Seat Belt Systems: Description and Operation

A continuous loop, single retractor restraint system is used on 2-door and 3-door vehicles. A dual retractor system is used on convertible vehicles.

The lap and shoulder safety belts are factory installed in their proper locations. If lap or shoulder safety belts are removed for any reason, they should be installed. Tighten the anchor bolts to 30-40 Nm (23-29 lb-ft).

Safety Belt Warning System
The driver's safety belt system incorporates a chime and lamp warnings to indicate non-safety belt usage. The safety belt warning lamp illuminates for approximately eight seconds after the ignition switch is turned on, regardless of safety belt usage. The safety belt warning chime is grounded by a switch in the LH inboard buckle. The warning or chime will sound for approximately eight seconds unless the driver's safety belt is connected.

Belt Buckle
The front and rear belt buckles are secured on the floorpan.

Attaching the tongue and buckle secures the occupant with both lower and upper restraints. The attachment of the tongue and buckle can be accomplished by a single, continuous movement.

Lap Safety Belts
The front and rear seat outboard lap safety belt is part of a continuous belt with the shoulder belt. It is anchored on outboard side of vehicle to body sill for front seats and to floorpan on rear seats.





Lap/Shoulder Safety Belt-Front
The lap/shoulder harness webbing is attached to a retractor which is located on the B-pillar post on 2-door and 3-door models. The lap/shoulder safety belt retractor for convertibles is located in the quarter panel. The retractor is designed to let the webbing freely move in or out, except during vehicle, hard braking, cornering, or impacts of approximately 8 km/h (5 mph) or more. Then, it is automatically locked by a mechanically actuated inertia sensor. The front seat retractors have a belt sensitive locking feature that will lock-up if the belt is pulled quickly.

The front shoulder safety belt is guided through the web guide which is mounted on the B-pillar or quarter trim panel and inside of the scuff plate/center pillar trim panel.

The webbing then passes through a guide above and behind the occupant's shoulder which directs the webbing at the proper downward angle over the occupant's shoulder and chest to the lap belt buckle. The belt has a slip tongue (except convertible) that latches to lap belt buckle and continues through slip tongue outboard to the sill below door opening. The slip tongue then acts as a lap belt.

The buckle is routed along the side of the seat and is anchored to the floorpan.

Attaching the tongue and buckle secures the occupant with both lower and upper restraints. This attachment of the tongue and buckle can be accomplished by a single continuous movement.

Convertible
The lap/shoulder safety belt has a dual retractor system. A shoulder belt retractor is located in the quarter panel and a lap belt located at the base of quarter panel at rear of door opening. The safety belt webbing of the two retractors is joined to a common tongue.

The lap/shoulder safety belt retractor is designed to let the webbing freely move in or out, except during vehicle, hard braking, cornering, or impacts of approximately 8 km/h (5 mph) or more. Then it is automatically locked by a mechanically actuated inertia sensor.

Passenger Side Lap Belt Retractor-Front (Convertible Only)
The convertible has a dual locking mode retractor on the lap belt part of the lap/shoulder belt on the front seat passenger side. The retractor modes function as follows:

In the vehicle sensitive (emergency) locking mode, the lap belt retractor will allow freedom of movement, locking tight only on hard braking, hard cornering or impacts of approximately 8 km/h (5 mph) or more. The lap belt retractor cannot be made to lock by pulling on the belt. In the automatic locking mode, the lap belt retractor will remain locked and does not allow freedom of movement. This mode provides the following:
- A tight lap belt on the hips.
- Child seat or infant carrier installation.

This mode must be used when installing a child seat or infant carrier on the front passenger seat. To switch the retractor from the emergency locking mode to the automatic locking mode, perform the following steps:
1. Buckle the lap/shoulder belt.
2. Grasp the lap part of the belt below the child seat instruction label and pull upward until all of the stored belt is out and a click is heard.
3. Allow the belt to retract. A clicking sound will be heard as the belt retracts. This indicates that the retractor is in the automatic locking mode.
4. Pull down on the belt to remove slack in the belt.

NOTE: When the lap/shoulder belt is unbuckled and allowed to retract completely, the retractor will switch to the vehicle sensitive (emergency) locking mode.

Lap/Shoulder Safety Belt-Rear
The lap/shoulder safety belt is attached to a retractor which is mounted to the vehicle structure on the package tray for sedan, in the C-pillar for hatchback and in the luggage compartment for convertible.

The safety belt is routed through a guide that directs the webbing at the proper angle over the occupant's shoulder and chest to lap belt buckle. The belt has a slip tongue that latches to the lap belt buckle and continues through the slip tongue outboard to the floor and acts as a lap belt.