The idea behind the red button on the firewall was convienience for the mechanic working on the car,using the button, the car can be started without getting in and buckling up. Say for instance the mechanic was going to check the vehicle's timing,he would get his timing light all hooked up,push the red button on the firewall,reach through the window (or open door) and start the car. The red button is a one start per button push deal,preventing it's use to circumvent the seatbelt interlock system. Chris 72 Lebaron,etc.etc. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike Pittinaro" <mechimike@xxxxxxxxx> To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Thursday, January 31, 2002 8:32 PM Subject: Re: IML: seat belt relay > > Can any one tell me where the relay is located that > > keeps a 1974 Imperial from starting if seat belt is > > not latched if there is weight in seat like a bag of > > groceries or a person? > > This is a somewhat obscure bit of automobilia, used > only in the 1974 model year. Those of us afflicted > with a car of this vintage (My Other Mopar is a '74) > have oft butted heads with this beast. Basically, > there is a weight sensor underneath the seats that > triggers the seat belts switch to deactivate the > ignition unless the belts are buckled. From what I > know of this system, it includes the switches in the > seatbelts, the weight sensors under the seats, and a > relay mounted on the firewall. > > The firewall mounted relay should have a red button on > it; if the car is dead (ie starter doesn't make any > noise) you may have to press the red button down; this > will reset whatever it is that's inside; I think its > some sort of circuit breaker. > > The easy (perhaps intentionally?) way to defeat the > system is to simply unplug the sensors on the > seat/belt. Without any input, the default condition > is to let the car start. > > ===== > --Mike Pittinaro > > Christmas is over now > So I'm changing my haiku > Thank you, David Brown > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Great stuff seeking new owners in Yahoo! Auctions! > http://auctions.yahoo.com > >