Is my mind playing tricks on me?
When i start my car and drive off my passenger side seatbelt chime is ringing and no one is sitting next to me and there isnt any weight being applied on the seat. It happens periodically not often, But its irritating. I've read previous posts, But it seems that my case is singled out from the others? Has this happened to any of you new e320 owners?

- Barry

 

Seth Davis, welcome to the infamous "boiler room" of J.T. Marlin - where twenty something millionaires are made overnight. “Act As If!”

 

How do you know it's the passenger side? Are there separate warning lights?

 

Good spotting, Konigstiger.
http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0181984/

The sensor that checks for the presence of a passenger may be off; it may think there is one when there isn't. Or, whatever it is that checks to see whether your seat belt is fastened may think that it's not when it is. Are you getting any malfunction messages when the chime goes off? In any case, have the dealer check it out.

 

DWP,


I'm not getting any malfuntion messages, so its gotta be some kind of error in the computer. Im due for my 1k-3k free service. When i take it in ill bring it up with the specialists.

Thanks for the input.

 

KONIGSTIGER,

You ever see glengary glenross?
do you know what ABC means?
ALWAYS BE CLOSING!

Dr. Jacobs,

Did you want that confirmation packet sent to your office or your mansion?


" Boiler Room "

My all time favorite movie man!

 

Did I ever see Glengarry Ross? The freakin’ thing was filmed not ten minutes from where I used to live in Brooklyn before coming out to AZ. Good flick, Shelly (Jack Lemon)… what a schmuck! Ricky (Al Pacino) now he could close!

 

KONIGSTIGER,


interesting! so you must have seen Wallstreet then. That movie is lovely.
I'm in sales so you can probably tell that i love movies like these, But without a doubt i live for boiler room. That is my movie of all time. I must have seen it over 50 times and remember all the lines.

if only i can find a way to hook up an external dvd unit to play on the navigation monitor, i would watch boiler room while driving down the freeway.
hahahha.

/..barry

 

Happened to our car as well. Is in for service now.

 

INCENDIARY,

Keep me posted on the turn out with you car.
Thanks.

//. barry

 

Barry, did you ever get this fixed? Our dealer is clueless.

 

I have excatly the same problem but it is getting worst and worst... I'm going to the service this Thursday and will let you guys know what my service guy find out.

Thanks!

 

Mine does that once in a while. All you have to do is turn off the car, and wait 2-3 min before starting it. I noticed that if you don't put anything on there, (in my case a camera) it won't chime.

 

The dealer said that, too. But that's so ridiculous...

 

They better not tell me this Thursday... It simply a problem that they need to fix it for me. Will update y ou guys.

Thanks!

 

I am having the same problem, and it is getting extremely annoying! In my case it is a matter of me having anything weighing over 1 Lb in the passenger seat (ie. briefcase, file folder, etc.) The worst part is it even chimes if I rest my right arm across the top of the seat back just below the headrest. Even the weight of my arm on the seat back sets the damn chime off. There has to be some way to disable this chime at the dealer. I don't wanna hear any of this "well just don't put stuff on the seat" crap from the dealer.

Anyone with info on a dealer fix for this please share the wealth!

J-

 

Maybe I misread something but there might be an intermittent electrical problem with the driver's seat belt buckle sensor. This would actually fool you make you think that it is the passenger. Beware!!!!!!, if the system thinks that your seatbelt is not on, then your airbags will not deploy! If it was either the driver's or passenger's seatbelt that is triggering the alarm at the wrong time, then the SRS could be impaired and not work at its fullest potential!

This is not a minor annoying thing! It could have grave consequences if it happens at the wrong time. Don't give up on your quest to find the problem!

Just a thought,

Steve

 

Mine does the same thing... Sometimes with nothing on the passenger seat, other times my wallet will trip it.

 

The safety systems are quite complex and a fault in a sensor could have undesirable consequences in an accident.

The airbags will still deploy even if your seatbelt is unfastened (or the system thinks it is), in fact they will deploy more aggressively if they don't think the seat belt is fastened. I imagine the pre-tensioners would not fire however.

On the passenger side, if there is no-one there then the system will suppress the firing of the pre-tensioners and airbags to reduce repair costs and possible collateral damage. So to that extent, a false positive on seat occupancy is not so bad.

The worst case would be the opposite to what you apparently have, i.e. the system decided there was no passenger present, even though there actually was. In that case it may suppress the passenger safety systems. The driver side system will always deploy because they assume a driver is always present, however if it thought the seat belt was fastened when it actually wasn't, then the airbags may not deploy as much as they could.

The chime itself can be disabled by the dealer, however that is treating a symptom. It would be still be very important to fix the sensor problem to make sure that the system works as intended. Then, if you want, get the chime disabled.

 

Now you're boasting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

My 2005 E320 had a problem with the chime going off when the passengers seat was empty. It was most likely to occur on colder mornings. Brought it in for service and they replaced a pressure sensor in the seat. I haven't had a problem since.

 

If "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" is illuminated (center tunnel below COMMAND) that would indicate most likely a false positive, from sticking seat sensor.

If not, and chime persists, more involved glitch.

 

1st visit to the dealer and they told me that they calibrated the seat weights and the problem is gone now.

Thanks!

 

Sounds like a widespread problem. My warning lamp/chime goes off with the lightest weight on the passenger seat. Going in for a fix this week.

 

I have a new E320 (2 weeks old) and have the same problem. It seems to be triggered by colder weather which sounds like a sensor problem to me. I will mention it when it goes in for service...