Your Vehicle's Safety System

Seat Belt Pretensioner (Driver and Front Passenger)

~3min read
Hyundai Elantra. Pre-tensioner seat belt (Driver and front passenger)

Your vehicle is equipped with pretensioners on the driver and front passenger seats. The belts (pretensioner retractor and emergency locking system). The purpose of the pretensioner is to ensure that the seat belts fit snugly against the occupant's body in certain frontal collisions. The emergency locking device system may be activated in certain accidents when the frontal collision is severe enough, together with the airbags.

When the vehicle stops suddenly or the occupant attempts to lean forward quickly, the seat belt retractor locks in position. In some frontal collisions, the pretensioner activates and tightens the seat belt to fit more snugly against the occupant's body.

(1) Retractor Pretensioner

The retractor pretensioner is designed to ensure that the shoulder belts fit snugly against the upper body of the occupant in certain frontal collisions.

(2) Emergency Locking System

The purpose of the emergency locking device system is to ensure that the lap belts fit snugly against the lower body of the occupant in certain frontal collisions.

If the system detects excessive seat belt tension on the driver's or passenger's belt when the pretensioner system is activated, the load limiter inside the pretensioner retractor will release some of the pressure on the belt.

WARNING

  • Always wear your seat belt and sit properly in your seat.
  • Do not use a seat belt that is loose or twisted. A loose or twisted seat belt will not properly protect you in the event of an accident.
  • Do not place anything near the buckle. It may interfere with latching and cause malfunction.
  • Always replace pretensioners after activation or an accident.
  • NEVER attempt to inspect, service, repair, or replace the pretensioners yourself. This must be done by an authorized HYUNDAI dealer.
  • Do not strike the seat belt assemblies.

WARNING

Do not touch the seat belt pretensioners for several minutes after they have been activated. When the seat belt pretensioner activates during a collision, the pretensioners become hot and may burn you.

Hyundai Elantra. Pre-tensioner seat belt (Driver and front passenger)

The seat belt pretensioner system consists mainly of the following components. Their location is shown in the illustration above:

1. SRS Airbag Warning Light

2. Retractor Pretensioner

3. SRS Control Module

4. Emergency Locking System

NOTICE

The sensor that activates the SRS airbag is connected to the seat belt pretensioners. The SRS airbag warning lamp on the instrument panel will illuminate for approximately 6 seconds after the ignition switch is turned to the ON position, and then it should go off.

If the pretensioner does not operate properly, the warning light will illuminate even if the SRS airbag is normal. If the warning light does not illuminate, stays on, or flashes while driving, have the seat belts with pretensioners and the SRS airbags inspected by an authorized HYUNDAI dealer as soon as possible.

NOTICE

  • The driver's and front passenger's seat belt pretensioners may activate in certain frontal or side collisions or in a rollover.
  • When the seat belt pretensioners activate, a loud noise may be heard, and fine dust may be visible in the passenger compartment, which may look like smoke. This is a normal operating condition and is not hazardous.
  • Although it is non-toxic, the fine dust may cause skin irritation and should not be breathed for a long period. Thoroughly wash all exposed skin after an accident in which the seat belt pretensioners have activated.

WARNING

  • Fasten the seat belt while sitting in an upright position to maximize the effectiveness of the seat belt pretensioner system.
  • The seat belt pretensioner system is designed to activate only once. Replace the seat belt pretensioner system if it has activated in an accident.

Test yourself

A quick Hyundai Elantra AD quiz: every answer comes with an explanation and a link to the manual page.