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Ford explorer seat belt alarm goes off even when seat belt is buckled, but only if it is buckled after starting the car. If i buckle it first, the alarm does not go off.
It seems like the restraint control module(RCM) only reads the seat belt switch at startup since the alarm only goes off if the belt is inserted after startup. In addition, if I pick up a passenger, the alarm does not go off when there is another person in the passenger seat. In the past, if the passenger did not put on their belt, the alarm went off 2 minutes after they got in. It now seems like the system is satisfied because the driver had their seat belt on before starting the car.
I have also confirmed that the issue exists when I start the car from outside with no weight on the drivers seat. If I forget to connect my seat belt before starting the car, when I start it the red seat belt light stays on for about 30 seconds, and then the chime starts at about 2 minutes. All I have to do is switch the car off and restart with my belt already buckled and the red light does not light, and the chime never rings. The seat belt switch must be working or having the belt in before starting would not help.I have also confirmed that the issue exists when I start the car from outside with no weight on the drivers seat. If I forget to connect my seat belt before starting the car, when I start it the red seat belt light stays on for about 30 seconds, and then the chime starts at about 2 minutes. All I have to do is switch the car off and restart with my belt already buckled and the red light does not light, and the chime never rings. The seat belt switch must be working or having the belt in before starting would not help.
If it helps, I have also disconnected the battery and left the car for about 10 minutes before reconnecting to see if that made any difference. None. Since it seems that the car is not reading the seatbelt switch after the key is turned on, the procedure in the owners manual to disable the seat belt minder did not work.If it helps, I have also disconnected the battery and left the car for about 10 minutes before reconnecting to see if that made any difference. None. Since it seems that the car is not reading the seatbelt switch after the key is turned on, the procedure in the owners manual to disable the seat belt minder did not work.
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If you replace the restraint control module, I don't know if that will fix it? You can see your instrument cluster is also involved.
Any applicable trouble codes?
Sorry, I can't diagnose.
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There is a problem with the buckle sensor, it a really just a ground, circuit, try cleaning the buckle and belt end with spray brake clean, do not get it on the fabric of belt or seat covers.
I would cut the two wires going to the seat belt buckle and twist them together. sounds like it needs a new buckle anyway so cutting the wires isn't going to ruin anything
Have the same problem in my 98 Toyota Rav4. I squirted the female buckle (bolted to seat, not holding strap harness) with wannabe WD-40 lubricant from the $1 store, and it seem to have solved the problem. I'm guessing the spring mechanism is worn out, which is why the harness buckle won't lock. Another solution is to replace the female lock buckle with an identical part from the used parts junkyard store.
The seatbelt light on the dash stays "on," even when everyone has their belt on, but I don't bother servicing that. If yours have an audible alarm instead of an indicator light on the dash, locate the source of the alarm sound and disconnect the wires to silence the sound.
If I had the problem I would look at a junkyard or on line at e-bay for a replacement. You will need to get the buckle and the belt that it is attached to that goes down to the floor down through the crack in the seat. Remember the buckle receiver is made for the certain belt in the front and rear seats. I have often tried to put the wrong belt in a buckle and it would not fit. ( Example: the right belt goes in the right buckle.) Be blessed.
On my 2016 Ford Escape the rear passenger seat folded down and would not hold back up the problem was that the seat belt buckle pivoted down below the level of the seat when I try to raise the back of the sheet the seat belt buckle would prevent it it ended up crushing the plastic on the seat belt buckle preventing it from working the hold the seat belt I was able to repair the seat belt buckle with a screwdriver regular Style and a cigarette lighter the soft in the plastic back up so it would stay in position
I'm an out dated mechanic, but i believe the drivers seat belt assembly is the only assembly that has a switch to indicate if the lap belt is buckled. I'm not positive on that. The switch in the buckle (the part with the release switch on it) may be defective. To figure out if the switch is defective shouldn't be to hard. Inspect the buckle to find the wire or wires going to it, should be two wires. You may have to unbolt the buckle from the floor or seat to find the wires. Follow the wire(s) till you find the connector, the connector maybe tucked under the carpet. Disconnect the it and use a small piece of wire to jumper the connector, not the connector that goes to the buckle, the other connector. If the bell sound goes away, the buckle needs to be replaced.
does it do it on the driver side? hook it up without sitting in the seat start the rig if the buzzer is on sit in the seat if it is still on you have a bad ground on the seatbelt side the short belt that it connects to. the buzzer is under the dash driver side above the sterring wheel.
I have also confirmed that the issue exists when I start the car from outside with no weight on the drivers seat. If I forget to connect my seat belt before starting the car, when I start it the red seat belt light stays on for about 30 seconds, and then the chime starts at about 2 minutes. All I have to do is switch the car off and restart with my belt already buckled and the red light does not light, and the chime never rings. The seat belt switch must be working or having the belt in before starting would not help.
Should I replace the RCM? I can get one on ebay for about $60.
If it helps, I have also disconnected the battery and left the car for about 10 minutes before reconnecting to see if that made any difference. None. Since it seems that the car is not reading the seatbelt switch after the key is turned on, the procedure in the owners manual to disable the seat belt minder did not work.
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