SEATBELT INDICATOR
DESCRIPTION
A seatbelt indicator is standard equipment on all
instrument clusters. The seatbelt indicator is located
near the upper edge of the instrument cluster,
between the tachometer and the speedometer.
The seatbelt indicator consists of a stencil-like cutout of the International Control and Display Symbol icon for “Seat
Belt” in the opaque layer of the instrument cluster overlay. The dark outer layer of the overlay prevents the indicator
from being clearly visible when it is not illuminated. A red Light Emitting Diode (LED) behind the cutout in the
opaque layer of the overlay causes the icon to appear in red through the translucent outer layer of the overlay when
the indicator is illuminated from behind by the LED, which is soldered onto the instrument cluster electronic circuit
board. The seatbelt indicator is serviced as a unit with the instrument cluster.
OPERATION
The seatbelt indicator gives an indication to the vehicle operator of the status of the driver side front seatbelt. This
indicator is controlled by a transistor on the instrument cluster circuit board based upon cluster programming and a
hard wired input from the seatbelt switch in the driver side front seatbelt buckle through the seat belt indicator driver
circuit.
The seatbelt indicator also includes a programmable enhanced seatbelt reminder or “beltminder” feature that is
enabled when the vehicle is shipped from the factory. This beltminder feature can be disabled and enabled by the
customer using a specific programming event sequence, or by the dealer using a diagnostic scan tool.
The seatbelt indicator Light Emitting Diode (LED) is completely controlled by the instrument cluster logic circuit, and
that logic will only allow this indicator to operate when the instrument cluster receives a battery current input on the
fused ignition switch output (run-start) circuit. Therefore, the LED will always be off when the ignition switch is in any
position except On or Start. The LED only illuminates when it is provided a path to ground by the instrument cluster
transistor. The instrument cluster will turn on the seatbelt indicator for the following reasons:
•
Seatbelt Reminder Function - Each time the cluster receives a battery current input on the fused ignition
switch output (run-start) circuit, the indicator will be illuminated as a seatbelt reminder for about six seconds, or
until the ignition switch is turned to the Off position, whichever occurs first. This reminder function will occur
regardless of the status of the seatbelt switch input to the cluster.
•
Driver Side Front Seatbelt Not Buckled - Beltminder Active - Following the seatbelt reminder function, each
time the cluster detects an open circuit on the seat belt indicator driver circuit (seatbelt switch open = seatbelt
unbuckled) with the ignition switch in the Start or On positions, the indicator will be illuminated. In addition, if
the driver side front seat belt remains unbuckled about sixty seconds after the conclusion of the seatbelt
reminder function with the vehicle speed greater than about 13 kilometers-per-hour (8 miles-per-hour), the
seatbelt indicator will begin to cycle between flashing on and off for five seconds, then lighting solid for three
seconds. The seatbelt indicator will continue to cycle between flashing and solid illumination for twelve com-
plete cycles, until the seat belt indicator driver input to the cluster is closed to ground (seatbelt switch closed
= seatbelt buckled), or until the ignition switch is turned to the Off position, whichever occurs first.
•
Driver Side Front Seatbelt Not Buckled - Beltminder Inactive - Following the seatbelt reminder function,
each time the cluster detects an open circuit on the seat belt indicator driver circuit (seatbelt switch open =
seatbelt unbuckled) with the ignition switch in the Start or On positions, the indicator will be illuminated. The
seatbelt indicator remains illuminated until the seat belt indicator driver input to the cluster is closed to ground
(seatbelt switch closed = seatbelt buckled), or until the ignition switch is turned to the Off position, whichever
occurs first.
•
Airbag Indicator Backup - If the instrument cluster detects a fault in the airbag indicator circuit it will send a
message indicating the fault to the Airbag Control Module (ACM), store a Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) in
the cluster memory, then flash the seatbelt indicator on and off. The cluster will continue to flash the seatbelt
indicator until the airbag indicator circuit fault is resolved, or until the ignition switch is turned to the Off posi-
tion, whichever occurs first.
•
Actuator Test - Each time the cluster is put through the actuator test, the seatbelt indicator will be turned on,
then off again during the bulb check portion of the test to confirm the functionality of the LED and the cluster
control circuitry.
8J - 140
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER -SERVICE INFORMATION
DR/DH