Removed 2nd row middle seat, now have seat belt malfunction error

[Yoda]

Hello everyone, I just joined this forum and did a search before submitting this question, so hopefully I didn't miss it and someone can help me.

I have a 2019 with 2nd row bench seating. With 3 kids and a dog we wanted captains chairs instead. So I removed the middle seat, now have a cheap version of 'captains chairs' (meaning no arm bar). Works great and works for my family!

My only question is overriding the 'Seat belt Malfunction' error every time I turn the ignition on. I hit 'OK' and it clears the error. The manual indicates I can override the seat belt warning for the two front seats, but no indication of being able to override it for the back seats. Any ideas?

Many thanks in advance!

 

[Soliyou]

May be Forscan can be used to change the parameters of the body control module (not sure where seat belt parameters are stored) to match one with captain chairs.

 

[Soliyou]

Duplicate!

 

[wakeboarder]

Hello everyone, I just joined this forum and did a search before submitting this question, so hopefully I didn't miss it and someone can help me.

I have a 2019 with 2nd row bench seating. With 3 kids and a dog we wanted captains chairs instead. So I removed the middle seat, now have a cheap version of 'captains chairs' (meaning no arm bar). Works great and works for my family!

My only question is overriding the 'Seat belt Malfunction' error every time I turn the ignition on. I hit 'OK' and it clears the error. The manual indicates I can override the seat belt warning for the two front seats, but no indication of being able to override it for the back seats. Any ideas?

Many thanks in advance!

Can you add your vehicle details to your signature? What trim level do you have? Do you have the screen that shows which seat belts are buckled and unbuckled?

 

[Yoda]

Hi @wakeboarder, thank you for asking. I've added details to my signature - 2019 Expedition Limited Stealth edition; 4x4; Panoramic roof; Pkg 303A; Trailer tow pkg; 3.5L ecoboost v6 engine; 10 sp auto trans.

I do have a screen that shows which seat belts are buckled/unbuckled. I get warning msgs if one started off buckled and gets unbuckled while engine is on. For my middle seat in 2nd row that I removed, it shows an ? on the screen.

Hi @Soliyou - can you direct me to the duplicate? I do appreciate the forscan suggestion. Although that's way more advanced than I have knowledge for; that might require appt to dealership, which I'm hoping to avoid.

 

[Lou Hamilton]

There has to be a ForScan change to change the system from bench to captains chairs. That is the only thing that I can think of.

Are you familiar with ForScan?

 

[Lou Hamilton]

Based on the Ford F-150 ForSan spreadsheet, this might be the ForSan code:

737-02-01: Second Row Middle Seatbelt Sensor Present (SRMS) & Passenger Seatbelt Retractor Pretensioner Present (PSRP) & Driver Seatbelt Retractor Pretensioner Present (DSRP) & UNUSED 3 (U3)

 

[wakeboarder]

FYI: There is a note in the wiring diagram about setting off airbags if you mess with wiring in this area.

Below may be a couple options if you don’t get Forscan to work.

Screenshot below shows the seatbelt switch. Further up in the document, it says the component is a hall sensor. This means it is not a simple on/off.

Can you remove the seatbelt switch from the seat or purchase a spare to leave attached?

 

[Yoda]

Thank you @wakeboarder! I just tried what you said. I took the switch piece from the seat and attached it back to the end on the floorboard, but it still had the same error. After that I'll assume it's going to need a reconfiguration with Forscan to be captains chairs rather than a bench. I'm familiar enough with forscan with some youtube videos I watched, but I think I'd rather have someone else do that, youtube makes things look so easy but they don't always turn out that way!

 

[techdude99]

This may help....

I received a seat belt malfunction error after installing a baby seat in the 2nd row captain's chair.

It was my first time taking it in for service, so I reset Ford Sync to ensure there was no personal data. The warning went away and I didn't think anything of it.

When I picked up the Expedition, the Service Advisor said they couldn't find any codes. When I said I reset Sync, he said that it clears everything related to the safety equipment. That didn't make sense to me, but I checked with some other Ford stores and they confirmed that the seat belt related faults will clear.

 

[Yoda]

Thanks @techdud99! I did a factory reset last night when I read your reply. It did not clear the seat belt error, but it also didn't delete all my pre programmed radio stations. So I don't think it reset all that it needed. Did you reset from the "Settings/General Settings/Master Reset"?

 

[techdude99]

First I reset everything to the defaults and when I realized that there was still personal information I did the Master Reset from the General menu you mentioned.

I thought the Master Reset also reset the defaults, but that may not be the case.

If you don't care about the presets, try the resetting the defaults first and then do another master reset and post back.

 

[rmwave]

Hello everyone, I just joined this forum and did a search before submitting this question, so hopefully I didn't miss it and someone can help me.

I have a 2019 with 2nd row bench seating. With 3 kids and a dog we wanted captains chairs instead. So I removed the middle seat, now have a cheap version of 'captains chairs' (meaning no arm bar). Works great and works for my family!

My only question is overriding the 'Seat belt Malfunction' error every time I turn the ignition on. I hit 'OK' and it clears the error. The manual indicates I can override the seat belt warning for the two front seats, but no indication of being able to override it for the back seats. Any ideas?

Many thanks in advance!

 

[rmwave]

Have you put a code reader on it ? I had a similar issue. Mine was “pass side seatbelt pretensioner” . As a temp.fix. I looked up the return signal ohms. That resistance returns to SRS system to tell it that, that particular sensor is OK. Mine was an 06. The required ohms was 2.3. +/- .5... I purchased a 25 cent 2.3 ohm resister, added a couple strands to the very thin wire on the resister, plugged it into the back of plug. Cleared the code with the reader. And “no more code”...Hope that can put you in the right direction anyway.

 

[Yoda]

@techdude99 - I did everything I could think of to reset the sync system. Master reset, default reset and even did a disconnect of the battery (fully drained any charge) and still the error code did not clear.

@rmwave - thanks for the suggestions! I have not put a reader on it. I'll have to do some research on that as I'm not familiar with all that you said. But I'll do my homework to try to figure it out.

I am going call the dealership to see what they tell me. Although I suspect they will want to see it themselves.

 

[charles.jessjr]

We have a 2018 Max Platinum and I did the same thing as you, I removed the second row middle seat. When I did research on this initially, I am pretty sure where I read you need to make sure the seat belt was not latched. You might want to re-set the seat, plug in the harness. turn the truck on, and see if you get an error, latch the belt if needed. See if you can get the error to go away. Once the error is gone, then remove the harness, and check for the error again. Hopefully that works for you.

On another note, I found a company that will make you a 2nd row custom carpeted floormat with the middle "isle". I also ordered a custom 3rd row mat. Total was almost $200 but so very worth it. Especially to have a 3rd row floor mat when Ford doesn't give that as an option.

 

[Yoda]

@charles.jessjr - Thanks for the information. I did uninstall while the seatbelt was unlatched. But I did what you suggested and the error goes away immediately when I plug it back in. As soon as I remove the connection the error comes back. I called the dealership because I have read that messing with Forscan 'could' forfeit the warranty. I'm waiting to hear back from them since the service guy I talked to needed to discuss the options with the technicians.

I also ordered the floormats for the captain chair model. It came in one piece with the 3rd row included. It's from smartliner and only cost me $85. Looks great! I filled in the holes with foam cut out to the size and shape to help with any possible moisture.