Seat Belt Switch: Operation

The seat belt switch is designed to control a path to ground for the seat belt switch sense input of the ElectroMechanical Instrument Cluster (EMIC). When the driver side front seat belt tip-half is inserted into the seat belt buckle, the switch opens the path to ground; and, when the driver side front seat belt tip-half is removed from the seat belt buckle, the switch closes the ground path. The switch is actuated by the latch mechanism within the seat belt buckle.

The seat belt switch is connected in series between ground and the seat belt switch sense input of the instrument cluster. The seat belt switch receives ground at all times through its pigtail wire connection to the body wire harness from another take out of the body wire harness. An eyelet terminal connector on that ground take out is secured beneath a ground screw on the left cowl side inner panel, beneath the instrument panel. The seat belt switch may de diagnosed using conventional diagnostic tools and methods.