Chevy Bolt EV Forum banner
  • Hey Guest, welcome to ChevyBolt.org. We encourage you to register to engage in conversations about your Bolt.

Driver's seatbelt warning not working

3.7K views 36 replies 9 participants last post by  SteveWilson1983  
#1 ·
I've forgot to buckle my seatbelt twice in the past week or so. I thought I was going crazy until I realized my seatbelt warning was not functioning. Here's what it's doing:
-The warning light in the dash comes on with all other lights when the vehicle starts, but then turns off with the rest, no chime at any point (basically behaving as if it is buckled all the time)
-I have tested it several times, hours apart, in park and drive
-I tried buckling/unbuckling rapidly, smacking the buckle a bit
I'm guessing the sensor is faulty or a wire is broken somewhere but there isn't a check engine light or anything.
Has anyone else had this problem? If so, how did you fix it?
 
#4 ·
Oh I get what you are saying. No, I'm not. Also, I believe the driver's seat doesn't have that sensor like the passenger does, the assumption being there will always be a driver so it doesn't need to detect one (I have started it before while not in the seat, it still started normal and the belt warning still chimed)
 
#7 ·
#9 ·
If you read through the post, this guy's was working fine he just didn't get how the chime works. Mine is behaving as if I am always buckled. The light only comes on as part of the start up diagostic, then turns off, just like the other lights.
 
#17 ·
This is only partially on topic, but has anyone else noticed if you don't have your seatbelt on, opd doesn't bring you all the way to a stop? I noticed this once a long time ago when getting something out of my pocket, but then stopped thinking about it. Noticed again recently when I went to let my wife out of the back of the driveway (single car wide).
 
#18 ·
Actually, that leads me to a note: the chime doesn't go on forever. In my 2017, as in my 14 Prius and several other cars since the 1990s, the chime gives up after dinging a few times for the passenger, and a minute or so for the driver. The light stays on, but no chime. So check the light - is it on, even if quiet? Perhaps you just missed the chime during its active period?

Anyway, loss of the chime, or even worse any warning at all including the light, is a safety issue that should be reported to NHTSA. If enough people report it, Chevy could be required to do a safety recall which would make it a no-cost fix for you regardless of how old the car is.
 
#23 · (Edited)
Ordinarily, I only use the brakes in L to stop on a hill, to hold the car at a stop, and to make sure the brake lights are on for following traffic.
Ya, I think something is wrong w @BrandEver 's car. And considering the seatbelt issue, and that now I've seen multiple bolt's not come to a complete stop w/o seatbelt buckled, could be related to that. (and yes, I also have to use the brake pedal if on a steep enough hill. never on flat ground, unless I need to stop in a heck of a hurry)

edit: on second read though, says both doesn't completely stop, and also that it does, so I'm unsure. :)
 
#25 ·
oh weird.. iirc, it decelerates just like normal, till you're at very low speed, but then just doesn't stop like normal. So if you're used to using the brake pedal, you might not even notice the difference. If I think of it, I'll try to remember to check tomorrow.
 
#26 ·
Checked this morning, L mode decel rate is identical w seat belt off, it just stops decelerating at 2km/h. Only traveled about 5' @ 2km/h, and then used brake pedal to stop completely, but it was noticeably different. Put seatbelt on, next stop was back to normal.
 
#27 ·
Frankly, from a safety standpoint, that's wierd. If you don't have the belt on, you're more likely to hit something, and at very low speed the car damage will be minimal but the people damage might not be if they're not expecting it.
 
#28 ·
In my experience, OPD doesn't really bring you to a complete stop in general, just really close to the point that it will roll to a stop in a few feet. If there's any kind of hill, it usually won't fully stop, just slow to a creep, and I'll need to use the brake at the very end. Once fully stopped the auto hold engages, whether in OPD or D.
Here in Florida (ie almost dead flat), my 2023 EUV will fully stop in OPD. I can go weeks without touching the brakes unless someone cuts me off, or if a light changes suddenly. Haven't tried the seat-belt-off trick, but that's a curious bug...
 
#29 ·
My wife and I are larger people, so my 2020 LT has seat belt extensions. So the warning never sounds for not buckled, we always wear anyway. My OPD in "L", has always brought the car to a full stop, then engages the parking brake on a slope.
 
#31 ·
I definitely exaggerated the distance. After driving it yesterday, I would say it slows down almost to a stop then rolls to a stop for like...a few inches (on flat ground). Arguably you could say that it's coming to a complete stop, albeit a gentle one.

Can't test it without a seatbelt because it currently thinks it's always buckled lol.

And I forgot to buy contact cleaner the other day. I'll try to remember next time
 
#32 ·
I did my best to look at it from under the seat but it's hard to get at with the center console in the way. I don't notice anything obvious; the connector into the seat feels connected okay.
From everything I can find online, the way it works is basically just a little switch that is open when unbuckled, and closed when buckled.
So here's a list of what I think could have gone wrong:
1: The wire is worn and shorted together somewhere, bypassing the switch/sensor
2: The Switch is stuck closed (I don't know if this is likely from how it looks like the mechanism works)
3: Something in the mechanism is broken, keeping the switch closed
4: Something wrong with the software, not recognizing the switch (big oof if so)
I don't think it's a loose or undone connector, as that would leave the connection open and probably show up as constantly unbuckled (the opposite of my problem).
I think what I'll try next is to undo the connector from the sensor, which should tell me if the issue is with the buckle/sensor itself (in theory).
I looked up a replacement buckle assembly, it's $100 before shipping...yikes
 
#33 · (Edited)
Just went out to the driveway to look at mine. Seatbelt wires seem to go up into the seat, and not easily followable by hand. That's annoying. The good news is ya, like you said, if the switch is open when unbuckled, if you can find a wiring harness, unplugging it should trip your warning light if the problem is the receiver.

if yours is the same as my '18..

1- 4 machine screws (it looks like) to undo seat track, and you could just tip it back (or forward) and take a look
2- from the rear driver side seat, you can see a screw holding on a plastic cover over seatbelt receiver attachment, might provide better access?
3- not causing any harm, so forget about it? :)
4- car is new enough to call chevy and tell them to fix their problem for free?