RAM 1500 Truck 2WD V8-5.7L VIN 2 (2006)
Seat Belt Buckle Switch: Description and Operation
All vehicles are equipped with a driver side seat belt switch that is a small, normally open, single pole, single throw, leaf contact, momentary switch. The
driver side seat belt switch is integral to the buckle (1) of the driver side front seat belt buckle, which is located on a stamped steel stanchion secured by a
screw (3) to the inboard side of the driver side front seat cushion frame.
The seat belt switch is connected to the vehicle electrical system through a two-lead pigtail wire and connector (4) on the seat belt buckle-half, which is
connected to a wire harness connector and take out of the seat wire harness routed beneath the driver side front seat cushion in the passenger
compartment.
The seat belt switch cannot be adjusted or repaired. If faulty or damaged, the entire driver side front seat belt buckle-half unit must be replaced.
The driver side seat belt switch is designed to control a path to ground for the seat belt switch sense input of the Electromechanical Instrument Cluster
(EMIC). When the driver side front seat belt tip-half is inserted into the seat belt buckle, the switch closes the path to ground; and, when the driver side
front seat belt tip-half is removed from the seat belt buckle, the switch opens the ground path. The switch is actuated by the latch mechanism within the
seat belt buckle.
The driver side seat belt switch is connected in series between ground and the seat belt switch sense input of the instrument cluster. The seat belt switch
receives ground at all times through its pigtail wire connection to the seat wire harness from a take out of the body wire harness. An eyelet terminal
connector on the body wire harness ground take out is secured beneath a ground screw on the left cowl side inner panel, beneath the instrument panel.
The seat belt switch may de diagnosed using conventional diagnostic tools and methods.
