Dodge Nitro. Manual - part 246

receives an occupant classification message indicating that the passenger side front seat is empty, that 
the seat is occupied by a load equal to or greater than a minimum weight threshold, or until the ignition 
switch is turned to the OFF position, whichever occurs first.  



Load Undetermined Occupant Classification Message - Each time the ORC receives an electronic 
message from the OCM indicating that a load cannot be determined in the passenger side front seat, the 
passenger airbag and seat belt tensioner deployment circuits are deactivated and the passenger airbag 
on/off indicator will be illuminated. The indicator remains illuminated until the ORC receives an 
occupant classification message indicating that the passenger side front seat is empty, that the seat is 
occupied by a load equal to or greater than a minimum weight threshold, or until the ignition switch is 
turned to the OFF position, whichever occurs first.  



Communication Error - If the ORC receives invalid occupant classification messages or no messages 
from the OCM, the passenger airbag on/off indicator is illuminated. The indicator remains illuminated 
until the ORC receives a valid message from the OCM indicating that the passenger side front seat is 
empty, that the seat is occupied by a load equal to or greater than a minimum weight threshold, or until 
the ignition switch is turned to the OFF position, whichever occurs first.  

The ORC continually monitors the occupant classification messages from the OCM to decide whether the 
passenger airbag and seat belt tensioner deployment circuits should be activated or deactivated. Note that there 
may be several seconds of delay between changes in the detected occupant status and passenger airbag on/off 
indications. This is a programmed feature of the OCM used to prevent a flashing indicator condition resulting 
from the normal shifting of occupant weight on the passenger seat cushion. The ORC then provides the proper 
control output to turn the passenger airbag on/off indicator ON or OFF. 

The ORC will store a Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) for any malfunction it detects. The hard wired circuits 
between the passenger airbag on/off indicator and the ORC may be diagnosed using conventional diagnostic 
tools and procedures. Refer to the appropriate wiring information. However, conventional diagnostic methods 
will not prove conclusive in the diagnosis of the passenger airbag on/off indicator or the electronic controls and 
communication between other modules and devices that provide features of the OCS. The most reliable, 
efficient, and accurate means to diagnose the passenger airbag on/off indicator or the electronic controls and 
communication related to passenger airbag on/off indicator operation requires the use of a diagnostic scan tool. 
Refer to the appropriate diagnostic information. 

SEAT BELT BUCKLE 

REMOVAL 

FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE 

WARNING:

To avoid serious or fatal injury on vehicles equipped with airbags, disable 
the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) before attempting any steering 
wheel, steering column, airbag, occupant classification system, seat belt 
tensioner, impact sensor, or instrument panel component diagnosis or 
service. Disconnect and isolate the battery negative (ground) cable, then 
wait two minutes for the system capacitor to discharge before performing 
further diagnosis or service. This is the only sure way to disable the SRS. 
Failure to take the proper precautions could result in accidental airbag 
deployment.

 

2007 Dodge Nitro R/T 

2007 RESTRAINTS Service Information - Nitro

  

WARNING:

To avoid serious or fatal injury during and following any seat belt or child 
restraint anchor service, carefully inspect all seat belts, buckles, 
mounting hardware, retractors, tether straps, and anchors for proper 
installation, operation, or damage. Replace any belt that is cut, frayed, or 
torn. Straighten any belt that is twisted. Tighten any loose fasteners. 
Replace any belt that has a damaged or ineffective buckle or retractor. 
Replace any belt that has a bent or damaged latch plate or anchor plate. 
Replace any child restraint anchor or the unit to which the anchor is 
integral that has been bent or damaged. Never attempt to repair a seat 
belt or child restraint component. Always replace damaged or ineffective 
seat belt and child restraint components with the correct, new and 
unused replacement parts .

WARNING:

To avoid serious or fatal injury on vehicles equipped with the Occupant 
Classification System (OCS), do not modify the front passenger seat 
assembly or center floor console in any way. Do not use any prior year, 
subsequent year, secondary or aftermarket seat trim covers. At no time 
should any Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) or OCS component be 
modified or replaced with any part except those which are specified for 
the particular vehicle application . Failure to observe these precautions 
could cause an OCS miscalibration condition, which may result in the 
passenger airbag failing to deploy when required or deploying when not 
required.

WARNING:

To avoid serious or fatal injury, never strike or drop a seat weight sensor 
or the passenger side front seat assembly to which the sensors are 
secured as it can damage the sensors or affect their calibration. The seat 
weight sensors and the passenger side front seat assembly must be 
handled with care to avoid damage to the sensors. Do not sit upon or 
place any loads upon a passenger side front seat while it is removed from 
its mounts in or outside of the vehicle. If an individual sensor is dropped 
or damaged, replace the sensor with a new and unused unit. If a seat has 
been dropped during removal or loaded while removed from its mounts, 
replace each of the seat weight sensors with new and unused units. 
Failure to observe this warning could result in an accidental, incomplete, 
or improper passenger side front Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) 
component deployment.

WARNING:

To avoid serious or fatal injury on vehicles equipped with the Occupant 
Classification System (OCS), any time the passenger side front seat 
assembly has been removed or loosened from the vehicle for service of 
any vehicle component or system the Occupant Classification System 
(OCS) Verification Test must be performed using a diagnostic scan tool 
and the Occupant Classification Seat Weight special tool following 
reinstallation. Refer to the appropriate diagnostic procedures. Failure to 
observe this warning could result in an accidental, incomplete, or 

 

2007 Dodge Nitro R/T 

2007 RESTRAINTS Service Information - Nitro

  

Fig. 63: Identifying Front Seat Belt Buckle And Tensioner Unit, Screw & Pigtail Wire 
Courtesy of CHRYSLER LLC 

1. Move the front seat to its middle position for easiest access to the front seat mounting provisions.  

2. Disconnect and isolate the battery negative cable. Wait two minutes for the system capacitor to discharge 

before further service.  

3. Remove the front seat from the vehicle. Refer to REMOVAL .  

4. Disconnect the seat belt tensioner and seat belt switch (driver side only) pigtail wire (3) connector from 

the seat wire harness connector located under the seat cushion near the inboard side of the seat.  

5. Remove the screw (2) that secures the front seat belt buckle (1) lower anchor and tensioner unit to the 

back of the inboard seat cushion frame.  

6. Pull the buckle and tensioner unit away from the inboard side of the seat while feeding the pigtail wire 

and connector from under the seat out through the clearance hole in the inboard seat cushion frame.  

7. Remove the seat belt buckle and tensioner from the front seat as a unit.  

SECOND ROW CENTER ANCHOR AND LEFT SEAT BELT BUCKLE 

improper passenger side front Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) 
component deployment.

NOTE:

The following procedure is for replacement of an ineffective or damaged seat 
belt buckle unit. The front seat belt buckle also includes a seat belt tensioner. If 
the front seat belt buckle is ineffective or damaged, but the seat belt tensioner 
is not deployed, review the recommended procedures for handling non-
deployed supplemental restraints. See HANDLING NON-DEPLOYED 
SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINTS. If the seat belt tensioner has been deployed, 
review the recommended procedures for service after a supplemental restraint 
deployment before removing the unit from the vehicle. 

WARNING:

To avoid serious or fatal injury during and following any seat belt or child 

 

2007 Dodge Nitro R/T 

2007 RESTRAINTS Service Information - Nitro

  

Fig. 64: Second Row Center And Seat Belt Buckle Components 
Courtesy of CHRYSLER LLC 

1. Remove the four screws (1) that secure the second row seat cushion legs (8) to the rear floor panel (9).  

2. Lift the front edge of the seat cushions (10) up against the seat backs for access to the second row center 

seat belt and left outboard seat belt buckle anchors (5) on the rear floor panel.  

3. Remove the nut (3) that secures the center seat belt and left buckle anchors to the stud (4) on the rear floor

panel.  

4. Lift the anchors off of the stud on the rear floor panel.  

5. Using an appropriate drill or chisel, carefully remove the soft metal grommet that secures the two anchor 

plates to each other.  

6. Remove the second row left outboard buckle and anchor from between the seat back and the seat cushion 

as a unit.  

restraint anchor service, carefully inspect all seat belts, buckles, 
mounting hardware, retractors, tether straps, and anchors for proper 
installation, operation, or damage. Replace any belt that is cut, frayed, or 
torn. Straighten any belt that is twisted. Tighten any loose fasteners. 
Replace any belt that has a damaged or ineffective buckle or retractor. 
Replace any belt that has a bent or damaged latch plate or anchor plate. 
Replace any child restraint anchor or the unit to which the anchor is 
integral that has been bent or damaged. Never attempt to repair a seat 
belt or child restraint component. Always replace damaged or ineffective 
seat belt and child restraint components with the correct, new and 
unused replacement parts .

NOTE:

The anchor plates for the left outboard second row seat belt buckle and the 
second row center seat belt anchor are secured to each other by a soft metal 
grommet as an assembly aid during the manufacturing process and, once 
removed, the grommet does not require reinstallation.

 

2007 Dodge Nitro R/T 

2007 RESTRAINTS Service Information - Nitro