Posting for HiTech in a more readable color..
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Hello all,
I would like to throw in some info. concerning the issue of the seat swap. I have done it, and can tell you only the PM that had the original OE Bench wiring from the factory will be the only one to suffer slightly from the swap with an initial start message on the display and the constant little red restraint light constantly on the dash.
FYI: It will not effect any of the other systems. TPS, CanBus, engine monitoring. all work fine, independently of this matter.
The funny thing is none of the engineers I spoke to were not willing to say if the air bag system would still work properly regardless of the fault.
I have decided that I grew up in a time without airbags and decided to live with the warning light and possibility of no airbag. Heck! I ride a Harley Davidson Roadking without a helmet on occasion. I'm happy to have a windshield on it.
Disclaimer: I'm in no way the authority on this matter, but would like to provide some insight and official documentation into the matter. I believe there are some slight safety wiring differences from the Euro model to the USA Model. Unless it's recently changed. Then please forgive me for lack of information. My intention is only to provide information to my experience and prevent damage or unintentional airbag discharge.
It will be great if the 2.5 resistor proposal is proven and works for US Models.
My understanding is the following may need to be addressed.
1. Center Passenger Seat Occupancy Detection
2. Center Seat Belt Buckle Switch Sense.
3. Center Seat Belt Tensioner.
Please consider the attached documented info. before manipulating the resistive values of certain circuits involved with the OCCUPANT RESTRAINT CONTROLLER MODULE. In the three forms of trouble code documents; I see mention of resistances or values which are in the trouble shooting steps, which there is no mention of a 2.5 ohms value.
I would be grateful to discuss how the 2.5 ohm value was achieved as a proven fix. Discussion of inception to application would be great for all, to include Video or Picture step by step showing the fault lights and message and correction of those by use of the resistor. This would possibly give some insight as to the connections and differences from the Euro and USA models. If any.
Below is a copy of my email response to Member ha3Dy_j1s.
Documents mentioned below are attached to this post.
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ha3Dy_j1s,
As promised, here are the attached PDF's of my Dealership/ tech. diagnostics codes, trouble tree and diagrams. As you can see, I'm not making this stuff up. I have contacted techs. and people familiar with Ducato version from Europe as well. Although Promaster's and Ducato's are twins and appear physically the same, their are some personality and trait differences due to the USA and NTSA . Specifically on the safety restraint wiring/config. side of the house.
You have my permission to share the PDF's. According to Ram Promaster engineering Rep. I was not supposed to get the tech. docs. from the dealership. I was in the bay with the technician, because he was not understanding the issue or concept of the seat swap, and extra connectors for the center seat, and why the problem codes were existent if I have a factory passenger seat. I scooped up these documents off the techs. work bench. I figured it was info on my vehicle, so I kept them for my use. I was instrumental in educating the Techs. and dealership, so they would stop telling customers they could change the front seating configuration... Because they had been telling customers they could swap seats. I was a victim of that claim. Yes, the seat can be swapped, but not without technical consequence to the owner of the OE Bench model and wiring configuration.
** SAFTEY WARNING ** In the reading of document ("B0132-1B-FRONT CENTER PRETENTIONER-CIRCUIT RESISTANCE ABOVE THRESHHOLD") FYI: the word "SQUIB" in layman's terms is basically like a blasting cap. It is the explosive cap/detonator which activates the charged chemicals for Airbag deployment.
** On page 2 of this document: Notice how the SQUIB circuit is tied to the Seat belt tensioner resistance value, as I spoke to you about over the phone. My understanding from Ram Engineer; it takes a certain amount of G-force, weight and inertia to reach the breaking/release point of the seat belt tensioner, which causes a resistive value change to the MODULE OCCUPANT RESTRAINT CONTROLLER; telling the SQUIB to blow the airbag.
In the Air force, We used SQUIBS on the aircraft to deploy high pressure charged fire extinguishing chemicals to each individual engine in case of a fire.(The aircraft electrician in me)
My thoughts and goals are:
;-) Option 1 -Easiest: find a wrecked Promaster and to recover a good seat tensioner and seat occupancy switch. Any seat position will work as the plugs are the same for all positions. plug these items in and hide them under the passenger seat. Problem solved.(LOW or NO RISK)
:-( Option 2 - Hardest/last resort: To address the seat belt buckle switch and the passenger seat occupancy switch circuits for proper emulation. These will have to be addressed first, and are the simplest circuits to address before fooling the Center Seat Tensioner Circuit. Then try Center Seat Circuit Emulation or system fooling. Once this is figured out or complete, I believe this will solve the issue. (HIGH RISK for mistake and unintentional Airbag deployment)
As you can tell I've been waiting for a donor for option 1.
We can thank the NTSA for all this.
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Back in March. When we swapped seats; Member Taylor and I have discussed the possibility of paralleling the wiring from the passenger seat to the center seat. Basically, the plugs are the same, and from the diagrams the system appears to be looking for the same information. The thing to consider even in this theory, is how the system sees or interprets those signals or values. The problem is neither of us was willing to chance an unintentional airbag deployment. I like a control environment, as long as its not at my expense. So I live with a light on the dash for now.
