RAM 1500 Truck 2WD V8-5.7L VIN 2 (2006)
Seat Belt Reminder Lamp: Description and Operation
A seatbelt indicator is standard equipment on all instrument clusters. The seatbelt indicator is located near the upper edge of the instrument cluster,
between the tachometer and the speedometer.
The seatbelt indicator consists of a stencil-like cutout of the International Control and Display Symbol icon for Seat Belt in the opaque layer of the
instrument cluster overlay. The dark outer layer of the overlay prevents the indicator from being clearly visible when it is not illuminated. A red Light
Emitting Diode (LED) behind the cutout in the opaque layer of the overlay causes the icon to appear in red through the translucent outer layer of the
overlay when the indicator is illuminated from behind by the LED, which is soldered onto the instrument cluster electronic circuit board. The seatbelt
indicator is serviced as a unit with the instrument cluster.
The seatbelt indicator gives an indication to the vehicle operator of the status of the driver side front seatbelt. This indicator is controlled by a transistor
on the instrument cluster circuit board based upon cluster programming and a hard wired input from the seatbelt switch in the driver side front seatbelt
buckle through the seat belt indicator driver circuit.
The seatbelt indicator also includes a programmable enhanced seatbelt reminder or beltminder feature that is enabled when the vehicle is shipped from
the factory. This beltminder feature can be disabled and enabled by the customer using a specific programming event sequence, or by the dealer using a
diagnostic scan tool.
The seatbelt indicator Light Emitting Diode (LED) is completely controlled by the instrument cluster logic circuit, and that logic will only allow this
indicator to operate when the instrument cluster receives a battery current input on the fused ignition switch output (run-start) circuit. Therefore, the LED
will always be off when the ignition switch is in any position except On or Start. The LED only illuminates when it is provided a path to ground by the
instrument cluster transistor. The instrument cluster will turn on the seatbelt indicator for the following reasons:
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Seatbelt Reminder Function - Each time the cluster receives a battery current input on the fused ignition switch output (run-start) circuit, the
indicator will be illuminated as a seatbelt reminder for about six seconds, or until the ignition switch is turned to the Off position, whichever
occurs first. This reminder function will occur regardless of the status of the seatbelt switch input to the cluster.
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Driver Side Front Seatbelt Not Buckled - Beltminder Active - Following the seatbelt reminder function, each time the cluster detects an open
circuit on the seat belt indicator driver circuit (seatbelt switch open = seatbelt unbuckled) with the ignition switch in the Start or On positions, the
indicator will be illuminated. In addition, if the driver side front seat belt remains unbuckled about sixty seconds after the conclusion of the
seatbelt reminder function with the vehicle speed greater than about 8 kilometers-per-hour (5 miles-per-hour), the seatbelt indicator will begin
to cycle between flashing on and off for three seconds, then lighting solid for two seconds. The seatbelt indicator will continue to cycle between
flashing and solid illumination for thirteen complete cycles, until the seat belt indicator driver input to the cluster is closed to ground (seatbelt
switch closed = seatbelt buckled), or until the ignition switch is turned to the Off position, whichever occurs first.
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Driver Side Front Seatbelt Not Buckled - Beltminder Inactive - Following the seatbelt reminder function, each time the cluster detects an open
circuit on the seat belt indicator driver circuit (seatbelt switch open = seatbelt unbuckled) with the ignition switch in the Start or On positions, the
indicator will be illuminated. The seatbelt indicator remains illuminated until the seat belt indicator driver input to the cluster is closed to ground
(seatbelt switch closed = seatbelt buckled), or until the ignition switch is turned to the Off position, whichever occurs first.
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Airbag Indicator Backup - If the instrument cluster detects a fault in the airbag indicator circuit it will send a message indicating the fault to the
Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC), then flash the seatbelt indicator on and off. The cluster will continue to flash the seatbelt indicator until the
airbag indicator circuit fault is resolved, or until the ignition switch is turned to the Off position, whichever occurs first.
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Actuator Test - Each time the cluster is put through the actuator test, the seatbelt indicator will be turned on, then off again during the bulb check
portion of the test to confirm the functionality of the LED and the cluster control circuitry.
The seatbelt switch is connected in series between ground and the seat belt indicator driver input to the instrument cluster. The seatbelt switch input to
the instrument cluster circuitry may be diagnosed using conventional diagnostic tools and methods. Refer to the appropriate wiring information.
For further diagnosis of the seatbelt indicator or the instrument cluster circuitry that controls the LED, refer to testing.
