OK guys I have a 1988 E150. The problem is the seatbelt light on the dash will not go out. It used ot come on when you start the van then go out. Since this is an older van it is not an issue where the seat belt must be connected for the light to go out like the new cars. Any suggestions on the fix short of removing the bulb?

 

Are you sure about the fact that the seat belt doesn't need to be connected for the light to go out? Horse sense tells me that if the light is there in the first place, it has a purpose, and by an extension of that logic, that purpose would be to indicate whether or not the seatbelt is connected. I don't know for sure, just my two cents

 

My 1997 works the same way and the belt buzzer & light will go out (after a second or two)regardless if the belt is connected. I assume the light stays on even with the belt connected.

 

I've owned the van since new. Its a Conversion van that Coachman did. There is no electrical connections what so ever associated with the drivers seat belt. When new and up until recently the light would come on when you start the van then shortly go out. It did not matter whether the seat belt was connected or not. I rarely use the seat belt.

 

"I rarely use the seat belt. "

Perhaps it's an omen trying to talk sense to you It has to be a timer of some kind. My seat belt has a wire to it and applying the buckles will stop the alert earlier. I have to pass on this one untill I can trace the circut in the manual.

 

maybe it is an omen but even if I connect the belt the light stays on.

 

It's got to be a timer of some kind.. I hadn't realized that my passanger seat is like the drivers but for some reason if I got something heavy on it, the light stays on longer. The only wire is through the seatbelt. Those belts work on a ground and perhaps when your van was converted, a ground was disrupted. Unfortunatly my manual doesn't go back that far (1988).

 

The light used to work fine form 1988 up until last year. Hard for me to believe that they missed something when converting it but I guess its possible for a ground to go bad on a 19 year old van.

 

Regarding your seat belt warning light, sorta got interested in your discussion and from one of my references it suggest that there is a relay (time relay is the assumption) that is likely the cause. When operating correctly, the relay after a few seconds will shut the power off to the warning bulb (goes off).

The relay is stuck in such a position to be causing the problem.

If it were mine, I would remove and replace the relay (you will likely need a wiring diagram to locate it) and find a good one. Also, you could check this hypothesis out by merely pulling the relay.......if on indicator light goes out.....voila!

BTW, I am looking at an aftermarket wiring diagram and it seems there were a number of seat belt warning configurations. The one you describe having seems to be the simplist, if that is any consolation.

The instrument cluster on your model can be removed to gain access to the wiring and all discussed here. Patience and understanding should prevail.