Rear Seat Belt Reminder Indicator Operation

[scottf200]

This occasionally gets brought up and I wondered about some of the details too.
http://www.sandyblogs.com/techlink/A...chlink%20F.pdf

Rear Seat Belt Reminder Indicator Operation

The 2011 Volt is equipped with a rear seat belt reminder (RSBR) indicator that notifies the driver about the status of the rear seat belts. There may be some confusion about how long the indicator is illuminated in the instrument cluster.

For rear seating, occupancy is determined strictly based on the seat belt switches; occupant sensing mats are not used. Rear seat occupants are not detected until the seat belt is buckled. If rear seat occupants never buckle the seat belts, the system will not detect their presence. If the occupants do buckle the seat belts, the occupants are detected and each corresponding seat belt reminder indicator will illuminate green. The indicator has two sections to specify which seatbelts are buckled. If a seatbelt is unbuckled, the indicator will be red, and if the seatbelt is buckled, the indicator will be green.

The rear seat belt indicator is designed to stay on until the vehicle speed exceeds 6.5 mph (10 km/h) for 35 seconds whether the rear seat belts are buckled or unbuckled. If the vehicle is driven over 6.5 mph (10 km/h) before reaching 35 seconds and then stops again, the timer resets and the vehicle must be driven over 6.5 mph (10 km/h) until the 35 second timer is reached. Once a rear seat occupant is detected, the system will assume that occupant is present for the duration of the ignition cycle or until a rear door opens. If a rear door is opened or an ignition cycle occurs, the indicator will reset and assume there are no rear occupants until a buckle is latched again.

If a rear seat occupant unbuckles during the same ignition cycle and the vehicle speed exceeds 6.5 mph (10 km/h) for 35 seconds, the rear seat belt indicator will illuminate red in full screen mode and the rear seat belt reminder chime will sound. The chime will stop after three seconds, but the rear seat belt reminder indicator will remain illuminated until the occupant buckles or the ignition cycle ends. If the occupant rebuckles, the indicator will illuminate green and will not go out until the speed and time criteria is met again.

[Rusty]

Once a rear seat occupant is detected, the system will assume that occupant is present for the duration of the ignition cycle or until a rear door opens.

Is the term "ignition cycle" directly applicable to the Volt? In normal operation, I sure hope nothing ignites!

I know what they're trying to say here, but even if the car starts in CS mode the ignition typically doesn't fire until well after the 10 km/h 35 second rule (unless the driver stomps it).

Is this an industry term, or a GM term? And it certainly makes *no* sense when applied to a BEV!

[scottf200]

Is the term "ignition cycle" directly applicable to the Volt? In normal operation, I sure hope nothing ignites!

I know what they're trying to say here, but even if the car starts in CS mode the ignition typically doesn't fire until well after the 10 km/h 35 second rule (unless the driver stomps it).

Is this an industry term, or a GM term? And it certainly makes *no* sense when applied to a BEV!

May be an industry term.

Mentioned by Nissan here:

http://gm-volt.com/2010/06/11/nissan...unds-revealed/
Nissan describes its operation as follows:
<snip>
The system is controlled through a computer and synthesizer in the dash panel, and the sound is delivered through a speaker in the engine compartment. A switch inside the vehicle can turn off sounds temporarily. The system automatically resets to “On” at the next ignition cycle.

And on a few sites here

[WopOnTour]

Similar information on the rear seat belt warning system can be found in this thread
http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread....ht=Volt+Safety

Is the term "ignition cycle" directly applicable to the Volt? In normal operation, I sure hope nothing ignites!

I know what they're trying to say here, but even if the car starts in CS mode the ignition typically doesn't fire until well after the 10 km/h 35 second rule (unless the driver stomps it).

Is this an industry term, or a GM term? And it certainly makes *no* sense when applied to a BEV!

Industry term."Ignition Cycle" is considered to be the equivalent of a "trip cycle" where the vehcile is turned ON to the extent it can be driven, then operated in such a fashion that certain diagnostic enable criteria are met, followed by a power down for xx seconds (sufficent to trigger the "end" of the previosu cycle as per the manufacturer)

While it's true the Volt doesnt techncially use an "ignition" when operating in EV mode, it must merely be considered "historical baggage"

WOT

[scottf200]

Similar information on the rear seat belt warning system can be found in this thread
http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread....ht=Volt+Safety

That is a great thread. I'm sure a lot of new folks have not seen it so very much worth bringing it up again!

[jeffhre]

While it's true the Volt doesnt techncially use an "ignition" when operating in EV mode, it must merely be considered "historical baggage"

WOT

"Legacy Terminology"

A legacy system is an old method, technology, computer system, or application program that continues to be used, typically because it still functions for the users' needs, even though newer technology or more efficient methods of performing a task are now available. A legacy system may include procedures or terminology which are no longer relevant in the current context, and may hinder or confuse understanding of the methods or technologies used.
The term "legacy" may have little to do with the size or age of the system — mainframes run 64-bit Linux and Java alongside 1960s vintage code.
Although the term is most commonly used to describe computers and software, it may also be used to describe human behaviors, methods, and tools. For example, timber framing using wattle and daub is a legacy building construction method.
- Wiki

[WopOnTour]

"Legacy Terminology"

Not quite yet, but perhaps someday soon...

WOT

[ClarksonCote]

I just want to know what it means when the seatbelt indicators are solid gray. I see this on occasion, and the icon is even shown as sometimes being solid gray in the electronic owners manual too, but there's no explanation as to what that corresponds to.

I haven't found any correlation with events to explain it. It's usually when there's one passenger in the rear seat, but sometimes the other seat belt light is solid red, and sometimes it's solid gray.

[voltage692]

that sure seems like how a sensor failure would behave

I just want to know what it means when the seatbelt indicators are solid gray. I see this on occasion, and the icon is even shown as sometimes being solid gray in the electronic owners manual too, but there's no explanation as to what that corresponds to.

I haven't found any correlation with events to explain it. It's usually when there's one passenger in the rear seat, but sometimes the other seat belt light is solid red, and sometimes it's solid gray.

[ClarksonCote]

Well, it seems like if somebody buckles in after, it goes back from gray to green, so I don't think it's a sensor failure. I also don't think the owner's manual would show the gray icons if that were only a sensor failure case. Just wish I knew what condition that indication maps to, it'll keep bugging me!