Troubleshooting Guide: Understanding the Seatbelt Warning Light on Your Vehicle
Your car's seatbelt is important for you to stay safe. In your car, it is connected to an electrical circuit with a dashboard warning light that lets you know when you are not safely buckled up. In most cars, the seatbelt light may come on and the car might play an annoying sound to let you know that somebody is not belted up.
Why is My Seatbelt Warning Light On?
Most of the time, a seatbelt warning light will come on if you or a passenger in your car does not have their seatbelt on. This might be accompanied by a beeping or chiming sound that intensifies as time passes if the seatbelt is not connected to stop it.
The seatbelt warning light will come on if weight is detected on a seat (using a seat occupancy sensor in the passenger seats) but the seatbelt is not clipped in. This might happen even if no-one is sitting in the seat. But if you have placed a heavy bag or other heavy items there, the car may think that somebody is sitting in the seat without their seatbelt on, and the warning light might come on as a result.
What is the Seatbelt Warning Light?
The seatbelt warning light is there for your safety and that of your passengers. It will show up on the dashboard when the supplemental restraint system (SRS system) detects that there is somebody sitting in a seat in your car that does not have their seatbelt on and securely buckled. The seatbelt light usually shows up as a red light in the shape of a person sitting in a seat with a seatbelt across them.
What Does it Mean When the Warning Light is Flashing?
The seatbelt warning light might begin to flash if there is somebody in the seat without their seatbelt on while you are driving. Usually, the seatbelt warning light will show up as a static light and begin to flash as time goes on if the passenger or driver has still not fastened their seatbelt. Along with flashing, this might be accompanied by a chime or beeping sound. Most of the time, you can turn off the seatbelt light and the sound by simply fastening the seatbelt.
How Does the Seatbelt Warning Light Work?
The seatbelt light is usually illuminated to inform you that you or a passenger does not have their seatbelt on. In some cars, this dashboard warning light is even sophisticated to tell you which seat is the one where the seatbelt is not fastened. It might be accompanied by a sound that you can only switch off if the seatbelt is fastened. It is usually triggered by weight, which is why your seatbelt light does not come on when you are driving on your own with no passengers in the car.
What are the Common Reasons the Warning Light Will Come On?
There are some common reasons why the seatbelt warning light might come on in your car. These include:
Seatbelt Not Fastened
The simplest reason for the seatbelt warning light coming on is that a seatbelt is not fastened. If you have a passenger in your car who is not wearing their seatbelt, the warning light will come on accompanied by a sound. Putting the seatbelt on is the easiest way to fix it.
Weight on the Seat
Since the car detects weight in the seats to show the seatbelt warning light when somebody is sitting in the car unbuckled, weight on the seat might trigger the seatbelt warning light. You may have had this happen if you have ever gotten in the car and put your heavy bag on the seat next to you only to find that the seatbelt light and sound comes on when you drive away. Removing the weight and storing it elsewhere in the car, or fastening the seatbelt, will turn the light off.
Faulty Connection
The seatbelt warning system is an electrical circuit. When the seatbelt is not fastened, the circuit is open, while putting the seatbelt on closes the circuit. Under the seat is a common place where this can be broken.
Broken Seatbelt Buckle
The problem might be due to a fault with the buckle. Wear and tear, crumbs of food, and other debris falling into the buckle slot can lead to issues. To fix the issue, spray some electric contact cleaner into the seat belt buckle. Connect and disconnect it a few times to see if it has fixed the problem.
Is it Dangerous to Drive with the Warning Light On?
If the seatbelt warning light is on due to a person in the car not having their seatbelt on, then it can be dangerous to drive. You or your passenger should fasten your seatbelt as soon as possible. Driving without a seatbelt or traveling in a car without a seatbelt on is also illegal, and you will get pulled over by the police if spotted. If your seatbelt warning light is on even though the seatbelts are fastened, then you are safe to continue driving as long as the seatbelts are secure. However, this could indicate a fault with the seatbelt system, so it's important to take your car for a diagnostics test to determine and fix the problem. Learn more about warning lights and when it is or isn't safe to drive in our guide to dashboard warning lights.
How Much Does It Cost to Fix the Warning Light?
Most of the time, the seat belt warning light is an easy fix that won’t cost you anything – all you need to do is fasten the seatbelt. If the seatbelt is fastened at the light is still on, you should take it for a diagnostic test as there may be a deeper issue with the wiring or sensor.
Will My Car Fail its MOT if the Warning Light is On?
Your car will not usually fail an MOT if the seat belt warning light refuses to go out even when the belt is buckled up. However, it is important to make sure that all the seatbelts are in good working order and free from any tears, rips, or signs of wear and tear in order for the car to pass an MOT. Other dashboard warning lights that are related to the seat belt and remain on such as the SRS or airbag light will fail an MOT test.
How to reset your seatbelt warning light?
If you've followed all the steps in this article and still haven't been able to reset your seatbelt warning light, it's time for a car diagnostic test. Luckily, Fixter can help connect you to the best local garages, with upfront pricing, vetted garages and a 12-month warranty on all parts and labour. Take Fixter's Car Diagnostic quiz now to get a quote in only 3 clicks.
