Technical Seatbelt Alarm

[Mick F]

And it was answered on the second page....:bang:

I don't suppose you've read much about the Fiat dealers disabling the alarm. There are loads of threads on different Fiat forums and Q&A sites discussing it.

Yes, they can do it, but if you alter the buzzer volume in the menu, it can come back.

On a related issue; I find myself repeatedly leaving the indicators on after less than 90 degree turns and not noticing, sometimes for many minutes, that I'm still flashing a turn. I imagine it's partly because the indicators only seem to cancel with a tight turn. This only happens in daylight because the reflection on the binnacle glass hides the lights and the quiet little 'tick-tick' can't get through the heavy-metal(!). It's a pity they aren't as intrusive as the seat-belt reminder.

I agree.
There are too many people forgetting to cancel indictors and the Fiat 500 is problematical in that regard, and I too have been guilty.

Going back to our Clio, the tick-tick is of a certain sound that grates with me and I hate it, so cancel asap. The Fiat 500 tick-tick is almost pleasant in comparison ..... and not very loud either.

Any road up, I won't let this seatbelt alarm subject rest until I've got to the bottom of it. It isn't rocket science.

Thanks,
Mick.

 

[UFI]

Yes, they can do it, but if you alter the buzzer volume in the menu, it can come back.

I played with my buzzer volume once when I bought the car and have left it alone since. It's not a bad idea to just get used to the buzzer as every car I've bought since 2005 has a one, so when you replace your 500 you'll have a buzzer again

The 500's buzzer is less annoying than my Wrangler's, but more than my VW or Renault, both of which really just offer a friendly reminder.

 

[Mick F]

Hi again guys!

Not sorted this out yet ................

I noticed today, that the alarms goes off when you reverse.
Why should it do that when you are entitled to NOT wear a seatbelt when you are carrying out a manoeuvre which includes reversing??

http://www.driving-law.co.uk/offences/seat_belts-exemptions.asp

Cheers,
Mick.

 

[FinFerNan]

My dealer deactivated mine today...........BLISS!

 

[Mick F]

Sounds like I need a visit to Vospers in Plymouth.

Thanks,
Mick

 

[PuntoHowTo]

i've skimmed through this thread and without answering everything i can i have turnned off the alarm on my Grande Punto, you still get the light on the dash and to be honest this only covers the passenger front seat, so if kids get in the back and don't buckle up there is no annoying binging noise to save them.

Basically I have two dogs who sit on the front seat in the car when I go places and getting them to wear a seatbelt is a total arse. and they weigh enough to set the alarm off.
initially I would plug the seat belt in round the back of the seat but this was a pain especilly when someone else got in the car.

so away, plugged it into MultiECUscan an 30 seconds later turned it off

anyway you still get the light on the dash, and not wearing a seatbelt on the road is either going to earn you point and a fine or trip through the windscreen but im sure the OP is happy to take that risk on the way up his busy drive way

 

[OrangeSport]

Just seen this thread. I just tend to hold the release button down in similar situations when I don't want to put the seatbelt on.

 

[klu01dbt]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/321126178024?limghlpsr=true&hlpv=2&ops=true&viphx=1&hlpht=true&lpid=108&chn=ps&device=c&adtype=pla&crdt=0&ff3=1&ff11=ICEP3.0.0-L&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=108&ff19=0


you could try something like this

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/321126178024?limghlpsr=true&hlpv=2&ops=true&viphx=1&hlpht=true&lpid=108&chn=ps&device=c&adtype=pla&crdt=0&ff3=1&ff11=ICEP3.0.0-L&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=108&ff19=0


you could try something like this

And go through the windscreen in a smash? I wouldn't ever trust something like that to stop my mass at 40mph in a smash!

 

[klu01dbt]

Nor would I, but to shut up a bleeper for 100 yards it has to be better than playing around with wiring that might cause an airbag to malfunction.

 

[Mick F]

Nor would I, but to shut up a bleeper for 100 yards it has to be better than playing around with wiring that might cause an airbag to malfunction.

We're starting to get used to the damned noise, but my brain is still obsessed by doing something. At the moment, I'm driving single handedly whilst pressing the seatbelt button with my left hand.

As for causing an airbag malfunction, I do have some questions.

Are the airbags autonomous?
If, for instance, you were a front passenger in the car with the ignition off whilst the driver was out (in a shop for instance) and the car rolled away down a hill.

Would the passenger airbag go off if the car collided?

Any idea?
Mick.

 

[jrkitching]

If, for instance, you were a front passenger in the car with the ignition off whilst the driver was out (in a shop for instance) and the car rolled away down a hill.

Would the passenger airbag go off if the car collided?

Also relevant is the scenario where you are parked at the side of the road and an out-of control vehicle smashes into the front of your car.

Will the airbags deploy with the ignition off?

A few minutes on Google would suggest the answer may not be as simple as you think.

Right now, my vote is 'perhaps'. I wouldn't want to bet my life on this, either way. Which, given the purpose of the airbag system, is slightly worrying.

 

[Mick F]

Yes, I've bee Googling too, but there's not much info about autonomy of airbags.

My question is really thinking that if I did permanently disconnect the seatbelt switch ...... making the car think that the seatbelt is connected ....... how can it have anything to do with the airbags engine on or engine off?

From my investigations, there's only two wires to the seatbelt clip, and the switch is "made" normally and only "unmade" when the seatbelt is clipped in. Therefore, if you disconnect it (ie open circuit) the car will think that the seatbelt is clipped.

The driver's seat doesn't have a weight sensor, though the passenger side has.

Therefore, if you clipped the passenger seatbelt with no-one sitting there, would the passenger airbag go off in the event of a collision?

Somehow, common sense would say it wouldn't deploy because the pressure sensor knew there was no-one sitting there.

The driver's airbag (common sense again) would always deploy because the car would always know that someone was driving.

All the above seems sensible to me, though I have no definite proof.

Thanks
Mick.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Airbag system will only deploy if the ignition is on normally. Without it on the airbag system isn't live/active.

This is why you can see some cars with awful damage for sale as salvage without airbags deployed, these be the ones a lorry has hit while its been parked etc.

 

[Mick F]

What you say is what I suspect, though it doesn't make it sensible.
It's a major problem if you are parked (legally) on the street with the engine turned off.

I understand that the passenger one doesn't deploy if there is no passenger, and the system can tell if the passenger seat is being sat on. The driver's side doesn't have a weight sensor of course.

How about the seatbelts?
Do they have anything to do with the airbags?

Regards,
Mick.

 

[Sweetsixteen]

Airbag system will only deploy if the ignition is on normally. Without it on the airbag system isn't live/active.



This is why you can see some cars with awful damage for sale as salvage without airbags deployed, these be the ones a lorry has hit while its been parked etc.

If this is true, which on balance sounds likely, the whole airbag safety system is called into question.
I have life jackets on my boat, and I insist on them being worn by all aboard, even though fellow boaters think this is an OTT approach.
What's the good of a part-time safety system?

 

[Mick F]

Exactly!

Lifejackets are autonomous. They inflate when you hit the water ie when they are needed.

What's the point of an airbag if it only works sometimes?

It's like having an automatic lifejacket that you have to switch on before you fall overboard.

Thanks,
Mick.

 

[Mick F]

From the handbook.
Underlining is my emphasis.

An electronic control unit causes the bag to inflate in the event of a head-on crash.
The bag will inflate instantaneously placing itself between the front occupants body and the structures which could cause injury. It will deflate immediately afterwards.
The front airbags (driver's, passenger's, driver's knees air bags) are not a replacement for but complementary to the belts, which you are recommended to always wear, as specified by law in Europe and most non-European countries.
In the event of an impact, those not wearing a seat belt will move forward and come into contact with the bag which is still inflating. The protection offered by the cushion is reduced in such a case.

Basically, you don't need to have your seatbelt connected to have the airbags deploy. Therefore, the seatbelts are a separate system to the airbag system.

Therefore, if I disconnect the seatbelt warning wires, it won't affect anything ...... because I will obviously be wearing my seatbelt out on the road.

Thanks again,
Mick.

 

[gazz_bee]

Exactly!

Lifejackets are autonomous. They inflate when you hit the water ie when they are needed.

What's the point of an airbag if it only works sometimes?

It's like having an automatic lifejacket that you have to switch on before you fall overboard.

Thanks,
Mick.

Depends on how you view the intended protection they provide. Airbags are supplemental restraint systems, ie are intended to act in conjunction with other safety devices such as the seatbelts and the car's safety cell. A lifejacket is a primary protection system and therefore is more importantly autonomous.

 

[Mick F]

I don't agree.
A lifejacket isn't primary protection, it's an aid to staying afloat.

It won't keep you safe or protect you, it will just keep you afloat ..... dead or alive.

Regards,
Mick.