2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Seat belts

[Charliegeis]

Has anyone had trouble with the seat belts not allowing you to pull them out to buckle them? Mine will lock up at times and not allow either the drivers side or the passengers side belt to be pulled out. Sometimes after starting the engine they will release and other times they stay locked up until the engine is shut off and restarted. Usually the "seatbelt" light remains lit while they are locked up. It only happens occasonally. I have 60K miles on my '99.

 

[dan_gilson]

Yes, I have had that happen. My seat belt control module under the center seat/hump died and needed to be replaced.



The seat belt control module is a timer to allow the seat belts to be pulled out. After 1/2 hour it disables saving the batteries. Mine went south, especially on hot days and would not allow me to pull out the seat belts. It is pretty bad from a safety standpoint but even worse here in CA where you can be ticketed for not wearing your seatbelt.



I had some trouble shooting stuff that walked me a bunch of stuff and when I got to the bottom it said: "If you have gotten here replace the seat belt control module. "



The sucker was not cheap either. I think it was in the $50-80 range.



The trouble shooting made sure all the inputs to the module were good and within proper ranges. It took me about 2 hours to go through all of them for the first time. I figured that I was time and possibly money ahead of taking it to a dealer and waiting 4 hours just for them to look at it. You may want to just replace the module to start with if the truck has not been in any kind of accident. If you want to the trouble shooting stuff send me a private message and I will try to put my hands on the hard copies and send them to you.



... Dan

 

[DHorstman]

This sounds like my problem.

Just left the campground today and neither belt would release. Had to drive 2hrs home in the rain with no belt. I thought it was odd that both sides acted up at the same time.



Can the module just be eliminated?

My truck was a rollover and now is a convertible so the seats get wet in the rain. If there are sensors around the retractors this could cause re-occuring problems.



Will any of the faults show up on the OBDII scanner under the body module?



Thanks, Dan

 

[dan_gilson]

The module is under the center front seat. It is in a plastic case.

To remove it you would probably have to complete replace the retractor mechanisms for the seat belts.



I don't know about sensors in the seats. I think there are only electric selenoids for the retractor locks. So you can't rule out weather as a possible cause. But the opening is small so unless you have been in a could of really big down pours I would not expect a lot of water to get in there.



The seat belt modules do go out. Dealers are supposed to have at least 1 in stock at all times. That sould tell you something about the frequency of trouble.



It took me less than an hour to replace with simple hand tools. The module costed less than $90. You have to pull the center seat to get access. All connects are by keyed plugs.



Driving without seatbelts gives a very unsafe feeling. (At least for me. ) Please be safe and get this resolve soon! Getting in an accident without a belt on can cause a host of other problems, even if you are not hurt.



It sounds like you need to add a roll bar and put some canvas up there to at least keep you head out of the weather.



Best wishes!

 

[DHorstman]

I have seen the module, was assuming it was a inertia sensor for the SIR system. Just laying on the floor right now, didn't bolt it up because I removed the locking aftermarket center console to install the factory seat incase the insurance company wouldn't let me keep the truck.



Banged the module on the floor and the belts still wouldn't release with key off. Started truck and they worked, not sure if banging on the module did anything. Leaning more toward the actuators may have dried out. , then again, I thing the belts gave me trouble once before. Been quite a while and cleared up right away and didn't give it much thought.



Yes, lots of water.

Have a roll cage in the truck and canvas top. After it was done raining and I dried the seat off I forgot about all the water on the roof, poured in on me and the seat. At the time it had no drivers window which really don't matter since there is no real seal around the top and window.



I have too download some pics and post them I guess .

 

[dan_gilson]

Key has to be on or door(s) open to power the seleniods.



Banging on it may have cleared the angle ball. If you have ever been over 30o angle (which you where) it may have gotten stuck.



Drying out is good too.

 

[DODGEDADDIE]

Is there a FUSE to goes to this unit also??

I read some where that SOME ONE said it might be a fuse?

If so where (un-hood or side of dash) an the #



Mike In Maine

 

[Crowhurst]

I fixed this problem by pulling out the electrical plug connector on the unit under the central seat, using spray contact cleaner on both male and female parts of the connector, letting them dry, and plugging back in. I've had to do this twice in the past eleven years. The plug is awkward to access, of course. It's worth a try.

Nick.

 

[mark ridgeway]

hi guys,
my belts have locked up too, I found that if I un-hook the batteries the belts will work for a day or two then lock up again, also took out the timer control module and cleaned the connections as Crowhurst advised, no luck. I've called the dealers and was told that there are no timer modules in the states and none being manufactured leaving at least the 83 people on the waiting list, waiting. So my question is, has anyone been able to figure out how to rebuild/repair these parts? would like to get this back on the road as it is my tow rig and racing season is starting soon. I should add that my truck is a 98.5 2500 4x4 with a Cummins diesel engine. Thanks in advance to all.
Mark 206-909-8877 -- email address removed --