Seat Belt Tensioner - Description

DESCRIPTION

In vehicles manufactured for domestic markets, the front seat belt incorporates dual tensioners: one integral to the retractor, and one integral to the buckle.

RETRACTOR TENSIONER





Seat belt retractor tensioners supplement the dual front airbag system for all versions of this vehicle. These tensioners are integral to the front seat belt and retractor units (4), which are secured to the inner B-pillar on the right and left sides of the vehicle. The retractor is concealed beneath the molded plastic inner B-pillar trim. The seat belt tensioner consists primarily of a sprocket/pinion, a steel tube (3), a cast metal housing, numerous steel balls, a stamped metal ball trap (2), a torsion bar and a small pyrotechnically activated gas generator with a connector receptacle (1).

All of these components 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 Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) and are connected to the vehicle electrical system through a dedicated take outs of the body wire harness by keyed and latching yellow molded plastic connector insulator to ensure a secure connection.

The retractor tensioners cannot be repaired and, if ineffective or damaged, the entire front seat belt and retractor unit must be replaced. If the front airbags have been deployed, the seat belt tensioners have also been deployed. The seat belt tensioners are not intended for reuse and must be replaced following any front 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. Seat Belt Retractor - Removal.

BUCKLE TENSIONER





A seat belt buckle tensioner supplements the dual front airbags for domestic market versions of this vehicle. This tensioner is integral to the front seat belt buckle unit, which is secured by a large screw to the outside of the inboard seat cushion frame of the front seat. The buckle tensioner consists primarily of a buckle (1), a molded plastic scabbard, a cable and piston, a cable guide and bracket, a metal cylinder tube and a small pyrotechnically activated gas generator (4).

The buckle tensioner is controlled by the Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) and is connected to the vehicle electrical system through a dedicated take out of the seat wire harness by a keyed and latching yellow molded plastic connector insulator to ensure a secure connection. The buckle tensioner has a single pigtail harness (3) for the integral seat belt switch.

The buckle tensioner cannot be repaired and, if ineffective or damaged, the entire front seat belt buckle unit must be replaced. If the front airbags have been deployed, the buckle tensioners have also been deployed. The buckle tensioners are not intended for reuse and must be replaced following any front airbag deployment. Seat Belt Buckle - Removal.