69 Seat Belt Light

[Erv M.]

After replaceing the instrument bezel my seat belt light will not turn off. I can drive her for awhile but want to fix and not ignore. My first thought is the new button is not long enough to make the contact that actually turns off the light. Can someone tell me how this really works? Since it turns on I don't think I forgot to hookup a neceassy wire. Any help is appreciated.

Good news- I'm getting real good in removeing the center instrument bezel
Bad news - I'm getting real good in removing the center instrument bezel

[Jack H.]

Re: 69 Seat Belt Light

The mechanism that turns off the warning light is a self-latching relay built into the printed circuit board of the seat belt warning light section of the center cluster. When you press the button, the relay actuates and remains actuated until power is lost and the relay resets.

Either you're not making contact when you press the button or the relay has failed. Unfortunately, to diagnose further you're into pulling the center cluster...

[Pat M.]

Re: 69 Seat Belt Light

Erv - The seat belt light on my 1970 works with a little magnetizing coil. When I start the car the light is on, because there is a spring-loaded little metal bridge right behind the button that is making contact and completing the circuit. When I press the button, it pushes the little bridge forward and breaks the circuit. The bridge then comes into contact with the coil that is always energized when the car is on, and the magnet holds the little bridge and keeps contact broken, thus keeping the light off.

When I turn the car off, the coil loses power, de-magnetizes, releases the bridge, it springs back to its original position completing the circuit,and the whole process begins again.

I would think your 69 works the same way. I suspect that the new button is not pushing the little bridge far enough forward so the magnet can capture it, or your coil is failing and not magnetizing and holding the bridge after you release the button. As I recall, this whole mechanism is simply screwed onto the back of the bezel, and is easy to observe and remove, so it should be fairly easy to diagnose.

Good luck, Patrick Moresi, #45881