RAM 2500 Truck 2WD L6-6.7L DSL Turbo (2010)
Seat Belt Tensioner: Description and Operation
Seat Belt Tensioner - Description
DESCRIPTION
Seat belt retractor tensioners supplement the dual front airbag system for all versions of this vehicle. These tensioners are integral to the front seat belt
and retractor units (1), which are secured to the B-pillars on the right and left sides of the vehicle. The retractors are concealed beneath the molded
plastic B-pillar trim. The seat belt tensioner consists primarily of a molded plastic tensioner housing (3), a tubular metal piston housing (4), a piston, a
short rack gear, a set of pinion gears and a pyrotechnically activated gas generator (2).
All of these components are located on one side of the retractor spool on the outside of the retractor housing. The seat belt tensioners are controlled by
the Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) and are connected to the vehicle electrical system through dedicated take outs of the body wire harness by
keyed and latching molded plastic connector insulators to ensure a secure connection.
The retractor tensioners cannot be repaired and, if ineffective or damaged, the entire front seat belt and retractor unit must be replaced. The retractor
tensioners are not intended for reuse and must be replaced following any front airbag deployment. A locked retractor that will not allow the seat belt
webbing to be retracted or extracted is a sure indication that the seat belt tensioner has been deployed and requires replacement. See: Seat Belt
Retractor/Service and Repair/Seat Belt Retractor - Removal.