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electrical ?


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dennishazard
User

Jan 16, 2013, 7:34 AM

Post #1 of 10 (1540 views)
electrical ? Sign In

i have a 98 dodge durango, its a 5.2 litre with 145,000 miles on it,my problem is when its cold out(winter time) my cruse control and the front passenger seat belt dont work, the seat belt is what im worried about, if the truck warms up enough and you play and pull on it then it works, any ideas of what the problem is ? even after the truck is warm the cruse dont work,dont have this problem is the summer time...........................Thanks......Dennis from milwaukee


MarineGrunt
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Jan 16, 2013, 8:16 AM

Post #2 of 10 (1524 views)
Re: electrical ? Sign In

Are you sure it's just a winter/summer thing or did it just start happening this winter? Did it do it last winter too?


dennishazard
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Jan 16, 2013, 9:43 AM

Post #3 of 10 (1499 views)
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just got the truck before last winter and didnt have any trouble till it got cold out


MarineGrunt
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Jan 16, 2013, 10:53 AM

Post #4 of 10 (1494 views)
Re: electrical ? Sign In

That doesn't mean it's just a winter thing. It's probably just a coincidence. If you would've had the truck last winter, it did the same thing, and then stopped come summer then it could be possible the cold caused the problem. I would think the seatbelt and cruise are two separate problems. Have you checked the fuses?


(This post was edited by MarineGrunt on Jan 16, 2013, 10:54 AM)


dennishazard
User

Jan 16, 2013, 2:15 PM

Post #5 of 10 (1470 views)
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no i havent but i will,also both right and left turn signals are acting funny when i turn on either one it runs real fast for a few secounds then blinks normal.thanks


MarineGrunt
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Jan 16, 2013, 5:33 PM

Post #6 of 10 (1457 views)
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Check the bulbs for the blinkers. Sometimes if one burns out it will blink real fast. If it's not a bulb it could be the flasher unit.

To be honest, I'm not positive if there's even a fuse for the cruise. If not the cruise control lever or switch could be faulty and needs replaced.

As for the seatbelt I'm assuming it's one of those automatic ones that moves into position when you start the vehicle? If so it has to have a fuse.

There are some professional mechanics who run the forum so I'm sure they'll be able to give you better help than I can. Just keep checking back.


nickwarner
Veteran / Moderator
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Jan 16, 2013, 6:18 PM

Post #7 of 10 (1449 views)
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Can you put a hair dryer on the retractor assembly for the seatbelt? If it got some moisture in there it could be freezing up and the ice crystals are making it a pain to get the belt to work.

The cruise control goes through computer modules with switch inputs to a body module. You'd need access to a professional scan tool to do testing on it and see what the module is seeing for inputs and outputs.

I'd get to that seatbelt no later than Saturday. We're going to be getting pretty cold around Milwaukee after that.


dennishazard
User

Jan 16, 2013, 8:35 PM

Post #8 of 10 (1429 views)
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its not a automatic seal belt that wraps around you when you close the door but ill give that hair dryer thing a try as for the cruse its in the steering wheel so ill take it to someone cause i need a test to get new plates anyways.......thanks for your help.....Dennis


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Jan 17, 2013, 7:20 AM

Post #9 of 10 (1414 views)
Re: electrical ? Sign In

Quick read - sorry. The cruise and directionals scream of bad bulbs or grounds/sockets. That and the temp sensitive seat belt may not be related but moisture could be a common denominator and a common ground. Nick said try the hair dryer. If that with some time at the right area does change it (seat belt) then there's the issue. There may be a cover where it winds up that you can easily get a good look and dry it out, perhaps lock de-icer that has some mild lube also. If corroded in there that has to get fixed properly.

I'm groping for one thing that can cause all this? Cruise would shut down if it thought brakes were on I think just by them lighting up when applied. If directionals and brake lights share the same bulb that's a clue.

Seat belt: What is the real problem? Does it stay out or not come out? Is it always loose? Would need to know how it is supposed to operate and might not be the same in the same vehicle with a different option package. Some may not hold you tight such that you can reach things unless they sense the inertia of rapid slowing. Older ones had a swinging barbed cam that grabbed the belt non electrical to hold fast instantly with very hard braking or a crash - arggh.

It may also (wild guess) sense brake lights and grab just when applied. Plain dunno.

OK - It's not automatic (hate that idea) but should know if it's buckled or not and probably knows of a person sitting at least in front seats or a light might come on and stay on or on for an extended time. So many different ways they do things on those.

Arggh? Ones with troubles were frequently just re-winded up in a twist and stuck. Some you fuss with like taking a tight knot out of a rope and some are wrecked. Just one absolutely would not release and had to be cut! Rare and not the case here as I see it.

Back - I think moisture is somehow the issue but need to know more about how it fails. MarineGrunt, Nick and I are all from cold and snow country so even when too cold to rain or wet from humidity bet we all have dealt with snow on shoes/boots that melts with heater blasting and that's the moisture of Winter up to fogging windows after they were clear so is everywhere.

Just thoughts on some maybe reasons for now - Tom


MarineGrunt
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Jan 17, 2013, 7:54 AM

Post #10 of 10 (1406 views)
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If the hairdryer doesn't work I think I'd just run down to a local salvage yard and buy the lower part of the seat belt. The ones I've seen, which is mainly GM, usually just bolt on with a big torx bolt. You'll probably have to take a piece of trim off to get to it but it shouldn't be all that difficult. I wouldn't think that part would cost more than $5 or $10 because it's not something that normally needs replaced so there are probably a bunch out there.






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