Grand Caravan V6-3.8L (2009)
Seat Belt Buckle Switch: Description and Operation
Seat Belt Switch - Description
DESCRIPTION
On all vehicles, two different seat belt switches are used in the front seat buckles (1). The driver side uses a mechanical switch, while the passenger side
is actually a Hall Effect-type sensor. The driver side switch is a small, normally open, single pole, single throw, leaf contact, momentary switch. The
driver side seat belt switch is integral to the buckle of the driver side front seat belt. The passenger side switch consists of a fixed-position, Hall Effect
Integrated Circuit (IC) chip and a small permanent magnet that is integral to the passenger side front seat belt buckle. On the passenger side, a one
kilohm diagnostic resistor is connected in parallel with the IC where the two pigtail wire leads connect to the IC pins.
The front seat belt buckles are located in a molded plastic scabbard and secured by a screw (4) to a bracket (5) near the back of the inboard driver side
front seat track. The buckle-type seat belt switch or sensor is connected to the vehicle electrical system through a two-lead pigtail wire (3) on the front
seat belt buckle-half, which is connected to a wire harness connector and take out of the seat wire harness routed beneath the front seat cushion (2).
The seat belt switches or sensors cannot be adjusted or repaired. If ineffective or damaged, the entire front seat belt buckle-half unit or the driver side
seat belt and retractor unit must be replaced.
