so I have found a drain on my battery, finaly. its coming from my seatbelt inirtia reel's. it only drains the battery when the door is open(and no the dome light is not on). it seems like it runs on a closed curcuit, so the switch activates (the inirtia reel) when it gets no signal, hence causing the drain. I traced this to the brakes. what i cant figure out is how the inirtia reel knows or gets a signal that the door is open. It's not signaled by the door switch for the dome light.

and yes I know i should just shut my door, but when I am tearing my car apart sometimes I will leave it open overnight. and lately is been left open alot, killing my battery a few times

so i'am wondering if anybody else has had an issue with these

I am planning on having the Honda dealer replace them for free for safety issues
but I'am expecting that the curcuit will be the same and also cause a drain when the door is open

 

i'm curious if anybody else has noticed this too?

 

yeah i noticed this too, when I leave my door open overnight my battery drains. I always thought it was an issue just on my car.

 

I think i know what it is and why.

the seatbelt is trying to retract itself. so it activates the same switch that it uses to lock the seatbelts in an accident.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by goofball123321 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">yeah i noticed this too, when I leave my door open overnight my battery drains. I always thought it was an issue just on my car.</TD></TR></TABLE>
im glad to hear this because i thought <U>I</U> was alone on this. good i'm not crazy.
i found that if you pull the horn/ brake light fuse under the hood will cut power to the seatbelts. for when you need to leave the door open

honda is gonna replace everything for free, just for not retracting correctly. I hear that the new one wont last long either, oh well i'll find out soon enuf.

 

Yeah I got both my seatbelts replaced a couple of years ago due to the retraction problem. They still work fine today. But if they have problems again I can always bring them back. Although I'm not sure if i remember if that door drain problem was before or after I got my seatbelts replaced.

 

Btw, what year and model is your car? Seatbelts on door like the '90 hatch?
More Honda info please......

How did you figure it out?
More tech info please.......

This might end up being the thread I've been looking for
Thanks......good luck


Modified by JOE BD-0 at 7:32 PM 3/14/2007

 

I have a 91 civic door mount belts. but I assume that all door mounted belts are this way.
I had battery problems so i hunted down a draw. i could hear something turn on in the door, so i took the panel off and unplugged the seatbelts, no noise no draw. this is only when the door is open btw.
i just came to the conclusion that the belt is trying to retract itself, i seems to be the only reason.

 

I got the click noise from the door, and the draining battery, and I have been to the dealer twice ( they installed new belts).....but I'm sure that they are trained not to tell the real problem, or fix it without $.........I'm trying to tell them that it is a belt problem, but they just say that "the belts work".........good luck (to me)

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JOE BD-0 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I got the click noise from the door, and the draining battery, and I have been to the dealer twice ( they installed new belts).....but I'm sure that they are trained not to tell the real problem, or fix it without $.........I'm trying to tell them that it is a belt problem, but they just say that "the belts work".........good luck (to me)</TD></TR></TABLE>

this is how it functions, you just cant leave the door open. theres nothing to fix, but our habits.

unless your door has been smashed in, ive heard that will make the seatbelt draw power all the time whether or not the door is open.

 

just out of curiosity... did the honda dealer replace the seatbelts for free under the lifetime warranty? i've heard that they do, but i've never bothered to go down to the dealer to check it out. let me know.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by thrasherx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">just out of curiosity... did the honda dealer replace the seatbelts for free under the lifetime warranty? i've heard that they do, but i've never bothered to go down to the dealer to check it out. let me know.</TD></TR></TABLE>

yes, i was AMAZED at how easy it was (for me at least) I just said the seatbelt doesnt retract and they looked at it for a minute, and i mentioned the buckles poping out which i couldnt show them, but they are gonna replace them too.

im waiting till next week for the belts to come in

they're gonna get me black belts because my seat are black which is great, I'm slowly changing from blue to black. I hope they dont notice cause i dont want them blue

I have heard of folks having to call Honda of north america on their local dealers for not honoring this. I believe this i the only part that's warranteed for life, unless the car has been in an accident

 

So if I have this straight........Since my door does not stay "clicked" closed, then the seatbelt wants to retract, thus draining the battery?

What about the guy who unplugged his seatbelt retractor, any negative repurcussions in the performance of the belt??? Still looking for more info on this subject, Thanks.............

 

yes, i Think its trying to retract, anyway the seatbelt draws power when open.

and yes if you unplug these your seatbelt WILL NOT lock in an accident. not good

so dont unplug this, period.

 

Thanks for the good info, but I have just had the seatbelts replaced, and the door jamb adjusted by the dealer, so I'm wondering why wouldn't have fixed that part of it that would drain the battery......they did tell me to go to a body shop if I wanted the door to latch any better.........continued for more info.....thanks

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JOE BD-0 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> I have been to the dealer twice ( they installed new belts).....but I'm sure that they are trained not to tell the real problem, or fix it without $.........I'm trying to tell them that it is a belt problem, but they just say that "the belts work".........good luck (to me)</TD></TR></TABLE><TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JOE BD-0 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> but I have just had the seatbelts replaced, and the door jamb adjusted by the dealer, so I'm wondering why wouldn't have fixed that part of it that would drain the battery......</TD></TR></TABLE>

I think your not hearing me, this is how it works stock. its not a problem btw its only when the doors are open
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by grog &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
i found that if you pull the horn/ brake light fuse under the hood will cut power to the seatbelts. for when you need to leave the door open</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by grog &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">


they're gonna get me black belts because my seat are black which is great, I'm slowly changing from blue to black. I hope they dont notice cause i dont want them blue

</TD></TR></TABLE>

I was talking to the parts guy at the dealership and he told me they can only get them in black now and not any other color. so i think you are safe

 

so i can now confirm that the seatbelts draw power when the door is open. even with the new belts.

its kinda weird with the new seatbelts working so smoothly and retacting itself and best of all they arent filthy

 

bumpin for a majic fix........

 

Theres nothing to fix. your fine unless your doors are smashed in.

read these posts again you will see theres not a problem, please just read, dont make me post this again, as i have posted this already.

if you still think somethings wrong, please explain your problem.

 

my doors are not smashed in

I've read these posts, and there is still a problem with my car

I'm not making you post anything

My problem, as stated in my other posts in this thread, is that my door doesn't stay "clicked" shut all the way..... it kinda jiggles in place.......the dome light does not come on, but the seatbelt / door reminder light and beep comes on (I've unplugged that to maintain sanity) .....and after sitting a few days, the battery becomes dead.....more help and info needed, less attitude thanks

 

sorry, for the life in me i couldnt see what you were saying.
the switch on the door (for the domelight) does not contoll the seatbelts, i believe it must be in the latch in the door.

so does your door latch? it sounds like its between laching and opening. is it both doors?
I recently put rear door handles on the front of my hatch and they need to be adjusted just right, i had to come back and adjust them 3 times. altough it didnt act like yours
to make sure this draw is coming from your door pull the horn/brake fuse (under the hood) with your door shut and listen for a click when you pull it( open the door and you will hear it)
i have heard of problems like this related to the seatbelt sensor going off all the time. It may be that these are two different issues cause i dont think the seatbelt light comes on when the door jiggles open, it comes on with the belts undone .

 

that's ok.......Yes, I have the clicking inside the door when I pull the horn fuse.......

Some threads on this subject reference the horn fuse being blown, but mine is good, but the horn doesn't work at the moment....I hope that's not my problem, cause that would be an easy fix...I'm looking to fix the horn in order to eliminate that cause.........It sounds like you just fixed yours....I really don't want to go back to the dealer for this "parasitic draw" problem......thanks again for your understanding and more help....If I ever make it up to Humboldt, I'll buy you a cold one, or whatever........

 

Hey just a dumb Question. My seabelt has a lifetime warranted. Does this includ the female part on the seat? Mine exploded one day. It would be nice to get a new one free.

 

yes

 

it sounds like your door latch doesnt think its shuting, i think it has ground switch inside of it, it grounds when open i think, maybe the ground is loose?
i'm not positive about this, but i know the trunk latch functions this way.

this is a long shot, but is your latch rusty and therfore not grounding good?

do both doors do this? if one works good you may be able to observe the difference between the two and find the problem

i'm gonna look at my other stripped civic today, i'll see if i can get a good look at the door latch mechinism. this car also has the seatbelt warning/& lights going off all the time


as for the door rattle/ jiggle, could the door be missing the 2 round rubber stops (that cushion the door when shut)

and about the horn/brake fuse, is doesnt blow out or anything. I just remove this fuse when the car door is being left open, when working on it.
a temporary solution for keeping your battery charge would be to remove this horn/brake fuse when your done with your car for the day, just make sure you put it back cause it powers the running brake lights.