mysterious red button
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 113
From: Saginaw Michigan
The 1975 model year marked the end of the infamous "Seat Belt Starter Interlock" system. They were in production starting in 1974 on all U.S. passenger cars with much cursing and swearing by the general public. It required that you and your passenger (if you had one) to buckle your seat belts before the starter would operate. You would also have to buckle up a package if it was sitting on the passenger seat.) The system was very complicated and full of problems. I think early in the 1975 model year, the system was finally abandoned.
The red button was an Override Relay. If you buckled your seat belt and the car still would not start. You would pop the hood, run out under the hood and push the red button. Hopefully your car would now start.
You must have an early build 1975 Vette. If I remember correctly, the override relay can be jumped to allow your car to be started without having to hookup the seat belts.
Jim
The red button was an Override Relay. If you buckled your seat belt and the car still would not start. You would pop the hood, run out under the hood and push the red button. Hopefully your car would now start.
You must have an early build 1975 Vette. If I remember correctly, the override relay can be jumped to allow your car to be started without having to hookup the seat belts.
Jim
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,532
Likes: 4
From: Fairview Heights Illinois, near Saint Louis MO, STL C3 Shark
The 1975 model year marked the end of the infamous "Seat Belt Starter Interlock" system. They were in production starting in 1974 on all U.S. passenger cars with much cursing and swearing by the general public. It required that you and your passenger (if you had one) to buckle your seat belts before the starter would operate. You would also have to buckle up a package if it was sitting on the passenger seat.) The system was very complicated and full of problems. I think early in the 1975 model year, the system was finally abandoned.
The red button was an Override Relay. If you buckled your seat belt and the car still would not start. You would pop the hood, run out under the hood and push the red button. Hopefully your car would now start.
You must have an early build 1975 Vette. If I remember correctly, the override relay can be jumped to allow your car to be started without having to hookup the seat belts.
Jim
The red button was an Override Relay. If you buckled your seat belt and the car still would not start. You would pop the hood, run out under the hood and push the red button. Hopefully your car would now start.
You must have an early build 1975 Vette. If I remember correctly, the override relay can be jumped to allow your car to be started without having to hookup the seat belts.
Jim
Wow, I've never even heard of this before.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 837
Likes: 3
From: Texas
I think Jim is correct. In the event that the seatbelt system shuts you down you were to turn the key to the "on" position then push and release the red button (don't hold it down) then start the car. On my 74 the override switch is on the passenger side firewall.....not in the wiper compartment. There is a way to bypass the the switch if anyone's interested.
