Commander 4WD V8-4.7L VIN N (2006)
Seat Belt Reminder Lamp: Description and Operation
SEATBELT INDICATOR
DESCRIPTION
A seatbelt indicator is standard equipment on all instrument clusters. This indicator is located near the top of the cluster overlay, between the
speedometer and the tachometer.
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 indicator to appear in red through the translucent outer layer of the
overlay when it 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.
OPERATION
The seatbelt indicator gives an indication to the vehicle operator of the status of either the driver side or both the driver and passenger side front
seatbelts, depending upon the market for which the vehicle was manufactured. 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 switches in the driver side or driver and passenger side front seatbelt
retractors through the seat belt switch sense circuits.
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 inputs to the cluster.
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Front Seatbelt Not Buckled - Beltminder Active - Following the seatbelt reminder function, each time the cluster detects an open circuit on
either of the front seat belt switch sense circuits (seatbelt switch open = seatbelt unbuckled) with the ignition switch in the ON or START
positions, the indicator will be illuminated. In addition, if the front seat belt remains unbuckled about 60 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 3 seconds, then lighting solid for 2 seconds. The seatbelt indicator will continue to cycle between flashing
and solid illumination for 13 complete cycles, until the seat belt switch sense inputs to the cluster are closed circuits 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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Front Seatbelt Not Buckled - Beltminder Inactive - Following the seatbelt reminder function, each time the cluster detects an open circuit on
either of the seat belt switch sense circuits (seatbelt switch open = seatbelt unbuckled) with the ignition switch in the ON or START positions, the
indicator will be illuminated. The seatbelt indicator remains illuminated until the seat belt indicator driver inputs to the cluster are closed circuits
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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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 switches are connected in series between ground and the seat belt switch sense circuit inputs to the instrument cluster. The seatbelt switch
inputs to the instrument cluster circuitry may be diagnosed using conventional diagnostic tools and methods.
