I'm looking for some help on this one. I just got a set of seat belts for my 73 Convertible. Lap belts only. Up until now I had aftermarket belts on the car. Theses are restored originals. I plugged everything in and turned on the key. The dash light came on and the buzzer worked. However when I pull up the belt they don't stop. They will if I pull up on the brake handle one click. The 73 doesn't need to buckle to make the warning stuff stop. You just need to pull the belt out of the retractor about ten inches. The passenger seat has the switch on the seat spring so if weight is on the seat you need to pull up that belt too. Before I put the seats back in I wanted to trouble shoot first, but don't now where to begin???? Is it a relay issue? Why does it stop if I pull on the e-brake? Thanks for any help on this one, BTW the belts came from Charlie Santorelli at seatbelt city and they are in really nice condition. Jim

|UPDATED|4/13/2016 1:42:36 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


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Tooch1 Pittsburgh Tri State Chapter NCRS Laurel Valley Corvette Club

Not having looked at my retractor, I'm guessing that there is an electrical connection for it. Have you check to see if the switch in the retractor is functioning?



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1973 L-82 4 spd

Thanks for the reply. Yes there is a wiring connection on the retractor on the 73's. I'm pretty sure I figured out what is wrong. The problem is with the passenger side seat switch. The switch needs to be installed between the foam and on top of the spring. I had it mounted on the bottom of the spring thinking when someone sat on the seat the weight would press the spring down thus grounding the switch causing the buzzer to sound. I checked my AiM and noted the correct installation. At least I know my belts and wiring are ok. I'll get back after it tomorrow hopefully I'll get it right. Thanks !

|UPDATED|4/13/2016 6:48:00 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


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Tooch1 Pittsburgh Tri State Chapter NCRS Laurel Valley Corvette Club

Pulling the park brake lever up will over-ride the seatbelt warning on all of the Shark era cars, as far as I know. I have had some issues with the seat weight switches in my '74 in the past, as well as the wiring for the buckles where it runs back across the rear bulkhead behind the seats.Can't say if they need to be buckled to shut the warning off or not. I now that's the way the '74 cars are, but they have a totally different set-up to begin with.

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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Thanks Joel, I was replying to an earlier reply with pretty much what you've just said. Yes, I did narrow it down to being the passenger seat switch. (See above response) The 73's don't have any wires in the buckle side. Just on the retractors and passenger seat switch. You only need to pull the belt out about ten inches and the buzzer stops and the light goes out. You have to buckle the 74. At least now I know that my belts from Seatbelt City are ok, and so is my wiring. Hope I can get that seat switch to function properly, having the car judged in June. Any suggestions on getting that switch to work as it should? Thanks, Jim

|UPDATED|4/13/2016 6:57:16 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


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Tooch1 Pittsburgh Tri State Chapter NCRS Laurel Valley Corvette Club

I responded to your post on the NCRS tech board.
You can flex the switch(s) by hand, and watch the end to see if the switch closes and opens properly. It's best to put an ohmmeter on them to verify contact...they're kinda finicky.

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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Thanks Joel, I got everything working correctly today. You are right in the fact that the seat switch is finicky. Russ Steinhaus gave me a suggestion to try that he uses on the switches. That switch has to be positioned with a slight bow in the middle to keep the contact from touching until weight presses down on it, thus leveling it out. So the trick i used was to cut two small squares of wood 1-2 inches X 1/2 inch thick. Wrap with electrical tape and place the block in the center of the spring the switch is clamped to. (Between the spring and bottom of the sensor) Tape it to the spring so it doesn't move. This creates the necessary bow or (arch). Then when weight is added the spring gives and the sensor levels out making contact and the buzzer and light comes on until you pull the belt out of the retractor. It's working fine so far. The thickness of the block could vary for each sensor or spring tension. BTW In your TDB response I would have thought the judge would have said something to you, release the parking brake. Or are they that tough at a regional ? Regards, Jim

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Tooch1 Pittsburgh Tri State Chapter NCRS Laurel Valley Corvette Club