Seat belt warning light & chime & intermittent wiper issues

Tiny
VAGRANTS
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 FORD RANGER
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 200,000 MILES
I am not sure which subcategory my question needs to be in since I don't know what's causing my problem. It could be either GEM or warning light or wiring. It may be something to do with SRS.

The seat belt warning light does not come on at all and no seat belt chime. I checked the light bulb, and it's not burnt. I tried the BeltReminder activation/deactivation procedure. The manual says, "After step 5 the safety belt warning light will be turned on for three seconds." I didn't get that. I disconnected the wire connector under the driver's seat. Air bag light gave me code 46. How is this warning light wired? Is there any way of invoking this warning light so that I can be sure it's not a wiring issue? Intermittent windshield wiper feature isn't working well. It stops and go, stops and go. But, hi and low are working well. I understand intermittent feature is controlled by the GEM.

Wednesday, April 27th, 2011 AT 1:46 AM

25 Replies

Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
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The seat belt I will look up the wiring and post it if you post your email you will get a better quality copy sent to you. The wiper issue csn also be the multifunction switch. When I get to my book I will post testing proceedures.
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Wednesday, April 27th, 2011 AT 8:40 AM
Tiny
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Thank you. I hope I will not have to replace GEM.
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Wednesday, April 27th, 2011 AT 12:38 PM
Tiny
MERLIN2021
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Is your airbag light lit? There is a bulletin for corrosion of the connectors for seat belt prtensioner under the driver and passenger seats. Let me know if air bag light stays on.
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Wednesday, April 27th, 2011 AT 6:28 PM
Tiny
MERLIN2021
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RESTRAINTS CONTROL MODULE (RCM)
RCM contains microcomputer, which monitors electrical system components and
connections. RCM performs a system self-check of air bag system internal circuits
every time ignition switch is turned to RUN position. RCM also energizes AIR BAG
warning light during initial system self-check and whenever a fault is detected. Faults
are stored in RCM memory and translated into flash codes, which are displayed
through AIR BAG warning light. RCM also communicates through Data Link
Connector (DLC) current and historical Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs).
If a system fault exists and AIR BAG warning light is malfunctioning, RCM signals
Generic Electronic Module (GEM) to activate a chime, indicating need for service.
TEST Y: NO COMMUNICATION WITH RCM
Description
Restraints Control Module (RCM) communicates with scan tool using International
Standard Organization (ISO) 9141 communication mode through Data Link Connector
(DLC).
Possible Causes
A no communication condition could be caused by damaged wiring, terminals or
connectors, damaged DLC, damaged scan tool or RCM internal fault.
1. Check RCM connector & pin No. 5 for damage
Turn ignition switch to OFF position. Disable air bag system. See DISABLING
SYSTEM under DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM. Access
RCM and disconnect harness connector. See RESTRAINTS CONTROL
MODULE (RCM) under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Inspect RCM
connector, terminal No. 5 (Light Blue/White wire), component side and harness
side, for damage. See Fig. 12 & Fig. 14. If module pin and module harness
connector terminal No. 5 are okay, go to next step. If module pin and module
harness connector terminal No. 5 are damaged, repair/replace as necessary.
Reconnect air bag system. Retest communication with RCM. Activate air bag
system. See ACTIVATING SYSTEM under DISABLING & ACTIVATING
AIR BAG SYSTEM. Perform system operation check. See SYSTEM
OPERATION CHECK. Clear all DTCs. See CLEARING FAULT CODES
under DIAGNOSTICS.
2. Check DLC for damage
Inspect Data Link Connector (DLC) and DLC connector terminal No. 7 (Light
Blue/White wire) for damage. See Fig. 16. DLC is located under left side of
instrument panel. If DLC connector and DLC connector terminal No. 7 (Light
Blue/White wire) is okay, go to next step. If DLC connector and DLC connector
terminal No. 7 (Light Blue/White wire) is damaged, repair/replace as necessary.
Retest communication with RCM. Reconnect air bag system. Activate air bag
system. Perform system operation check. Clear all DTCs.
3. Check circuit for short to battery
Measure voltage between ground and DLC connector terminal No. 7 (Light
Blue/White wire). If any voltage is present, repair short to battery voltage in
Light Blue/White wire. Retest communication with RCM. Reconnect air bag
system. Activate air bag system. Perform system operation check. Clear all
DTCs. If no voltage is present, go to next step.
4. Check circuit for open
Measure resistance of Light Blue/White wire between RCM connector terminal
No. 5 and DLC connector terminal No. 7. See Fig. 12 & Fig. 16. If resistance is
less than 5 ohms, go to next step. If resistance is more than 5 ohms, repair open in
Light Blue/White wire. Retest communication with RCM. Reconnect air bag
system. Activate air bag system. Perform system operation check. Clear all
DTCs.
5. Check circuit for short to ground
Measure resistance between ground and DLC connector terminal No. 7 (Light
Blue/White wire). If resistance is less than 10 k/ohms, repair short to ground in
Light Blue/White wire. Retest communication with RCM. Reconnect air bag
system. Activate air bag system. Perform system operation check. Clear all
DTCs. If resistance is more than 10 k/ohms, replace RCM. Retest communication
with RCM. Reconnect air bag system. Activate air bag system. Perform system
operation check. Clear all DTCs.
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Wednesday, April 27th, 2011 AT 6:42 PM
Tiny
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Hello,

No, the airbag light is not lit other than when I start the engine, it comes on for a self test for 5 seconds or something like that; then, it goes away. I unplugged the connector under the driver's seat to see what would happen. From the unplugging, I guess the sensor is working. Would these wires (I saw 2 wires) go directly to the GEM and the GEM reports to the cluster and to the SRS or there is a split so that the GEM and the SRS get signals independently?

By the way, check engine and ABS lights are on. If the check engine light is important, I can go to a nearest Autozone/AdvanceAutoParts/PepBoys/etc. To have it scanned.

I went to a junk yard today hoping I could find a GEM. No such luck. The GEM in this Ranger has a label of 1L5T-14B205-AF.
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Wednesday, April 27th, 2011 AT 9:39 PM
Tiny
MERLIN2021
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Your Restraint control module controls the light and chime, not the GEM, Check pin 5 on the RCM, It's located on the tranny tunnel under the dash. Pins are shown in the pictures.
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Thursday, April 28th, 2011 AT 7:37 AM
Tiny
MERLIN2021
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And yes get the codes read, both PCM and ABS
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Thursday, April 28th, 2011 AT 7:38 AM
Tiny
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Hello,

PCM and ABS scanned, that's I was trying to avoid. For ABS scan, $95 at a dealer. I don't need ABS at the moment, so I'm not concerned. Perhaps, I'll find bad hydraulics when I get it scanned. PCM scan, I don't know how much, I haven't called dealers. I heard anywhere between $200 - 80. Making pretty good money for a 5 min, no human involved troubleshooting.

"Your Restraint control module controls the light and chime, not the GEM." I understand the GEM controls all the warning chimes. So the RCM must be reporting to the GEM, do I have it correct? Upon countless hours of googling, I found, "the manual shows a light green and a black wire for the seat belt buckle switch which is for the "fasten belts" light on the dash.
The seat belt pretensioner wires should be light green/black and light green/ red." This was for 2004, so I'm not sure applicable to 2001, but it sounds like they are separate entities.

I'll go check pin 5 in a bit.
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Thursday, April 28th, 2011 AT 1:13 PM
Tiny
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I removed the cup holder and looked at the RCN connectors and pin 5. It looked very clean. I sprayed with compressed air anyway. No change.

I re-checked the wires under the driver's seat. There are 4 wires bundled into a connector. The wires are: GRN/RED, BRN/LT BLU, LT GRN and BLK. I'm guessing BRN/LT BLU in 2002 is LT GRN/BLK in 2004. Since I don't want to trip the air bag, I'm not going to anything to the wires. I was able to locate 2001 Ranger EV (had it for a while now.I know at least the parking brake light is wired about the same), and the wiring diagram shows BRN/LT BLU wire is going into the GEM and converted to YEL; then go to the cluster.
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Thursday, April 28th, 2011 AT 10:18 PM
Tiny
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Oh, yeah, the CEL is now gone since I had to disconnect the (-) terminal. Perhaps, it'll come back in a while.
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Thursday, April 28th, 2011 AT 10:20 PM
Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
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First the MIL(Malfunction indicator lamp) will return if cades are stored, second Autozone reads them for free, but not the ABS codes.
If you will post your email, I will send you the wiring diagram, and yes the chime and drivers bucke are the two wires that go into the RCM and GEM. If you want the diagram I NEED your email!
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Friday, April 29th, 2011 AT 7:46 PM
Tiny
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My e-mail address is vagrants@att. Net
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Saturday, April 30th, 2011 AT 2:58 PM
Tiny
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I didn't mean PCM scanned at a dealer. I meant GEM scanned.
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Saturday, April 30th, 2011 AT 3:00 PM
Tiny
MERLIN2021
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Ok the gem stores B codes mostly so generic scanners don't work. I will email the wiring diagram when I get home tonite.
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Sunday, May 1st, 2011 AT 1:46 AM
Tiny
VAGRANTS
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Thank you the RCM diagram. The diagram shows BRN/LT BLU goes directly to the GEM. Is it possible for you to give me another diagram similar to https://www.2carpros.com/images/question_images/8082/large.gif (I asked for this person to give me a better resolution cluster diagram, but I haven't heard anything for about a week) or can you confirm the attached image? If it's true, I can ground C224 terminal YEL (pin 10) to see if the cluster lights the seat belt warning.
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Sunday, May 1st, 2011 AT 12:32 PM
Tiny
MERLIN2021
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Safety Belt
The safety belt warning indicator is controlled through the Generic Electronic Module
(GEM). When the ignition key is turned on the RUN or START position during the
first sixty-one seconds +/- one second, the indicator illuminates if the safety belt
remains unbuckled.
2 PDF's on way to your email, one for troubleshooting the lamp, the other is the wirind diagram for the cluster.
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Sunday, May 1st, 2011 AT 1:17 PM
Tiny
MERLIN2021
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I strongly suggest a code scan, B code(s) must be stored, and will tell you what the problem is.
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Sunday, May 1st, 2011 AT 1:19 PM
Tiny
VAGRANTS
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Thanks much for the diagram. I was able to light the seat belt warning light by grounding the YEL (pin 10). Power from the GEM is getting there (assuming the previous owner didn't rewire it to like Hot-in-run or something). I guess I now have to ground BRN/LT BLU to see if I get the light and the chime.

I will get it scanned if I really need to. It'll be waste of a lot of money getting it scanned and turned out that the seat belt switch is bad or bad grounds. Bad seat belt switch/ground can be found without get it scanned. If there's no chime after I ground the BRN/LT BLU, it's most likely the GEM. So, I will get it scanned then since previous owner just might slapped a GEM from a junk yard in (reprogram the GEM if possible or new one then). Also, the issue with intermittent windshield wiper might be the switch or the motor.
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Sunday, May 1st, 2011 AT 2:50 PM
Tiny
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I'll call some dealers tomorrow to see how much they want for the GEM scan. I'll wait BRN/LT BLU grounding 'til after I make the calls since it makes me nervous.
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Sunday, May 1st, 2011 AT 2:58 PM
Tiny
VAGRANTS
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"Pinpoint Test T: The Safety Belt Warning Indicator Does Not Operate Correctly" pg 2, "T3 VERIFY THE SAFETY BELT WARNING CHIME OPERATION" If "No", REFER to WARNING DEVICES - RANGER. What are "WARNING DEVICES"?
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Sunday, May 1st, 2011 AT 3:15 PM

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