Safety Belt Buckle Switch

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2009 Ford Mustang. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

As part of the supplemental restraint system (SRS), the driver and passenger safety belt buckles are equipped with safety belt buckle switches. The safety belt buckles are comprised of integrated circuits called Hall-effect switches. The safety belt buckle switches indicate to the restraints control module (RCM) whether the safety belt buckles are buckled or unbuckled.

The RCM supplies current to the safety belt buckle switch. Current flows through the switch, buckled or unbuckled, to ground. The RCM will sense the difference in this current draw, 6 mA (unbuckled) or 15 mA (buckled), and use this information in determining the deployment rate of the dual-stage driver and passenger air bag modules. If the RCM detects current out of this range, it will set a DTC.

The safety belt buckle switches are also used for the driver safety belt warning system and the driver and passenger Belt-Minder®. Refer to SAFETY BELT SYSTEM .