Seat Belt: Description and Operation

Belt Buckle
The inboard belt buckle is secured on the seat floor at the tunnel for front seat applications.

Attaching the tongue and buckle secures the occupant with both lower and upper restraints. This tongue and belt attachment can be accomplished by a single, continuous movement.

Lap Safety Belts
The front and rear seat outboard lap safety belt is a continuous belt with the shoulder belt anchored at the outboard side to the vehicle body sill on front and to the floorpan for rear seat. A separate safety belt is provided for center rear seating with the belts anchored to floorpan.





Lap/Shoulder Safety Belt
The front seat safety belt extends from a retractor which is located in the quarter panel on 2-door vehicles and the B-pillar on 4-door vehicles up to a D-ring located on the B-pillar post. From the D-ring the belt extends downward (the belt has a slip tongue on it, which latches to a lap buckle) through the slip tongue outboard to the sill below the door opening, which acts as a lap belt. The shoulder belt retractor is designed to let the safety belt move in or out freely, and locks during hard braking, hard cornering and impacts of 8 km/h (5 mph) or higher.

The rear seat shoulder belt extends from a retractor mounted to the vehicle structure underneath the package tray time panel. The belt is angled downward at the proper angle over the occupant's shoulder and chest to the lap belt buckle. The belt then continues through the slip tongue to the floor anchorage below the seat cushion on the outboard side which acts as a lap belt.

The shoulder harness retractor is designed to let the webbing move in or out freely, except during vehicle deceleration, when it is automatically locked by a mechanically actuated inertia sensor.

The 3-point system (lap and shoulder belts) is used for front and rear outboard seat positions.