Seat Belt Button
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 357
Likes: 0
From: Porters Lake Nova Scotia
Seat Belt Button
My seat belt light will go off when i push the button in, but when i let go of the button the light comes back on. Ive got the bezel apart and i see that it is some sort of electromagnet. My question is can these parts be fixed or do they have to be replaced. If they have to be replaced, does it have to be a relay for a corvette or are all electromagnets similar?
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 233
Likes: 0
From: Fishers IN
I read your question earlier today, and was waiting on some guru to give us both an answer. But since no one has responded, I'll take a stab at it.
When I had mine apart a long time ago, I remember being curious about how it worked since it has that little printed circuit board in there.
As near as I can remember, when you start the car, it sends a one time charge to that bulb until you hit the button. Once you hit the button, it closes a circuit, discharges the current, and the light goes out.
I believe there was a flimsy little black ground wire on that circuit that just grounded locally behind the cluster...if I remember correctly. Check to see if that is still attached. If not, it may be keeping the circuit open, and the light on.
Or I could just be full of #%&@ like I said, it has been a long time. Either way, this will get you off the second page.
Interesting problem though. Don't see this one every day. Good Luck!
Dave
When I had mine apart a long time ago, I remember being curious about how it worked since it has that little printed circuit board in there.
As near as I can remember, when you start the car, it sends a one time charge to that bulb until you hit the button. Once you hit the button, it closes a circuit, discharges the current, and the light goes out.
I believe there was a flimsy little black ground wire on that circuit that just grounded locally behind the cluster...if I remember correctly. Check to see if that is still attached. If not, it may be keeping the circuit open, and the light on.
Or I could just be full of #%&@ like I said, it has been a long time. Either way, this will get you off the second page.
Interesting problem though. Don't see this one every day. Good Luck!
Dave
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 357
Likes: 0
From: Porters Lake Nova Scotia
you are correct there is a ground going from the circuit board to the cluster frame. Unfortunately mine is connected and working correctly, so i must have another problem. I am wondering how generic the part is or whether it has to be for a corvette. Come to think of it i might just try some computer stores today...
1st Gear
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
on the circuit board for the seat belt light to be turned off (acknowledged), I don't have any wires connected to the terminals on teh circuit board. Where do the pos and neg terminals connect to? I am working on other issues and thought I would connect the light switch because I can... :-) thanks for the help...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 924
Likes: 2
From: Kearneysville West Virginia
It has been a while since I had mine apart. As I recall, there is a relay there, the electromagnet you described. When you first turn the car on, the electromagnet is not energized as I recall, allowing the contact to be closed so that power is applied to the light bulb. Once the button is pushed, the electromagnet is energized and breaks the contact for power to the light bulb. The electromagnet is latching, meaning that once the button is pushed, the electromagnet is self sustaining, thus keeping the contact open for the lamp power. If the electromagnet or relay does not latch when the button is pushed, then possibly the electromagnet coil is open or a wire is broken. I do not know if replacements are available, but it is a simple set up and should be easy to repair. Look for a break in the fine wire of the electromagnet, or bad relay contact, or something out of adjustment or bent.
Fred
Fred
