Early 72' & 73' Seat Belt Warning Lamp, How does it work? Options

[Superhawk996]

Ever wondered how the seat belt warning circuit works in early 72’ & 73’s?

Lets start with the description of operation in the owners manual:

“An audio-visual warning system will remind the driver and the passenger to put on their safety belts. The buzzer will sound and the fasten seat belt sign on the dashboard will light up when the ignition is on and the parking brake is released. The warning system will also be activated if the passenger is not wearing the seat belt.”

The entire “logic” to make all this happen is contained in the seat belt warning light. The whole thing is on a small PCB (see picture below). There really is no smarts or logic in the modern sense. It is just a very simple transistor based circuit that reads switch inputs.






Note: one of the original diodes in this picture has been swapped for a 1N4001.

The vehicle side electrical connector slides onto the four PCB traces to make the connection to the circuit board.

The schematic is contained in the Haynes Manual for the 73’ model year. In my copy of Haynes the 72’ schematic is there but isn’t printed as clearly not sure if this is the case with all printings. Item 66 is the buzzer. The buzzer (which is really just a solenoid) is self actuated meaning that when 12v and ground is supplied to it, the solenoid repeatedly makes & breaks the connection that energizes the solenoid, causing it to "buzz". The buzzer has 12V to it at all times and the ground path is supplied though the transistor on the PCB.




When the Fasten Seat Belt lamp is on, the seat belt buzzer will also be on. From here on out, I’m going to neglect to mention the buzzer. But remember, if the Fasten Seat Belt light is on, the buzzer would be on also and is sourcing current through the Fasten Seat Belt PCB circuit.

NOTE: Special thanks to Montreal914 for donating this part for me to document and modify

[technicalninja]

Nice write up! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/first.gif)

I'm not planning on fixing this circuit...

On MY car I'd rip that crap out!

But if I ever need to fix one, I know what I'm going to look at FIRST!!!!

It's info like this that make this a special place!

He's even listed modern available parts for repairs!

KICK ASS!

Hats off to you Sir!

Edit: I thought YOU were asking for help initially.
I thought WTF, why does he need help?
So, I looked...

Nope, full throw down dissection and repair instruction.