For 1990-2009 cars

### Fasten Safety Belt Indicator

The instrument panel cluster (IPC) illuminates the fasten safety belt indicator when the following occurs:

• | The body control module (BCM) detects that the driver's seat belt is unbuckled. The IPC receives a class 2 message from the BCM requesting illumination. The IPC illuminates the indicator for 20 seconds and then flashes the indicator for 55 seconds. The IPC sends a class 2 message to the BCM indicating the indicator is illuminated. The BCM sends a class 2 message to the radio in order to activate an audible warning.

• | The IPC performs the displays test at the start of each ignition cycle. The indicator illuminates for approximately 3 seconds.

• | The IPC detects a loss of class 2 communications with the BCM.

### Restraint System

Seat belts are the primary means of occupant restraint.

Seat belts help keep the occupants inside the passenger compartment, and gradually reduce the impact forces during the following events:

• | Frontal impact type crashes

• | Rear impact type crashes

• | Side impact type crashes

• | Roll-over type crashes

All seat belt retractors have emergency locks. The retractors remain unlocked during normal operation and under normal driving conditions. The retractors remain unlocked during normal conditions in order to allow free movement of the upper body of each occupant.

A pendulum locks the seat belt webbing into position. The pendulum causes a locking bar to engage a cog on the spool of the retractor mechanism when the following conditions occur:

• | A rapid extraction of the seat belt webbing from the retractor

• | An abrupt change in the vehicle speed

• | An abrupt change in the vehicle direction

• | Operation of the vehicle on a steep upgrade

• | Operation of the vehicle on a steep downgrade

The front passenger seat belt has an automatic locking feature, or cinch feature. The cinch feature is recommended for securing a child seat. The cinch feature is engaged by fully extending the seat belt from the retractor. Once engaged, the seat belt can retract, but cannot be extended again until the cinch feature is cancelled. The cinch feature is cancelled when the seat belt has fully retracted.

This vehicle is also equipped with a supplemental inflatable restraint (SIR) system. Refer to SIR System Description and Operation in SIR.

### Front Seat System

The front seat belt system includes the following components:

• | The driver and passenger seat belt buckles, attached to the inboard side of the seat frame

• | The driver and passenger seat belt retractors, attached to the lock pillar or center pillar

The driver seat belt system includes a seat belt switch in the driver seat belt buckle. The seat belt switch controls the fasten safety belt indicator and a tone alarm. The fasten safety belt indicator and the tone alarm will not operate when the following conditions exist:

• | The driver seat belt is buckled.

• | The driver door is closed.

• | The ignition switch is turned ON.

The following events will occur when the driver door is closed and the ignition switch is turned ON, but the driver seat belt is not buckled:

• | The tone alarm will operate for 4-8 seconds and then turn off.

• | The fasten safety belt indicator will operate until the driver seat belt is buckled, or until approximately 1 minute has elapsed.

Refer to Seat Belt Indicator Circuit Malfunction in order to diagnose faults in the fasten safety belt indicator or Wiring Systems in Body and Accessories in order to diagnose faults in the tone alarm.

### Rear Seat System

The rear seat belt system includes the following components:

• | The rear seat belt buckles, attached to the floor panel inboard of the rear seats

• | The rear seat belt retractors, attached to the rear package shelf