Hey guys,
I've got a 96 MAGNA TE. Lately, i've been noticing that the seatbelt sign turns off automatically even if i have not buckled my seat belts. It goes off around the same time as the check engine indication LED. It's not a huge issue, but i thought if i could find an easy resolve, i wouldn't mind trying it.

The LED lights indicating the current gear has also malfunctioned (partially). When the gear is @ D, the LED light doesn't green up on the dashboard. Others are fine.

Anyone's had the same predicament?

hmm no i havn't :-S
perhaps it could be the cluster issue.
try pulling it out checking the back to make sure there is no broken sensors and putting it back in. if not, then personally i'd take it to an auto elect or someone with more know how.

Your seat belt light is functioning correctly. It should come on for a few seconds and then turn off - it's not connected to the seat belt in any way.

As for the "D" light in your cluster, sounds like the bulb is blown. They can be bought from wreckers if they allow you to separate them from a used dashboard (cluster).

i've got some globes if you want em mate, where in vic do you live? if your local you can just take it

@-Jono- The bulbs behind your cluster are very specialised long skinny plastic things, and quite pricey at Spares Counter.
They are commonly raided from self-serve wreckers - I have a few spares myself, I must confess. If no-one local to you offers a bulb, give me a PM and I can send you one.

Another good idea - read on these forums of course - you could pop out your instrument cluster and swap the "L" (or is it "1"?) bulb with the "D" bulb - how often do you drive with trans locked in low gear, and do you really need a bulb to tell you its in LOW? Even as a temp fix, this might tide you over. Side-benefit is by checking out the bulbs behind you gears-indicator, you can advise any good samaritans of what the bulb is like (I think there have been a few variations - but happy to be corrected if this is not the case).

EDIT: Presti got in ahead of me, and is local to VIC - good show, nicely-played Old Sport!!

Hit the dashboad above the instrument cluster hard a couple of times
If that doesn't work the bulb's prolly blown

i've got some globes if you want em mate, where in vic do you live? if your local you can just take it


@-Jono- The bulbs behind your cluster are very specialised long skinny plastic things, and quite pricey at Spares Counter.
They are commonly raided from self-serve wreckers - I have a few spares myself, I must confess. If no-one local to you offers a bulb, give me a PM and I can send you one.

Another good idea - read on these forums of course - you could pop out your instrument cluster and swap the "L" (or is it "1"?) bulb with the "D" bulb - how often do you drive with trans locked in low gear, and do you really need a bulb to tell you its in LOW? Even as a temp fix, this might tide you over. Side-benefit is by checking out the bulbs behind you gears-indicator, you can advise any good samaritans of what the bulb is like (I think there have been a few variations - but happy to be corrected if this is not the case).

EDIT: Presti got in ahead of me, and is local to VIC - good show, nicely-played Old Sport!!


Hit the dashboad above the instrument cluster hard a couple of times
If that doesn't work the bulb's prolly blown

You guys are real good show i must confess. Not only the level of reply but the manner involved. Ta mates..appreciate it

I'd most probably go with your idea Elwyn. Fact is, i use D 100% of the time. Magna's used to travel to work so no fussy up hills or power needed.

At this juncture, i shall avoid all cost getting stuffs from ya guys :gfight:

NB : Your definition of local Victoria is...where?

As we speak, i'm still reading through some searched post to remove the cluster, i'll throw in a couple of hours searching for one related to TE and see if anyone's done a swap of bulbs before.


On a relatively new note, i notice that the car has some burnt smell coming from the hood after each drive. Whilst it was mentioned to the mechanic every time I've had my car serviced, nothing much positive was given as to why the smell exists. It's hard to describe smell through the net, but it's got to be a mixture of steel and rubbery stench that usually you get from cars, or mechanical items. Another "has anyone gotten this" before question.

Be a bit careful when removing the cluster "bezel" - the plastic trim around the cluster, in front of the clear plastic "lens". I managed to break mine across the thin bit above the steering wheel.

Bulbs have a black plastic base, about the size of a shirt button, these just twist to disengage from the circuit board - about a quarter of a turn should do it.

"Local to Vic" = must be closer than me, as I am in Tamworth NSW, so I was just saying Presti must be nearer to you!!

Hot Stench : you might just have to do some detective work under the bonnet - steel/rubber, well drive belts could be a possibility. Read a workshop manual and try to check if belts are in good condition and right tension. Do they look glazed/worn, as if they might be slipping? No rubber or plastic bits rubbing on belts/pulleys other moving parts? If engine idling, are there any noisy areas, scraping sounds, squeaks? If engine hot after driving, can you determine where smell comes from -which end of engine etc, does anything feel hotter than you'd expect? Any fluid leaking anywhere - oil, coolant etc?
Just do you best (sme TV show used to say that!! EDIT: Just remembered, it was "AbFab" and the dialogue was sampled in that Pet Shop Boys song, must be why I remember it.)

Hmm... why do we have the seatbelt sign if it doesn't function like you'd expect?

Be a bit careful when removing the cluster "bezel" - the plastic trim around the cluster, in front of the clear plastic "lens". I managed to break mine across the thin bit above the steering wheel.

Bulbs have a black plastic base, about the size of a shirt button, these just twist to disengage from the circuit board - about a quarter of a turn should do it.

"Local to Vic" = must be closer than me, as I am in Tamworth NSW, so I was just saying Presti must be nearer to you!!

Hot Stench : you might just have to do some detective work under the bonnet - steel/rubber, well drive belts could be a possibility. Read a workshop manual and try to check if belts are in good condition and right tension. Do they look glazed/worn, as if they might be slipping? No rubber or plastic bits rubbing on belts/pulleys other moving parts? If engine idling, are there any noisy areas, scraping sounds, squeaks? If engine hot after driving, can you determine where smell comes from -which end of engine etc, does anything feel hotter than you'd expect? Any fluid leaking anywhere - oil, coolant etc?
Just do you best (sme TV show used to say that!! EDIT: Just remembered, it was "AbFab" and the dialogue was sampled in that Pet Shop Boys song, must be why I remember it.)

I think at the end of the day, i have to be careful with it. Does the dashboard cluster come out perfectly fine without much pressure? There are certain parts that needs pressure to pull out, and i was just curious if it's the same with this ones. It's a definite sensitive part so i wouldn't wanna rip it off with brute strength. I saw a good thread that showed some pictures, though it was for gen 2, but i reckon it'd be the same for gen 3.

The hot stench thing is kind of hard. Could it be a timing belt issue? I'm hitting the 100,000 for the belt


Hmm... why do we have the seatbelt sign if it doesn't function like you'd expect?

I was about to ask the same, then i totally forgot about it. Its something i do not comprehend as well. Been doing some search but mates and I just don't get the logic behind that.

Hmm... why do we have the seatbelt sign if it doesn't function like you'd expect?

My understanding was that it was just a reminder, bloody pointless that it doesn't stay on or beep or anything. Does the seatbelt light work on newer models? I have a TF also, so mine only stays on for the 5 seconds or whatever it is.




The hot stench thing is kind of hard. Could it be a timing belt issue? I'm hitting the 100,000 for the belt


You have a TE with only 100k on the clock? Good find. My UN-educated guess on the smell would be oil leaking from the rocker-cover gasket and dripping onto the exhaust manifold. My leak was real bad and it gave me a nasty smell on the rare occasion I ran it for long enough.

My understanding was that it was just a reminder, bloody pointless that it doesn't stay on or beep or anything. Does the seatbelt light work on newer models? I have a TF also, so mine only stays on for the 5 seconds or whatever it is.

+1 in KL, only comes on for a bit then goes out. no beeping or anything to tell you to put it on.


its seen as mitsu doing thier bit for trying to get people put thier seat belts on, they put a reminder in there for each time you started the car, then mitsu are not liable for any personal injury resulting from some idiot who didnt wear thier seatbelt, saying - but i didnt know i had to wear a seatbelt, the car didnt tell me - pay me millions for my stupidity kthnxbai!

http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/showthread.php?t=66034

i did one a while back :)

I think you will find that the VAST majority of Seatbelt lights are just a momentary warning lamp, with NIL interconnect with seats or seatbelts latched.
Its all economics - far cheaper to just bung a bulb in the dash and program BEM (body electrics module) to light the lamp for the first few seconds.

The only car I KNOW to have a "proper" seatbelt lamp was yrs back - the Volvo 264, which had a flashing seatbelt lamp that would NOT stop if it detected a persons weight on a seat where the seatbelt wasn't done up. ..... this may have only been effective on front seats, not sure about that.

Maybe other high-price cars are more stringent - but I'm sure that your run-of-the-mill Fords, Holdens, Toyotas etc are just like our Maggies!! Key goes in, light comes on, light goes out.

I think at the end of the day, i have to be careful with it. Does the dashboard cluster come out perfectly fine without much pressure? There are certain parts that needs pressure to pull out, and i was just curious if it's the same with this ones. It's a definite sensitive part so i wouldn't wanna rip it off with brute strength. I saw a good thread that showed some pictures, though it was for gen 2, but i reckon it'd be the same for gen 3.

The hot stench thing is kind of hard. Could it be a timing belt issue? I'm hitting the 100,000 for the belt



I was about to ask the same, then i totally forgot about it. Its something i do not comprehend as well. Been doing some search but mates and I just don't get the logic behind that.

If you are in Melb or suburbs I can have a good look over the car and also look after your timing belt, leaks etc

The belt light is only meant to stay on for a few seconds, it is not like euro cars which come on if the car senses someone in the seat it turns on the light and often a beeper

@-Jono- The bulbs behind your cluster are very specialised long skinny plastic things, and quite pricey at Spares Counter.
They are commonly raided from self-serve wreckers - I have a few spares myself, I must confess. If no-one local to you offers a bulb, give me a PM and I can send you one.

Another good idea - read on these forums of course - you could pop out your instrument cluster and swap the "L" (or is it "1"?) bulb with the "D" bulb - how often do you drive with trans locked in low gear, and do you really need a bulb to tell you its in LOW? Even as a temp fix, this might tide you over. Side-benefit is by checking out the bulbs behind you gears-indicator, you can advise any good samaritans of what the bulb is like (I think there have been a few variations - but happy to be corrected if this is not the case).

EDIT: Presti got in ahead of me, and is local to VIC - good show, nicely-played Old Sport!!

Hehe, thats what I did ages ago...

I think you will find that the VAST majority of Seatbelt lights are just a momentary warning lamp, with NIL interconnect with seats or seatbelts latched.
Its all economics - far cheaper to just bung a bulb in the dash and program BEM (body electrics module) to light the lamp for the first few seconds.

The only car I KNOW to have a "proper" seatbelt lamp was yrs back - the Volvo 264, which had a flashing seatbelt lamp that would NOT stop if it detected a persons weight on a seat where the seatbelt wasn't done up. ..... this may have only been effective on front seats, not sure about that.

Maybe other high-price cars are more stringent - but I'm sure that your run-of-the-mill Fords, Holdens, Toyotas etc are just like our Maggies!! Key goes in, light comes on, light goes out.
In my VY Commodore if the driver does not buckle up the seatbelt man in the dash keeps blinking. Then after a while the blinking is accompanied by beeping that lasts a few seconds. If continues like this in a vicious cycle until you buckle up.

Recently i had my car into Holden so they could program the digital in dash speedo for me. Asked them to turn off the seatbelt man but they said they couldn't do it due to safety reasons. Fair enough i thought.

Mohit, Is it only the Driver, or would he (seatbelt man) blink for an "unbelted" front pasenger as well?
The rellies Volvo 264 would have been late-70's, and it def detected both front seats..... I doubt that it did the rear seats tho - but not bad really for about/nearly 30yrs ago.

Mohit, Is it only the Driver, or would he (seatbelt man) blink for an "unbelted" front pasenger as well?
The rellies Volvo 264 would have been late-70's, and it def detected both front seats..... I doubt that it did the rear seats tho - but not bad really for about/nearly 30yrs ago.
Only the driver's seat. Seatbelt man has no time for passengers lol

http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/showthread.php?t=66034

i did one a while back :)

Perfecto mate

If you are in Melb or suburbs I can have a good look over the car and also look after your timing belt, leaks etc

The belt light is only meant to stay on for a few seconds, it is not like euro cars which come on if the car senses someone in the seat it turns on the light and often a beeper

I missed this msg earlier.
Real decent of you mate. Probably when i'm less occupied at work i'll go for the weekly meet.
I'm mostly in Oakleigh