Faulty driver seatbelt switch (sensor)

[gkako]

On my honda civic 2002 lx 2dr. Coupe. I have a red srs light on. Took it to a mechanic and the obd said it's "faulty driverside seatbelt switch" (sensor) does anyone had this problem? Honda dealer tells me to change the seatbelt buckle for $260 cdn. Can i do something else? Any suggestions? Does canada have a lifetime warranty on seat belts?

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[charleswilk]

Similar to my problem with my 2001 Civic 4-dr EX. Car is currently at the dealer awaiting a new driver's side buckle. My SRS light came on. I found the service bulletin 06-009 concerning extended warranty 10 years/150,000 miles on the OPDS. I took it to the dealer. Dealer Mueller Honda in Highland Park IL called said it was not the OPDS but the switch in the buckle. Dealer stated that it is covered under Honda's lifetime warranty on seat belts.
I do work on the car myself except for warranty work. Here is one reason why: I planned to replace the engine coolant. Went to Schaumburg, IL Honda dealer parts dept. Honda Service Manual directs you to open engine block drain plug to drain coolant as well as open the radiator drain. Manual states replace the aluminum washer on the engine block drain bolt. Parts dept did not stock the washer! The Parts guy went to speak with the mechanics. He came back and said to me that the mechanics do not open the engine block drain when they do this work. So the Parts dept does not stock the washer. Obvious conclusion: So even though the dealer charges customers the "book rate" for the work which includes the time to open and drain block, customers do not get that service, their cars are not serviced according to Honda proceedures. And this dealer claims that they are better than non-honda service people/shops.

[civic_goober]

Originally Posted by gkako

On my honda civic 2002 lx 2dr. Coupe. I have a red srs light on.

Took it to a mechanic and the obd said it's "faulty driverside seatbelt switch" (sensor)

does anyone had this problem?
Honda dealer tells me to change the seatbelt buckle for $260 cdn. Can i do something else? Any suggestions?

Does canada have a lifetime warranty on seat belts?

Canada doesn't have the same lifetime warranty as they do in the US.
Why? I don't know.

It's only 5 yrs /100,000kms.

I have the same problem.
I called several dealerships. Not all have the same price.
Even their hourly rate can vary so call around.

For some reason on my 2001 Civic LX 4dr my mechanic couldn't read the SRS system. But the dealership already (after charging me 104.00) scanned the computer and it identified a faulty driverside seat buckle.

Anyone else have this problem where the SRS system can only be scanned by the dealer. my mechanic has a 2003 civic and he can read the SRS system in that year.

[sjester]

Seem like this is a common problem on the Honda civic, have anyone seen any posting of a solution other than the dealer?

[CraigW]

Take the gamble and buy the buckle and replace it yourself, or have another mechanic do the work.

[instalher]

honda canada WILL replace the part but you will be charged one hr labor to put it in..

[botmark]

Originally Posted by instalher

honda canada WILL replace the part but you will be charged one hr labor to put it in..

Are you sure about this? I just called two Honda dealers (west of Toronto) and they both say it is NOT covered (not even just the part plus paid labour)because my '02 is out of warranty. Seems that it's covered in the U.S. but not Canada.

The contact switch in the seatbelt buckle is flaky. There is a procedure to reset the SRS light that I have had to perform from time to time whenever the SRS light came on but now the light is coming on way too often.

I've disassembled the buckle (backed out the tamper-proof screws with a "grabit" tool for stripped screw heads) and the contact switch is pretty much sealed so spraying an electronics contact cleaner into the buckle doesn't do anything.

[SRSStress]

. .

[SRSStress]

Originally Posted by charleswilk

...Similar to my problem with my 2001 Civic 4-dr EX. Car is currently at the dealer awaiting a new driver's side buckle. My SRS light came on. I found the service bulletin 06-009 concerning extended warranty 10 years/150,000 miles on the OPDS. I took it to the dealer. Dealer Mueller Honda in Highland Park IL called said it was not the OPDS but the switch in the buckle. Dealer stated that it is covered under Honda's lifetime warranty on seat belts...

charleswilk, my forum friend in Highland Park, IL:

This sounds almost identical to what I've had to deal with but with a few important exceptions, namely, that the dealerships don't seem willing to cover replacement and/or labor. My girlfriend also has a four-door 2001 Civic (though LX) with only 85k miles.

The SRS light came on. I reset it. Repeat until I got it scanned (thankfully for free) and dealer mechanic reported aforementioned front driver's seatbelt buckle assembly SRS sensor gone bad.

Cost to replace ~$300. (Part lists in US dollars ~$175) That's still too much and would rather go to a local junkyard for MUCH cheaper (and I have a security torx bit that should work nicely for the swap.) Though reaching the main bolt attached to the frame seems hard to access. (Any good pics and/or walk-thrus anyone?)

I called Honda corporate (800-999-1009) but made no progress on trying to convince them that the buckle issue should be covered under the broad issue of anything even remotely related to any systems that would tie-in to the OPDS (which is itself covered). Technically, they state that such a sensor might be covered under the 3 year/36,000 (and even then, perhaps only at their discretion.)

Update: I decided to fudge a bit and go to a different nearby dealership that doesn't know me or the car as neither have been there before. So, no history/back story available to influence (prevent) their ability to help me. I claimed the belt latch was coming undone periodically and inquired if it would be covered under a lifetime warranty on the seatbelts due to the safety concern. I was told that they'll happily order the part and swap it out free of charge (and along with the whole assembly, so goes the alleged bad sensor in question contained inside too.) I made sure to clear the light JUST before pulling in. Ya gotta work the system, think inside the box, think outside the box, and find (and exploit) the loopholes.

Conclusion: Free repair/replacement done successfully and without a hitch. It's too bad that a couple other posters suggested simply resigning to the apparent inevitability of costly parts and work. Be resourceful, be savvy, be strategic, and you'll enjoy the resulting amazement at how easily so many things go in your favor.

Thanks for the input everyone (especially Charles Wilk!) for helping my girl save $300!

[theman]

This thread was amazing.

I have a 2001 honda civic lx and when i hit 162,000 km i have a SRS light ON. Brought it to Ready honda (mississauga, ontario) and they found a sensor issue with the driver side seat belt buckle. They gave me a quote for 350 for the parts and 108+tax for the labor. I was furious that they will not cover. I called up HONDA CANADA and spoke to Jennifer from customer relations. Pleaded my case that in the U.S. they have a lifetime warranty on safety parts for HOnda's.

Guess what they have sent a letter to ready honda that honda canada will cover the parts and i'll cover the labor. I wanted everything to be covered but yes 108+tax is way better than 350+108 and taxes. Went last saturday Nov 6, 2009 and REady honda replaced my seat belt buckle and no more SRS light.

Give it a shot it worked for me.