Seat belt light not on

[johnj]

Hi

The seat belt warning light does not come on. Touching the two wires from the dashboard causes the dashboard light to come, so I think the problem is within the female part of the seat belt. I assume that there should be a circuit if I join the two wires from the female end together. There is no circuit here. The part seams to be sealed, so I assume I need a new part. SJS just sell a complete seat belt kit. Is there a part from another car I can use?

[dapinky]

John,

Before you write off the socket, have you checked the 2 bullet connectors just behind the seat?

The wiring for the seatbelt joins the wiring loom at these 2 connectors which are situated in a perfect place to be affected by any water which gets into the car and sloshes around under the seat. Just follow the wires from the socket with your hand (it can be difficult to see properly), and you will feel the connectors.

Obviously, if they are corroded it won't help things along - and you can short the 2 wires out to make sure the dash light comes on, and check the continuity of the seatbelt socket with a multimeter.

[johnj]

Hi dapinky

On my car if you pull the seat fully forward you can clearly see the bullet connectors behind it. The two connectors on the end of the wiring loom were very very corroded so I cut them off and fitted new ones which if touched together cause the dashboard light to illuminate so the wiring loom is working correctly. I tested for a circuit through the seat belt socket but failed to find one.

[dapinky]

John,

It appears that it is a replacement socket that you need.......

...... but do you really need it?

There is no legal requirement to have a seat belt warning light, and assuming that you wear your seatbelt when you drive as a matter of course, I would just leave it alone until a second-hand unit becomes availlable for a reasonable price.

[johnj]

Cheers.

I am working my way through the problems and thought it would be an easy swap. If there is no readily available part I'll take your advice and wait.

Thanks

[MarkP]

Hi John,

I have the same problem but the other way round. My light is on most of the time and I have to push the tongue in and out a few times to get the switch inside there to cut the circuit and turn the light off. If your micro switch is stuck closed have you tried spraying circuit cleaner and / or wd40 in the slot to see if you can have any impact on the switch. I believe it is possible to separate the plastic surround to get access to the innards but it looked bonded together to me and I wasn’t sure what would happen if I applied force. These things seem widely available on eBay but there seem a number of different versions so I have not felt the need to go there yet as mine most times can be persuaded to go off. I also found my passenger side latch has wires coming out but there is nothing for it to plug into I can see in my car. Maybe they are interchangeable?

[Rambo]

Careful of that come MOT time. New MOT rules introduced in Jan this year re. warning lights not being extinguished

Probably as well to disconnect it if a seat belt sign usn't obligatory/mandatory

[johnj]

Hi MarkP

I've sprayed WD40 in all holes, kept moving the latch up and down and hey presto a circuit appeared.

Thanks