 8 seconds. The seat belt telltale will remain on for 30 seconds followed by 1 minute of flushing utter Which the lamp will turn Off.

ON-VEHICLE SERVICE

CAUTION: THE FOLLOWING PRECAUTIONS MUST BE OBSERVED TO AVOID DAMAGE TO THE SEAT BELT SYSTEM. IP THESE PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN, THE SEAT BELT SYSTEM MAY NOT PROVIDE PROPER RESTRAINT IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT AND MAY RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY.
^ KEEP ANY SHARP AND POTENTIALLY DAMAGING OBJECTS AWAY FROM THE BELTS.
^ AVOID BENDING OR DAMAGING ANY PORTION OF THE BUCKLE.
^ DO NOT BLEACH OR DYE BELT WEBBING (USE ONLY MILD SOAP AND WATER).
^ WHEN INSTALLING SEAT BELT ANCHOR BOLTS, START BOLTS BY HAND TO PREVENT CROSS-THREADING.
^ DO NOT ATTEMPT ANY REPAIRS ON RETRACTOR MECHANISMS OR COVERS. REPLACE DEFECTIVE ASSEMBLIES WITH NEW ONES.
^ REPLACE ANY BELTS THAT ARE CUT OR DAMAGED IN ANY WAY.
^ DO NOT INSTALL ANYTHING IN TRIM PANEL, OR BETWEEN THE TRIM AND THE HEIGHT ADJUSTER AND/OR TURNING LOOP THAT WILL OBSTRUCT THE MOVEMENT OF THE SEAT BELT.

FRONT AND REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTORS
Front and rear seat belt retractors will lock if the vehicle a exceeds 15° angle, exceeds 0.60g of deceleration force, or the webbing is pulled out of the retractor rapidly. Both front and rear retractors will lock under hard cornering or while descending a winding downhill grade. The retractors may also lock while braking to stop at a downhill intersection. All retractors will unlock when 25.4 mm (1 in.) of the belt is fed back into the retractor.

RUNNING TEST (ELR SEAT BELTS)

CAUTION: CONDUCT THIS TEST ONLY IN A SAFE AREA. DO NOT CONDUCT THIS TEST ON THE OPEN ROAD. A LARGE EMPTY PARKING LOT IS SUITABLE.

1. Fasten seat belt.
2. Drive vehicle at 16 km/h (10 mph) and apply brakes firmly.
3. Verify that the seat belt locks and does not allow your body to move forward.
4. If the belt does not lock during this test, remove retractor and perform static test.

STATIC TEST
1. Remove retractor assembly.
2. Tilt retractor slowly.
3. Verify belt can be pulled out of retractor at an inclination of 150 or less and that it cannot be pulled out at over 450 of inclination.

STATIC TEST SEAT BELTS WITH CHILD HOLD-OUT MECHANISM (CHOM) FEATURE

Front Passenger Seat
Rear Outboard Seats

1. Pull seat belt all the way out of retractor.
2. Feed a few inches of belt back into retractor and listen for audible clicking of Child Hold-out Mechanism (CHOM) system.
3. Verify belt cannot be pulled out of the retractor.
4. Feed seat belt all the way into retractor and verify that it returns to normal operating conditions.

SAFETY BELT OPERATIONAL CHECKS
FRONT AND REAR RESTRAINTS
The Saturn front seats and rear outboard seats have a three-point seat belt system with a seat belt retractor. The rear seat latch plate should move up and down easily on the belt. An audible click should be heard when the front or rear latch plate is inserted into the buckle. Check attachment of the latch plate to buckle by grasping belt and pulling firmly. The belt should disconnect easily when button on buckle is pushed in.

The Saturn Sedan and Wagon models have a rear seat center belt that is a lap belt only. It does not retract automatically, and must be adjusted manually to fit occupant. The latch plate should move on belt easily, but not slip when attached to buckle and adjusted properly to the occupant. When latch plate is attached to buckle, an audible click should be heard. Check attachment of latch plate to buckle by grasping belt and pulling on it firmly. The belt should not disconnect from buckle. The belt should disconnect easily when the button on buckle is pushed in.