Fasten Safety Belt Indicator
| • | The IPC illuminates the fasten safety belt indicator when the
body control module (BCM) detects that the driver's seat belt is unbuckled.
The IPC receives a discrete input from the BCM requesting illumination. When
this indicator is on the BCM activates the audible warning. |
| • | The IPC performs the displays test at the start of each ignition
cycle. The IPC illuminates the fasten safety belt indicator. |
Restraint System
Seat belts are the primary means of occupant restraint. Seat belts help to
keep the occupants inside the passenger compartment and to gradually reduce the impact
forces during the following events:
| • | Frontal impact type crashes |
| • | Rear impact type crashes |
| • | Side impact 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 retractable seat belts, except for the driver seat belt, have 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 Belt System
The front seat belt system includes the following components:
| • | The driver and the passenger seat belt retractors, located on the center
pillar post and attached to the floor panel |
| • | The driver and passenger seat belt buckles, located between the two front
seats and attached to each seat |
| • | The driver seat belt switch, located in the driver seat belt buckle
and controls the fasten safety belt indicator and a tone alarm |
Rear Seat System
The rear seat belt system includes the following components:
| • | The rear seat belt retractors, located at the inner wheelhouse panel
and attached to the floor panel by the rear seat shoulder belt retractor bracket |
| • | The rear seat belt buckles, attached to each seat |
