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 Electro-Mechanical Instrument Cluster (EMIC). The seat belt switch contact is actuated by the seat belt latch plate being inserted in to the buckle. When the seat belt latch plate is inserted into the buckle far enough to be engaged by the seat belt buckle latch, the switch leaf contact opens the seat belt switch sense circuit ground path; and, when the seat belt latch plate is released and extracted from the seat belt buckle latch the switch leaf contact is released, closing the circuit to ground.

The seat belt switch is connected is 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 vehicle wire harness from another take out of the vehicle wire harness. An eyelet terminal connector on the vehicle wire harness ground take out is secured under a nut to a ground stud located on the floor panel within the driver side front seat riser. The seat belt switch may de diagnosed using conventional diagnostic tools and methods.