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Body and Paint

Diagnosis and Testing - Seat Belt Systems

In this manual: Body and Paint
General Information — 41Chassis — 173Powertrain — 250Electrical — 303Body and Paint — 331
~5min read

Symptom Chart

Preliminary Inspection

The diagnosis in this manual assumes a certain level of skill and knowledge of Ford-approved diagnostic procedures.
REFER TO: Diagnostic Methods (100-00 General Information, Description and Operation).

Before diagnosing or repairing the seat belt system, check the following:

  • Seat belt webbing integrity (torn, frayed, cut or stretched)
  • Seat Belt Buckle and Tongue Assembly (latching and unlatching, foreign objects)

Symptom Chart: Seat Belt System

Symptom Chart


Condition Action
Unbuckled seat belt warning indicator does not work GO to Pinpoint Test A
Unbuckled seat belt chime does not work GO to Pinpoint Test B
Seat belt webbing does not extend or applies excessive pressure to the occupant during use GO to Pinpoint Test C
Seat belt webbing does not retract or excessively slackens during use. GO to Pinpoint Test C
Belt-Minder® feature does not function GO to Pinpoint Test D
Seat belt latch plate rotates on the seat belt webbing. GO to Pinpoint Test E
Seat belt webbing is twisted in the seat belt guide. GO to Pinpoint Test E
Seat belt webbing is dirty or soiled GO to Pinpoint Test E

Pinpoint Tests


DIAGNOSTIC TEST A: SEAT BELT REMINDER INDICATOR INOPERATIVE

Normal Operation and Fault Symptoms

Turn the ignition on and monitor the airbag warning indicator after the IPC has failed.

  • If the airbag warning indicator is illuminated, refer to: Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) (501-20B Supplemental Restraint System, Diagnosis and Testing).
  • If the airbag warning indicator is not illuminated, refer to: Instrument Cluster, Message Center and Warning Chimes (413-01 Instrument Cluster, Message Center and Warning Chimes, Diagnosis and Testing).

Possible Sources

  • Refer to Pinpoint Test
No diagnostic actions are available for this symptom or DTC. Refer to: Diagnostic Methods (100-00 General Information, Description and Operation).
DIAGNOSTIC CHART B: SEAT BELT WARNING INOPERATIVE

Normal Operation and Fault Symptoms

Turn the ignition on and monitor the airbag warning indicator after the IPC has failed.

  • If the airbag warning indicator is illuminated, refer to: Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) (501-20B Supplemental Restraint System, Diagnosis and Testing).
  • If the airbag warning indicator is not illuminated, refer to: Instrument Cluster, Message Center and Warning Chimes (413-01 Instrument Cluster, Message Center and Warning Chimes, Diagnosis and Testing).

Possible Sources

  • Refer to Pinpoint Test
No diagnostic actions are available for this symptom or DTC. Refer to: Diagnostic Methods (100-00 General Information, Description and Operation).
DIAGNOSTIC CHART C: SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER CONCERNS

Normal Operation and Fault Symptoms

Seat belt webbing does not extend or applies excessive pressure to the occupant during use.

  • If the seat belt pretensioner is in jumper detection mode, release the locked seat belt pretensioner. Refer to: Releasing a Locked Seat Belt Pretensioner (501-20A Seat Belt Systems, General Procedures).
  • If the interior trim is not installed correctly, correct the interior trim installation. Refer to Section 501-05.
  • If the seat belt retractor is locked in Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) mode or internally locked, refer to: Seat Belt System Functional Tests (501-20A Seat Belt System, General Procedures).
    and perform the applicable functional test.

Seat belt webbing does not retract or excessively slackens during use.

  • If the seat belt webbing is twisted or incorrectly routed, refer to: Seat Belt Tongue Twisted on Webbing (501-20A Seat Belt Systems, General Procedures).
    or refer to: Seat Belt Webbing Twisted in Seat Belt Guide (501-20A Seat Belt Systems, General Procedures).
  • If the interior trim is not installed correctly, correct the interior trim installation. Refer to Section 501-05.
  • If the seat belt pretensioner is pinched internally, refer to: Seat Belt System Functional Tests (501-20A Seat Belt Systems, General Procedures).
    and perform the appropriate functional test.

Possible Sources

  • Interior trim installed incorrectly
  • Seat belt webbing twisted or routed incorrectly
  • Seat belt retractor is in web sensing mode
  • Seat belt retractor is in Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) mode (if equipped).
  • Seat belt retractor with internal jam
No diagnostic actions are available for this symptom or DTC. Refer to: Diagnostic Methods (100-00 General Information, Description and Operation).
DIAGNOSTIC TEST D: BELT-MINDER® CONCERNS

Normal Operation and Fault Symptoms

Using the diagnostic scan tool, verify that the Belt-Minder® feature is enabled.

  • If Belt-Minder® is not activated, activate the Belt-Minder® feature using the diagnostic scan tool or refer to: Belt-Minder Deactivation/Activation (413-01 Instrument Panel, Message Center and Warning Chimes, General Procedures).
  • If the Belt-Minder® feature is activated, refer to: Instrument Cluster, Message Center and Warning Chimes (413-01 Instrument Cluster, Message Center and Warning Chimes, Diagnosis and Testing).

Possible Sources

  • Refer to Pinpoint Test
No diagnostic actions are available for this symptom or DTC. Refer to: Diagnostic Methods (100-00 General Information, Description and Operation).
DIAGNOSTIC TEST E: SEAT BELT CONCERNS

Normal Operation and Fault Symptoms

Seat belt latch plate rotates on the seat belt webbing.

  • Refer to: Seat Belt Latch Plate Rotates on Seat Belt (501-20A Seat Belt System, General Procedures).

Seat belt webbing is twisted in the seat belt guide.

  • Refer to: Seat Belt Webbing Twisted in Seat Belt Guide (501-20A Seat Belt System, General Procedures).

Seat belt webbing is dirty or soiled

  • Refer to: Cleaning Seat Belts (501-20A Seat Belt System, General Procedures).

Possible Sources

  • Seat belt webbing twisted or routed incorrectly
  • Seat belt webbing dirty or soiled
No diagnostic actions are available for this symptom or DTC. Refer to: Diagnostic Methods (100-00 General Information, Description and Operation).

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