Questions and Answers

Ford Tempo Passive Seat Belts Q. Hello Vince, I own a 1988 Ford Tempo with automatic transmission and 4500 miles (second round). It has ABS brakes and cruise control. Could you please help me to find, or point to the cause the automatic seat belts no longer move? Since last week the automatic seat belts, both sides, driver's and passenger's, are in the lower position (as when you open the door).

First, the passenger's side belt refused to pull back when the door was closed. Immediately after that the same thing happened to the driver's side belt. Are they moved or controlled via a motor and/or fuse that can be changed? I have the manual that came with the car but it does not say anything about the seat belts at all.

Your help would be greatly appreciated;
Ann

A. You don't know how much I hate these passive seat belt systems. Before they came out, I had hair.

You can check fuse 9, 20 amp, and fuse 5, 15 amp, and make sure they are good. If they are good, then it's possible the door jamb switches are bad.

After that it gets complicated. There are limit switches and solenoids and, of course, the motors. And that's just the electrical portion of the system. It could be a guide rail or cable is broken. What it will take to repair this is a good wiring diagram and someone with patience to troubleshoot it.