Locked Seatbelt?

[Mark Baker]

While installing my Painless Kit yesterday, I discovered you can't extract the seatbelt with the battery disconnected.



I realize there's not need for a seatbelt if the truck can't be started, and that power is required to lock the belt in a collision.



Just curious why it defaults in a locked position when power is interrupted?

 

[illflem]

To keep from running your battery down when parked (with the batteries connected of course!). The belts use power in the unlocked mode. It's hard to catch them in the locked mode with the battery installed. You would have to "sneak" up on it by climbing though the window or disabling the door switch to find them locked because they go into the unlocked mode for a certain amount of time after you turn off the truck or open the door. This way of doing it also locks the belts if you are in a collision that takes out the batteries, goes right along with the reason for a backup power supply for the airbags.

 

[Mark Baker]

Now it all makes sense, thanks.