Random Cable!

[Sian]

Tonight I dropped a load of stuff down the side of my seat. Trying to get it out I came across this cable. I then checked the passenger seat and found one there too. If anyone can tell me what it's for I'd appreciate it! My logical guess is something to do with heated seats... But I don't have heated seats or any 'heated seat' button on the console.

Any ideas? Thank you all  s:) s:)

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[delhusband]

Is that for the passenger sensor? (car beeps if there's a weight on the seat and seat belt isn't fastened)? Connector is under the seat? Don't know for sure, but maybe that?

[SteveJ]

Seat occupied sensor - makes the light in the centre of the dash flash if weight on the seat and the belt isn't fastened (no beep though).

[Sian]

Seat occupied sensor - makes the light in the centre of the dash flash if weight on the seat and the belt isn't fastened (no beep though).

Ah ok. Well everything being disconnected doesn't seem to be making anything complain so shall I just leave them unplugged? Will that affect MOTs or anything?

[Ardent]

Heated screen cable for hardtop

[delhusband]

(no beep though).

Really?   s:? :? s:?  Mines definitely does  Leave it long enough it beeps faster, in full on petulant mode   s:) s:)

[Bandeira]

Hi tiff272

that's the cable for the passenger seat presence sensor. so basically it warns you if there is weight on the seat and seatbelts are not fastened.
some people (including myself) had disconnected it as a bag/rucksack would trigger the sensor.
I think on my(ermmmm your) car it would beep and then get full annoying mode after a while.

never had any issues with MOT like that and it's been like that since week 1 of my ownership  s:) s:)

[Enjay]

Heated screen cable for hardtop

Not under the seat like this one.  

Definitely looks like the seat occupied wire to me too.

[SteveJ]

(no beep though).

Really?   s:? :? s:?  Mines definitely does  Leave it long enough it beeps faster, in full on petulant mode   s:) s:)

Must be a very late addition in production then - I had 2001, 2002, 2003 & 2004 models at various times and none of them beeped! (the '01, '03 & '04 did have the annoying reverse beep but they were SMT's)

[1979scotte]

(no beep though).

Really?   s:? :? s:?  Mines definitely does  Leave it long enough it beeps faster, in full on petulant mode   s:) s:)

Must be a very late addition in production then - I had 2001, 2002, 2003 & 2004 models at various times and none of them beeped! (the '01, '03 & '04 did have the annoying reverse beep but they were SMT's)

My 06 beep beep beeped for England.
My PFL nowt.

[m1tch]

My 03 doesn't beep, no warning light on the dash when its unplugged, I would however urge you to plug it in as it senses if someone is in the seat - this will be linked to the airbag system so if its unplugged and you have an accident the passenger side airbag might not deploy (as it doesn't think there is anyone in the seat).

[Bandeira]

hi m1tch

I'm not sure exactly how the MR2 system works, but other cars I've seen have 3 statuses

- Sensor says: Passenger present - airbag deploys
- Sensor says: Passenger not present -  airbag does not deploy
- No signal from sensor - airbag deploys

that's how my current car (not an mr2) works but I'm not sure if it's the same on the '2

[SteveJ]

Looking at the wiring diagram (albeit for a US car), the passenger seat occupied & seatbelt fastened switches are in series via the connector and ONLY connect to the instrument cluster NOT to the SRS airbag ECU which suggests the passenger airbag will always deploy.

[Sian]

Looking at the wiring diagram (albeit for a US car), the passenger seat occupied & seatbelt fastened switches are in series via the connector and ONLY connect to the instrument cluster NOT to the SRS airbag ECU which suggests the passenger airbag will always deploy.

That's interesting and a relief to hear!  It's unplugged for both the passenger seat and the driver seat.  I think I'll leave it that way as it already beeps at me for several other things! Thank you everyone  s:) s:)

[SteveJ]

Looking at the wiring diagram (albeit for a US car), the passenger seat occupied & seatbelt fastened switches are in series via the connector and ONLY connect to the instrument cluster NOT to the SRS airbag ECU which suggests the passenger airbag will always deploy.

That's interesting and a relief to hear!  It's unplugged for both the passenger seat and the driver seat.  I think I'll leave it that way as it already beeps at me for several other things! Thank you everyone  s:) s:)

The drivers seat switch DOES connect to the SRS ECU so I would connect it up just in case! Looking at the operation description it affects the tension-release solenoid - reading between the lines I suspect it slackens the drivers seatbelt after a crash if there is weight on the seat (ie. the car is right-side up!).

[Sian]

The drivers seat switch DOES connect to the SRS ECU so I would connect it up just in case!.

Ah right. Thank you for checking that for me. I'll hook up the driver one then considering the seatbelt will always be done up anyway. Will leave the passenger one. Any idea if I'll need to undo / lift up the seat to do it? I will mess with it at the weekend.

[Enjay]

Hmmm, given that you are looking at a US spec diagram, I wonder if the US cars have the same kind of thing going on as the JDM ones which have a different connector and an extra wire under the seat versus the UK spec ones:

 l viewtopic.php?f=9&t=63192&p=737592#p737592 l

The extra wire seems to relate to a tensioning device as far as I can tell (see linked post).