What years did the 348 have motorized seat belts? | FerrariChat

What years did the 348 have motorized seat belts?

Discussion in '348/355' started by crixer, Feb 19, 2011.

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  1. crixer

    crixer Rookie

    Mar 27, 2010
    39
    What years did the 348 come with those god awful motorized seat belts? If I remember correctly, 1990 was the first year I ever saw cars with them. Did the later years have them?

    How do owners feel about them? Are they tolerable? Are they a PITA?

    thanks,
    Frank
     
  2. AceMaster

    AceMaster Three Time F1 World Champ

    Feb 6, 2009
    34,776
    Ontario, Canada
    Full Name:
    Mike
    1989 models did not, 1990 and newer do.

    Yes, they are a PITA...my passenger side does not work, I had it repaired but that only lasted a few weeks then it died again. I've left dead ever since.
     
  3. rbellezza

    rbellezza F1 Rookie

    Jun 18, 2008
    2,793
    Henderson, NV
    Full Name:
    Roberto Bellezza
    They don't last ... mine are both down
     
  4. vvassallo

    vvassallo F1 Veteran

    Aug 4, 2006
    8,324
    Palos Verdes
    Full Name:
    Vince V
    My old spider's both worked fine and FNA paid for one of them to get fixed. My SS has only one side working and I need to execute it.

    Shoot the mouse!
     
  5. 50hdmc

    50hdmc Formula 3

    Oct 10, 2006
    1,211
    Michigan
    Full Name:
    mark s
    both of mine work on my '90 348tb......I would like to "turn them off" if I knew how.
     
  6. TheOnlyest

    TheOnlyest Formula 3

    Sep 25, 2007
    1,686
    Las Vegas Nevada, US
    Full Name:
    Steve
    #6 TheOnlyest, Feb 19, 2011
    Last edited: Feb 19, 2011
    Unplug the connector under each seat while both doors are open... disabled.


    BTW, I have left and right WORKING complete track/motor/wiring assemblies for sale if anyone wants a killer deal. I have 2 seatbelt ECU's too.
     
  7. sambomydog

    sambomydog Guest

    May 23, 2009
    1,380
    I have never seen motorized seat belts on a Ferrari, ever. No idea what they even look or how they operate. I live in Europe were we have proper seat belts:)
     
    steved033 likes this.
  8. vvassallo

    vvassallo F1 Veteran

    Aug 4, 2006
    8,324
    Palos Verdes
    Full Name:
    Vince V
    Sam, imagine a mechanical mouse running along a track along the bottom of the door jam to the back of the car. Back and forth all day long. You can attach your shoulder harness to it, but not the seat belt, and it gleefully pulls it out of your way and back until it fails. Which it usually does. Often.
     
  9. TheOnlyest

    TheOnlyest Formula 3

    Sep 25, 2007
    1,686
    Las Vegas Nevada, US
    Full Name:
    Steve
    From 1990 to 1994 (5 years) the United States Dept of Transportation mandated that every car sold in the US had to have automatic (passive) restraints. Almost as retarded as the thing they did in 1980 by not allowing speedometers in American made cars to show anything higher than 55 MPH!
     
  10. LouB747

    LouB747 Formula 3

    Apr 8, 2009
    2,123
    Huntington Beach, CA
    Full Name:
    Lou Boyer
    Mine both work, but unplugged them anyway. How do I get the lights on the dash to go out? 1994 Spider....

    Thanks guys
     
  11. TheOnlyest

    TheOnlyest Formula 3

    Sep 25, 2007
    1,686
    Las Vegas Nevada, US
    Full Name:
    Steve
    Unplug the 2 ECU's inside the center console, under the radio.
     
  12. S-T48

    S-T48 Formula Junior
    Silver Subscribed

    Oct 30, 2008
    575
    Stevenson Ranch, CA
    Both of mine work flawlessly, but I unplugged the ECUs just to be safe. You can access the ECU from the passenger foot tunnel left panel (very easy, four screws) FYI, if you intend to disconnect the ECUs, make sure the doors are closed. Ensure to disable the mouse fully engaged so you can use the seat-belts manually.
     
  13. crixer

    crixer Rookie

    Mar 27, 2010
    39
    Thanks for the responses guys. I hate those things but it is good to know you can disable them (and the dash lights). I wonder why my Porsche 968 back in 1993 didn't have those motorized seat belts.....

     
  14. pearsonhaus

    pearsonhaus Formula 3

    Jul 2, 2008
    1,464
    +1
     
  15. AceMaster

    AceMaster Three Time F1 World Champ

    Feb 6, 2009
    34,776
    Ontario, Canada
    Full Name:
    Mike
    I did not know that
     
  16. crixer

    crixer Rookie

    Mar 27, 2010
    39
    That is a big to do on a 911 from that era. Swapping the 85 speedo for a normal one!

     
  17. jjmalez

    jjmalez F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Apr 8, 2005
    6,701
    Northern Illinois
    Full Name:
    Joseph
    Because it had dual airbags.

    Joe
     
  18. Visserfund

    Visserfund Rookie

    Apr 16, 2012
    4
    Dallas, TX
    Full Name:
    David Visser
    What typically fails on the auto seat belts? I have just bought a 1994 348 Spider and both aren't working. What can I check? They seem to be plugged in under the seat.

    Thanks,
    Dave
     
  19. vvassallo

    vvassallo F1 Veteran

    Aug 4, 2006
    8,324
    Palos Verdes
    Full Name:
    Vince V
    Motors and ECU. Not having them work is a blessing, unless they are stuck somewhere in mid-track.
     
  20. eulk328

    eulk328 F1 Rookie

    Feb 18, 2005
    2,800
    Full Name:
    F683
    85 MPH was the max they could show. 55 MPH had to be in bold print.
     
  21. troppoveloce

    troppoveloce Formula Junior

    Jan 25, 2006
    268
    New Hampshire
    Full Name:
    Tom
    The mouse gets jammed in that little runner as it runs back and forth. It's a terrible design. When it jams once, it just gets worse from there and then the motor can burn out. I had both of mine fixed and immediately disconnected them before they could commit seppuku.
     
  22. ktr6

    ktr6 Formula Junior

    Mar 25, 2011
    947
    Knoxville, TN
    Full Name:
    Keith
    I certainly wish someone could develop an aftermarket kit that could be used to eliminate these horrible belts and replace them with a normal three point belt as seen in the 89 and euro cars. I would buy it in a heartbeat. Cant imagine it would hurt resale value.

    I had my first long drive in the 348 this weekend and that's the only thing that bothered me about the car.
     
  23. bikz

    bikz Formula 3

    Mar 2, 2012
    1,043
    Malaysia
    what a wasted piece of "technology" and grey matter!!!....if it can be called technology to begin with!!! wish those engineers who sat and built that thing used that time to do something better!
     
  24. MoparLM550@426

    MoparLM550@426 Karting

    May 12, 2022
    90
    Full Name:
    Leigh G
    Resurrecting an old thread...

    Anyone know where to get these motors rebuilt? I just got a 94 348 Spyder, and the customer is adamant about getting them operational.
    If anyone has an idea or any assistance, I would greatly appreciate the info.

    Thanks.

    L
     
  25. Qavion

    Qavion F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Feb 20, 2015
    14,269
    Sydney
    Full Name:
    Ian Riddell
    Have you confirmed it's a motor issue and not some other issue such as a microswitch or ECU?

    We tried to create a complete wiring diagram for the system, but I'd need to get my hands on a harness to complete it. There were a few unknowns....

    https://www.dropbox.com/t/nnkHVpxj38nTdEB3
     

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