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Old 03-25-2013, 11:16 AM   #1
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Seat belt warning disconnect / connect

How many ways could have the previous owner disconnected this warning? I have check the black wire at the ignition switch and it is intact.

My real problem is the Air bag light. 99% of the time it flashes for passenger seat belt. I have a 96 with no passenger airbag and no wires coming from the passenger seat belt. Once I got code 51 or whatever which said drivers seat belt. Since the seat belt warning doesn't work I am guessing it has been disconnected where there may have been a jumper for passenger seat belt. And I am hoping connecting this back up will fix my air bag fault.

(The seat belt warning light is on before starting, but goes out right away after starting as if I really had my seat belt on.)

thanks
nick

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Old 03-25-2013, 12:06 PM   #2
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Seat belt warning disconnect / connect

Not site how you'd is wired but there should be a contact and plug connection and wires that are under the passenger seat. You may have to pull the seat to get at them.
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Old 03-25-2013, 12:45 PM   #3
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Re: Seat belt warning disconnect / connect

Quote:
Originally Posted by larrie
there should be a contact and plug connection and wires that are under the passenger seat.
I certainly thought so, but drove myself crazy looking for it. I took apart the ratcheting side of the belt and the buckle side as well. On the drivers side the wire coming from the buckle side is in plain sight. The seat swivels and it is easy to see no wires, but with a seat that swivels I thought for sure this would be how wires could get damaged.
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Old 03-25-2013, 01:14 PM   #4
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Re: Seat belt warning disconnect / connect

The airbag system and the seatbelt reminder are totally separate on a '96 van.
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Old 03-25-2013, 01:58 PM   #5
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Re: Seat belt warning disconnect / connect

Quote:
Originally Posted by carringb
The airbag system and the seatbelt reminder are totally separate on a '96 van.
Thanks.

I disconnected the drivers side belt connector and it flashed 13 (crash data full) and then after reconnected it flashes 13, 32 (passenger), and 51 (driver's). I guess I just made things worse.

My local "guy" with a snap-on scanner doesn't pick up airbag codes. If we have it flashing I don't know why he needs to see the same thing on his snap on, but hey, modern mechanics seem helpless without their scanner.

I am fine not having the seat belt warning. Not something I forget. The airbag thing however...
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Old 03-26-2013, 10:54 AM   #6
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Re: Seat belt warning disconnect / connect

Not sure about 96, but my SMB has a sensor in the seat and a seatbelt connected sensor. If the seatbelt is separate, there might be a "is there a person in the seat" sensor that isn't connected (s.t. the airbag doesn't fire on an empty seat).

Or you could have newspaper stuffed where the airbags should be.
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Old 03-26-2013, 11:17 AM   #7
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Re: Seat belt warning disconnect / connect

Quote:
Originally Posted by jage
Not sure about 96, but my SMB has a sensor in the seat and a seatbelt connected sensor. If the seatbelt is separate, there might be a "is there a person in the seat" sensor that isn't connected (s.t. the airbag doesn't fire on an empty seat).

Or you could have newspaper stuffed where the airbags should be.
Seatbelt integration with the Airbag system started in '97 as far as I know. It slows the airbag if the seatbelt is worn, since the airbag has smaller role in that case, and the seat sensor also affects airbag force. The wire to the seatbelt is what triggers the "pre-tensionser" (again, '97+). It's also a small explosion, but it pulls the seatbelt latch down to remove slack.

Unless Ford upgraded the restraint system in some late '96 vans (possible) the seatbelt sensor is completely independent.

Note: Ford did install the 460 into some '97 model year vans which were built in '96. Any chance the OP's van is actually a '97?
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Old 03-26-2013, 11:39 AM   #8
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Re: Seat belt warning disconnect / connect

Quote:
Originally Posted by carringb
Any chance the OP's van is actually a '97?
Build date is actually '95. I don't see any wiring in the seat to recognize me sitting down, but that doesn't mean it there.

I am still cracking up that by disconnecting the seat belt wire the airbag computer thinks I just crashed.

I haven't tried a smiley yet. Poking a hornets nest seems to be right.
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