Content .. 351 352 353 354 ..

Dodge Dakota (R1). Manual - part 353

beneath the rear seat cushion. Club cab models have
a combined rear seat lap belt/buckle unit on the left
side of the vehicle that is secured to the rear floor
panel beneath the rear seat cushion. The left side of
the quad cab models has a rear lap belt unit that is
secured to a stud on the left center rear seat riser
bracket, and a rear buckle unit that is secured to the
rear of the left seat cushion frame.

WARNING: DURING AND FOLLOWING ANY SEAT
BELT SERVICE, CAREFULLY INSPECT ALL SEAT
BELTS, BUCKLES, MOUNTING HARDWARE, AND
RETRACTORS

FOR

PROPER

INSTALLATION,

OPERATION, OR DAMAGE. REPLACE ANY BELT
THAT IS CUT, FRAYED, OR TORN. STRAIGHTEN
ANY

BELT

THAT

TWISTED.

TIGHTEN

ANY

LOOSE FASTENERS. REPLACE ANY BELT THAT
HAS A DAMAGED OR INOPERATIVE BUCKLE OR
RETRACTOR. REPLACE ANY BELT THAT HAS A
BENT OR DAMAGED LATCH PLATE OR ANCHOR
PLATE. NEVER ATTEMPT TO REPAIR A SEAT BELT
COMPONENT. ALWAYS REPLACE DAMAGED OR
FAULTY SEAT BELT COMPONENTS WITH THE COR-
RECT, NEW AND UNUSED REPLACEMENT PARTS
LISTED IN THE MOPAR PARTS CATALOG.

REAR SEAT BUCKLE/BUCKLE UNIT (CLUB OR QUAD CAB) &
LAP BELT/BUCKLE UNIT (CLUB CAB ONLY)

(1) Position the rear seat buckle/buckle unit (right

side) or lap belt/buckle unit (left side) onto the rear
floor panel (Fig. 26).

(2) Install and tighten the screw that secures the

anchor plate of the rear seat buckle/buckle unit
(right side - club cab or quad cab) or lap belt/buckle
unit (left side - club cab only) to the rear floor panel.
Tighten the screw to 40 N·m (29 ft. lbs.).

(3) Reinstall the rear seat onto the rear floor panel

(club cab) (Refer to 23 - BODY/SEATS/SEAT CUSH-
ION - INSTALLATION) or fold down the rear seat
cushion (quad cab).

REAR SEAT LAP BELT UNIT - LEFT SIDE - QUAD CAB ONLY

(1) Position the rear seat lap belt unit onto the

stud on the inboard side of the left center rear seat
riser bracket.

(2) Install and tighten the nut that secures the

rear seat lap belt anchor plate to the stud on the
inboard side of the left center rear seat riser bracket.
Tighten the nut to 40 N·m (29 ft. lbs.).

(3) Fold down the rear seat cushions.

REAR SEAT BUCKLE UNIT - LEFT SIDE - QUAD CAB ONLY

(1) Position the rear seat belt buckle unit onto the

rear of the left seat cushion frame.

(2) Install and tighten the screw that secures the

rear seat belt buckle anchor plate to the rear of the

left seat cushion frame. Tighten the screw to 40 N·m
(29 ft. lbs.).

(3) Fold down the rear seat cushions.

SEAT BELT SWITCH

DESCRIPTION

The seat belt switch is a small, normally open, sin-

gle pole, single throw, plunger actuated, momentary
switch. Only one seat belt switch is installed in the
vehicle, and it is integral to the driver seat belt
retractor assembly. The seat belt switch is connected
to the vehicle electrical system through a short pig-
tail wire to a dedicated take out and connector of the
body wire harness.

The seat belt switch cannot be adjusted or repaired

and, if faulty or damaged, the entire driver seat belt
and retractor unit must be replaced.

OPERATION

The seat belt switch is designed to control a path

to ground for the seat belt switch sense input of the
Electro-Mechanical Instrument Cluster (EMIC). The
seat belt switch plunger is actuated by the seat belt
webbing wound onto the seat belt retractor spool.
When the seat belt tip-half webbing is pulled out of
the retractor far enough to engage the seat belt buck-
le-half, the switch plunger is extended and closes the
seat belt switch sense circuit to ground; and, when
the seat belt tip-half webbing is wound onto the
retractor the switch plunger is depressed, opening
the ground path. The EMIC monitors the seat belt
switch status, then controls the seatbelt indicator
and sends electronic chime request messages over
the Programmable Communications Interface (PCI)
data bus to the Central Timer Module (CTM) based
upon that input.

The seat belt switch receives ground through its

pigtail wire connection to the body wire harness from
another take out of the body wire harness. An eyelet
terminal connector on that ground take out is
secured under a ground screw to the left lower B-pil-
lar. The seat belt switch is connected in series
between ground and the seat belt switch sense input
of the EMIC.

DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING - SEAT BELT
SWITCH

Refer to the appropriate wiring information. The

wiring information includes wiring diagrams, proper
wire and connector repair procedures, details of wire
harness routing and retention, connector pin-out
information and location views for the various wire
harness connectors, splices and grounds.

8O - 30

RESTRAINTS

REAR SEAT LAP BELT/BUCKLE (Continued)

WARNING: ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AIR-
BAGS, DISABLE THE AIRBAG SYSTEM BEFORE
ATTEMPTING ANY STEERING WHEEL, STEERING
COLUMN, SEAT BELT TENSIONER, OR INSTRU-
MENT PANEL COMPONENT DIAGNOSIS OR SER-
VICE. DISCONNECT AND ISOLATE THE BATTERY
NEGATIVE (GROUND) CABLE, THEN WAIT TWO
MINUTES FOR THE AIRBAG SYSTEM CAPACITOR
TO DISCHARGE BEFORE PERFORMING FURTHER
DIAGNOSIS OR SERVICE. THIS IS THE ONLY SURE
WAY TO DISABLE THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. FAILURE
TO TAKE THE PROPER PRECAUTIONS COULD
RESULT IN ACCIDENTAL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT
AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL INJURY.

(1) Disconnect and isolate the battery negative

cable. Disconnect the body wire harness connector for
the seat belt switch from the seat belt switch pigtail
wire connector from the driver side front seat belt
retractor. Check for continuity between the ground
circuit cavity of the body wire harness connector for
the seat belt switch and a good ground. There should
be continuity. If OK, go to Step 2. If not OK, repair
the open ground circuit to ground (G307) as required.

(2) Check for continuity between the two cavities

in the seat belt switch pigtail wire connector. There
should be no continuity with the seat belt webbing
retracted, and continuity with the seat belt webbing
pulled out of the retractor far enough to engage the
seat belt buckle. If OK, go to Step 3. If not OK,
replace the faulty driver side front seat belt and
retractor unit.

(3) Remove the instrument cluster from the instru-

ment panel. Check for continuity between the seat
belt switch sense circuit cavity of the body wire har-
ness connector for the seat belt switch and a good
ground. There should be no continuity. If OK, go to
Step 4. If not OK, repair the shorted seat belt switch
sense circuit between the seat belt switch and the
instrument cluster as required.

(4) Check for continuity between the seat belt

switch sense circuit cavities of the instrument panel
wire harness connector (Connector C2) for the instru-
ment cluster and the body wire harness connector for
the seat belt switch. There should be continuity. If
OK, proceed to the diagnosis for the instrument clus-
ter.

(Refer

ELECTRICAL/INSTRUMENT

CLUSTER - DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING). If not OK,
repair the open seat belt switch sense circuit between
the seat belt switch and the instrument cluster as
required.

SEAT BELT TENSIONER

DESCRIPTION

Seat belt tensioners supplement the airbag system

for all quad cab versions of this model. The seat belt
tensioners are integral to the front seat belt retrac-
tors, which are secured within each B-pillar in the
vehicle where they are concealed behind the B-pillar
trim. The seat belt tensioner consists primarily of a
sprocket/pinion, a steel tube, a cast metal housing,
numerous steel balls, a stamped metal ball trap, a
torsion bar, a small pyrotechnically activated gas
generator, and a short pigtail wire. All of these com-
ponents are located on one side of the retractor spool
on the outside of the retractor housing except for the
torsion bar, which serves as the spindle upon which
the retractor spool rides. The seat belt tensioners are
controlled by the Airbag Control Module (ACM) and
are connected to the vehicle electrical system through
a dedicated take out of the body wire harness by a
keyed and latching molded plastic connector insula-
tor to ensure a secure connection.

The seat belt tensioners cannot be repaired and, if

faulty or damaged, the entire front seat belt, retrac-
tor, and tensioner unit must be replaced. The seat
belt tensioners are not intended for reuse, and both
tensioners must be replaced following any airbag
deployment. A growling or grinding sound while
attempting to operate the seat belt retractor is a sure
indication that the seat belt tensioner has been
deployed and requires replacement. For seat belt ten-
sioner service procedures, (Refer to 8 - ELECTRI-
CAL/RESTRAINTS/FRONT

SEAT

BELT

RETRACTOR - REMOVAL).

OPERATION

The seat belt tensioners are deployed in conjunc-

tion with the airbags by a signal generated by the
Airbag Control Module (ACM) through the driver or
passenger seat belt tensioner line 1 and line 2 (or
squib) circuits. When the ACM sends the proper elec-
trical signal to the tensioner, the electrical energy
generates enough heat to initiate a small pyrotechnic
gas generator. The gas generator is installed in one
end of a steel tube that contains numerous steel
balls. As the gas expands, it pushes the steel balls
through the tube into a cast metal housing, where a
ball guide directs the balls into engagement with the
teeth of a sprocket that is geared to one end of the
retractor spool. As the balls drive past the sprocket,
the sprocket turns and drives the seat belt retractor
spool causing the slack to be removed from the front
seat belts. The ball trap captures the balls as they
leave the sprocket and are expelled from the housing.
Removing excess slack from the front seat belts not
only keeps the occupants properly positioned for an

RESTRAINTS

8O - 31

SEAT BELT SWITCH (Continued)

airbag deployment following a frontal impact of the
vehicle, but also helps to reduce the likelihood of a
harmful contact with interior components. Also, the
seat belt tensioner torsion bar that the retractor
spool rides upon is designed to deform in order to
control the loading being applied to the occupants by
the seat belts during a frontal impact, further reduc-
ing the potential for occupant injuries.

The ACM monitors the condition of the seat belt

tensioners through circuit resistance, and will illumi-
nate the airbag indicator in the instrument cluster
and store a Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) for any
fault that is detected. For proper diagnosis of the
seat belt tensioners, a DRBIII

t scan tool is required.

Refer to the appropriate diagnostic information.

SEAT BELT TURNING LOOP
ADJUSTER

REMOVAL

WARNING: DURING AND FOLLOWING ANY SEAT
BELT SERVICE, CAREFULLY INSPECT ALL SEAT
BELTS, BUCKLES, MOUNTING HARDWARE, AND
RETRACTORS

FOR

PROPER

INSTALLATION,

OPERATION, OR DAMAGE. REPLACE ANY BELT
THAT IS CUT, FRAYED, OR TORN. STRAIGHTEN
ANY

BELT

THAT

TWISTED.

TIGHTEN

ANY

(1) Remove the knob from the lever of the seat belt

turning loop adjuster. (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/RE-
STRAINTS/TURNING LOOP HEIGHT ADJUSTER
KNOB - REMOVAL).

(2) Remove the screw that secures the shoulder

belt turning loop to the height adjuster.

(3) Remove the trim from the upper B-pillar (quad

cab) or from the quarter inner panel (standard/club
cab). (Refer to 23 - BODY/INTERIOR/B-PILLAR
TRIM - REMOVAL) or (Refer to 23 - BODY/INTERI-
OR/QUARTER TRIM PANEL - REMOVAL).

(4) Remove the screw that secures the upper end

of the height adjuster to the B-pillar.

(5) Pull the upper end of the height adjuster away

from the B-pillar far enough to disengage the hooks
on the lower end of the adjuster from the slots in the
pillar.

(6) Remove the adjuster from the B-pillar.

INSTALLATION

WARNING: DURING AND FOLLOWING ANY SEAT
BELT SERVICE, CAREFULLY INSPECT ALL SEAT
BELTS, BUCKLES, MOUNTING HARDWARE, AND
RETRACTORS

FOR

PROPER

INSTALLATION,

OPERATION, OR DAMAGE. REPLACE ANY BELT
THAT IS CUT, FRAYED, OR TORN. STRAIGHTEN
ANY

BELT

THAT

TWISTED.

TIGHTEN

ANY

(1) Position the height adjuster to the B-pillar

with the hook formations oriented toward the lower
end of the adjuster.

(2) Engage the hooks on the lower end of the

adjuster into the slots in the B-pillar.

(3) Tilt the upper end of the height adjuster up

into position against the B-pillar.

(4) Install and tighten the screw that secures the

upper end of the height adjuster to the B-pillar.
Tighten the screw to 40 N·m (29 ft. lbs.).

(5) Reinstall the trim onto the upper B-pillar

(quad cab) or onto the quarter inner panel (standard/
club cab). (Refer to 23 - BODY/INTERIOR/B-PILLAR
TRIM - INSTALLATION) or (Refer to 23 - BODY/IN-
TERIOR/QUARTER TRIM PANEL - INSTALLA-
TION).

(6) Install and tighten the anchor screw that

secures the seat belt turning loop to the adjuster.
Tighten the screw to 30 N·m (22 ft. lbs.).

(7) Reinstall the knob onto the lever of the seat

belt turning loop adjuster. (Refer to 8 - ELECTRI-
CAL/RESTRAINTS/TURNING

LOOP

HEIGHT

ADJUSTER KNOB - INSTALLATION).

8O - 32

RESTRAINTS

SEAT BELT TENSIONER (Continued)

TURNING LOOP HEIGHT
ADJUSTER KNOB

REMOVAL

WARNING: DURING AND FOLLOWING ANY SEAT
BELT SERVICE, CAREFULLY INSPECT ALL SEAT
BELTS, BUCKLES, MOUNTING HARDWARE, AND
RETRACTORS

FOR

PROPER

INSTALLATION,

OPERATION, OR DAMAGE. REPLACE ANY BELT
THAT IS CUT, FRAYED, OR TORN. STRAIGHTEN
ANY

BELT

THAT

TWISTED.

TIGHTEN

ANY

(1) Unsnap the seat belt turning loop cover to

expose the anchor screw that secures the turning
loop to the height adjuster.

(2) Using the head of the turning loop anchor

screw as a fulcrum, carefully pry the knob from the
height adjuster lever with a suitable trim tool (Fig.
27).

INSTALLATION

WARNING: DURING AND FOLLOWING ANY SEAT
BELT SERVICE, CAREFULLY INSPECT ALL SEAT
BELTS, BUCKLES, MOUNTING HARDWARE, AND
RETRACTORS

FOR

PROPER

INSTALLATION,

OPERATION, OR DAMAGE. REPLACE ANY BELT
THAT IS CUT, FRAYED, OR TORN. STRAIGHTEN
ANY

BELT

THAT

TWISTED.

TIGHTEN

ANY

(1) Snap the seat belt turning loop cover back into

place over the anchor screw that secures the turning
loop to the adjuster.

(2) Position the height adjuster knob to the seat

belt turning loop height adjuster lever.

(3) Using hand pressure, push the knob firmly and

evenly onto the lever until it is fully engaged.

Fig. 27 Turning Loop Height Adjuster Knob

Removal - Typical

1 - KNOB
2 - ADJUSTER LEVER
3 - SEAT BELT TURNING LOOP
4 - TRIM TOOL (SNAP-ON A179A)

RESTRAINTS

8O - 33

Content .. 351 352 353 354 ..