Seat-Belt warning light?

[SaxGuy]

When I took another test drive of the Mercury Marauder, it did something that It hadn't the first time. As I was driving, the seatbelt warning light would blink four or so times, and make a sound each time it blinked. The salesman said this is because he was not wearing his seatbelt, but yet he didn’t put it on and it kept making the same noise. I didn’t know that the passenger side seatbelt had a sensor, and I just wanted to confirm this to make sure it wasn’t a problem that he was trying to cover up. (Why wouldn’t he just put on his belt?):help:

[LincMercLover]

No, he's correct. Both the front passenger and driver side will cause the seat belt warning to go off. The sensor used to stage air bag deployment is the same sensor used to tell if there's an occupant in the seat. If it "feels" someone riding in the seat without the seat belt on (another sensor in the belt buckle), it will ding for approx. ten minutes, or untill the occupant puts on the seat belt. To turn it off is a worrlie deal of fun!

[jgc61sr2002]

Sax - LML is correct and for safety sake I would not disable it. The SRS system works in conjunction with the seat belts. John :)

[cyclone03]

Believe it or not I think there's a procedure in the owners manual to silence the chime.I think it has something to do with rapidly pressing and releaseing the seat belt release.When the chime sounds just start pressing the button.

[SaxGuy]

I'm just glad it's supposed to do it, rather than be a problem. Id rather have it chime so it will annoy my passenger untill they put there seatbelt on. I strongly believe in seat-belts! Thanks for the quick responses!!!

[CRUZTAKER]

I recall reading a crazy method of turning the chime off in the owner's manual. I discovered it when I took a guest for a ride who (unlike I) doesn't believe in seat belts. It turns out to be a great excuse for convincing your passenger to wear a seat belt. I just said, hey man, the car won't stop chiming till YOU put YOUR seat belt on. Worked for me...besides, in Ohio, the driver gets the ticket if the passenger isn't wearing a seat belt.

Cruztaker

[RF Overlord]

cyclone and cruz: You are both correct, the procedure is covered in the owner' manual under "Belt-Minder"

Sax: I agree with your thinking as far as the passenger goes. I always wear the seatbelt when I'm behind the wheel, as my company requires it in all our work trucks, but I sometimes forget when I'm the passenger.

[Mark McQuaide]

When that bell starts dinging, I just look at my passenger and say "Don't make it mad!" ...seems to work :nono: :nono: ;)

[mdmarauder]

I disabled the Beltminder. It is a real pain in the neck. It has some sequence of buckle and un-buckle etc. It does not however effect the way the airbags will work.

[vaderv]

hey md u better check to make sure. as far as I know the entire system works in concert. They didnt put those belt tensioners in for nothing.

[Mad1]

To disable it just imagine you're putting in the cheat codes for a Playstation, or other console game. (i.e. Up, Down, Left, X, Right, A, B, B -- Cheat enabled.)

Personally, I liked the option of being able to change the "factory" defaults on stuff. I disabled the belt chime, the automatic door lock when in putting the tranny in gear, etc. Read that manual ... good stuff in there.

Sure beats using a wiring diagram out to find the one leading to the chime that needs cut to silence that damn chime. (That used to be my first move when buying a car. I don't need or want idiot reminders for stuff such as putting on a seat belt or because I've left the key in the ignition. I'm a grownup.)

'Nuff said.

[chapel1]

Took my father for a drive to the store and he kept asking what is that annoying noise?I told him it's the seat belt warning going off!Being 79 he decided to ride in the back on the way home just so he would'nt have to put on a seat belt.His car is a 85 El Camino that has a 350 engine in it which he cruizes the back roads of Michigan in at about 35MPH.He loves his car but complains its to fast?
Reading this post made me smile thinking of my stubborn Dad. THANKS, I guess I should give him a call!

[Captdavid]

In Florida the law reads that the driver is responsible for the passengers wearing their seat belts. My daughter makes her husband wear his rather than her being charged with manslaughter should he die in a auto accident while she is driving. That's the law here in Florida.

[looking97233]

To disable the seat belt warning: Buckle then unbucle the seat belt. You have to do this each time someone is riding without the seat belt.

[RF Overlord]

looking:

If you're going to bother doing that, then they might as well wear the seat belt...

There's a procedure in the owner's manual for disabling the "Belt-Minder" feature...either seat can be done independently.

[gja]

I have disabled the reminder on the drivers side only. It's more for just hating the sound than anything else. I actually wear the belt all the time out of habit (have seen far too many real accidents in my years). It does NOT effect the airbag deployment or staging, only the sensors in the belt assembly can do that and there is no procedure to kill the 'bags.