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Seat Belt Chimes Even When Buckled

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by johnnyb588, Sep 29, 2015.

  1. johnnyb588

    johnnyb588 Member

    Joined:
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    Tempe, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
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    I
    Hi all,

    I bought my second Prius yesterday and have noticed that the driver's side seat belt sensor is finicky. Please note, I don't want to turn the warning chime off. I know how to do that, and it isn't the solution I'm looking for. I wear my seatbelt always, but in case I do forget to buckle myself (or my passenger forgets to buckle up), I want to receive an accurate warning.

    So, here's what's happening. Even when the seat belt is buckled, the warning chime will sound until the buckle is clicked in *just* right. Sometimes it works on the first buckle, sometimes it takes five or six tries to get it right. I've tried the basics (compressed air, checking connections), but neither provided any solutions. What's my next step? Can I buy a new buckle assembly (or just pull one off a junker)? Are seatbelts warrantied past any standard manufacturer warrantees (this is a 2007 with 140k)?

    Thanks for any help you can offer.
     
    #1 johnnyb588, Sep 29, 2015
  2. se-riously

    se-riously Active Member

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    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    I don't believe there's a lifetime warranty, so I'd just pull one off a lower mileage junker or get a new one. I wouldn't feel comfortable driving with a suspicious seat belt buckle on an 8-year old used vehicle with 140K miles.
     
    #2 se-riously, Sep 29, 2015
  3. johnnyb588

    johnnyb588 Member

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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
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    I
    Thanks! I think I'll probably just buy a whole new OEM buckle unit. I went to my local dealer today on a work break to get some WS fluid and a clip for my visor, and the buckle assemblies aren't all that pricey (~$40). I figure it's not worth my time to pull one out of a junker when I can just click a button and have it sent to me.

    Btw, the buckle is functional. If it works like other buckles I have seen, it's just the plate inside that trips the sensor that seems to be missing its contact point with the sensor (and only at certain angles). Everything latches fine and operates fine, it's just the sensor that doesn't realize it's buckled. I could probably rip it apart and fix it, but if I'm going to rip it apart anyways, it's just as easy to throw on a new buckle and be done with it.
     
    #3 johnnyb588, Sep 29, 2015
  4. SBP Mike

    SBP Mike Junior Member

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    Chehalis WA
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
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    N/A
    I have this same situation and I would prefer to just turn off the driver seat seatbelt chime than to pay to replace the seatbelt latch. The original seatbelt latch had gotten finicky. I have to push the button to insert the belt, then it locks nice and tight, but the sensor mechanism is 404 and won't tell the car that there is a seat belt latched in. I added the simple extender and now I can click my seatbelt in just fine, but I get 30 seconds of chime and the seatbelt light blinks or stays on. I use Dr Prius and Torque Lite with obdii blue tooth adapter, but neither of these apps appears to be capable of toggling off the seatbelt chime.

    Any thoughts? Local junkyard has the belt latch assembly for $35. I just thought maybe there is a quick and easy workaround.

    Thanks

    Mike
     
    #4 SBP Mike, Aug 15, 2021
  5. ColoradoBoo

    ColoradoBoo Senior Member

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    Location:
    Monument, Colorado USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Yep, my seat belt detection seem to be wonky, too. When we put the grandkids on the back, we make sure they are buckled in but the indicator often keeps a red light on back there until a minute or two and then if figures it out.
    I suspect the computers are just getting back-logged with use when first starting up so maybe the priority of the checks gets pushed to the back of the line, in the computer world. That's why I never start up and take right off....gotta give those 53 computers time to wake up and start doing their thang...(I'm a computer/network engineer level 4 in my day job at the Missile Defense Agency).
     
    #5 ColoradoBoo, Aug 15, 2021
  6. pasadena_commut

    pasadena_commut Senior Member

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    2007 Prius
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    New isn't that much more, here $67.78

    https://parts.olathetoyota.com/oem-parts/toyota-buckle-7323047090b0?c=Zz1lbGVjdHJpY2FsJnM9ZnJvbnQtc2VhdC1iZWx0cyZsPTE3Jm49QXNzZW1ibGllcyBQYWdlJmE9dG95b3RhJm89cHJpdXMmeT0yMDA3JnQ9YmFzZSZlPTEtNWwtbDQtZWxlY3RyaWMtZ2Fz

    The belt and retractor are much more expensive, and they won't ship because of "hazardous materials".

    https://parts.olathetoyota.com/oem-parts/toyota-belt-and-retractor-7321047060b0?c=Zz1lbGVjdHJpY2FsJnM9ZnJvbnQtc2VhdC1iZWx0cyZsPTEmbj1Bc3NlbWJsaWVzIFBhZ2UmYT10b3lvdGEmbz1wcml1cyZ5PTIwMDcmdD1iYXNlJmU9MS01bC1sNC1lbGVjdHJpYy1nYXM%3D
     
    #6 pasadena_commut, Aug 15, 2021
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