1974 Dodge Coronet and Seat Belt Interlocks

[1969 Dodge Coronet]

I just recently bought a 1974 Dodge Coronet with low, low miles (32,000) at a car show and swap meet. The car was bought new by a lady who lived in Circleville, OH and just passed away recently. The car is in really great shape and although it’s a sedan and not a 2-door coupe, I like it. The car has a strong 318 V-8 and an A727 Torqueflite automatic transmission.:love9:


One of the few niggles I could find to complain about this car is that it has the Seat Belt Interlock System that was mandated by Washington in 1974 for all cars and light trucks. This system has failed in this car and the only way I can get it started is to press the Seat Belt Interlock System override switch underneath the hood.
:angryfire::angryfire:

I was a mechanic in the 1970s working for a VW dealer and I remember how hated the seat belt interlock system was and how loudly the public complained to Congress about it; we complained so loud and so long about it in fact that Congress actually listened and rescinded the seat belt interlock requirement late in 1974. Thus it is only the 1974 and some early 1975 models which have this dumb set-up. :angryfire:

I have the car in a Dodge shop to have some work done on it and I have asked the mechanic to disable the Seat Belt Interlock System. He’s dragging his feet though and he doesn’t want to run the risk of getting his shop sued for disabling a mandated Federal system. I’ve told him that it (the requirement) was removed by Congress in 1974 and it is totally legal to turn off the system now, but he’s hesitant and he doesn’t want to take just my word for it. Can anyone point me to a web site that gives the official word? Or does anyone have a step by step instruction to use to disable the system if I have to do it myself? :icon_question:

 

[runnin74]

I think all you have to do is unplug the seat sensors located beneath the seats.

 

[1ol74charger4me]

http://wichargerguy.proboards.com/ Nacho put the wiring diagram for this on here. You will probably need to make a jumper for 1 seat so that it will think there is someone in it. Since yours is only starting with the reset I would say your switch is junk which is typical. They are available but I would just wire around it. Right now there is actually the factory diagnostic tool on Ebay for this if you want to become an expert on them. Post pics of the Coronet when you get a chance. We like pics , yes we do.

 

[1969 Dodge Coronet]

The Chrysler Master Technician conference movie about the seat belt interlock system is on You Tube and I understand how the system works. I don't want to repair it however because I don't like Big Government telling me what to do. This requirement was removed in 1974 anyway because we the people spoke up and said NO and it is now legal to disable. Parts are probably hard to find anyway.

What made me more adamant than ever to disabling the seat belt interlock was my experience shortly after I bought the car. I got in the car to go to the tire store to get new tires put on. As I was turning out of my street to proceed on the main drag, the car stumbled and stalled. (It needs a minor carb adjustment). Even though I was properly bucked in to my seat and there was nothing on the cushion on the passenger side to trip the seat belt sensor, the starting circuit was disabled and when I turned the key nothing happened. I almost got T-boned by a woman in a Nissan SUV! It was lucky she managed to stop in time, but for a moment I thought I was a goner. I had to get out of the car and push it back into my street so the traffic could pass. When I raised the hood and pressed the seat belt interlock bypass, the car started up right away. Excuse me but that was the stupidest idea Washington ever came up with in order the force people to wear their seat belts.

[video=youtube;3xXtmlSHtIQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xXtmlSHtIQ[/video]

Here's a few shots of the car.

 

[1ol74charger4me]

Looks like a neat car. Thanks for the link to the video. Didn't know that was on there. When I got my 74 Charger the switch was missing but I don't know what they did to rewire it. Nacho gave me some info on it sometime back because I wanted to keep the fasten seat belt light but have it turn off after a short while without enabling the system. First Chrysler came up with this, then the leanburn system then the K car , then they became Fiat.