Ford Fiesta Hacker's Guide - things not in the manual

**vivafoxpro** · March 2nd, 2011 12:25 PM

Originally Posted by master siopao

One of the first things i bought for my car was this seatbelt lock extention from Blaze festival mall, its sort of a middleman between the seatbelt, and the lock, but is also a lock in itself.

Since its attached to the lock, the car reads it that you have a seat belt on and stops the chime, for a sari sari store trip, so i leave it there.

The good thing about this, is when you do need to put your seatbelt on, you simply attach your seatbelt to it. I stressed test it, and it is as sturdy as having your seatbelt locked directly.

Very handy indeed, and very cheap too, plus no wires to cut.

That is great workaround the incessant chime even if only driving inside the subdivision.

I would use that gadget to disable the chime but take it out and insert the stock seat belt tab when I want full protection.

Ford goes through government regulation and testing in its products and the word "cheap" you mentioned kinda worries me in terms of safety. If that gadget fails, the whole seat belt fails.

Here is an article that studies the force the seat belt has to carry in the event of a crash at 48 KPH. The "stress test" on the gadget must carry about 4,800 pounds at least.

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/seatb.html

It shows more seat belt scenarios plus when no seat belt is used.

**dcph172** · March 2nd, 2011 02:03 PM

Originally Posted by master siopao

One of the first things i bought for my car was this seatbelt lock extention from Blaze festival mall, its sort of a middleman between the seatbelt, and the lock, but is also a lock in itself.

Since its attached to the lock, the car reads it that you have a seat belt on and stops the chime, for a sari sari store trip, so i leave it there.

The good thing about this, is when you do need to put your seatbelt on, you simply attach your seatbelt to it. I stressed test it, and it is as sturdy as having your seatbelt locked directly.

Very handy indeed, and very cheap too, plus no wires to cut.

Originally Posted by vivafoxpro

That is great workaround the incessant chime even if only driving inside the subdivision.

I would use that gadget to disable the chime but take it out and insert the stock seat belt tab when I want full protection.

Ford goes through government regulation and testing in its products and the word "cheap" you mentioned kinda worries me in terms of safety. If that gadget fails, the whole seat belt fails.

Here is an article that studies the force the seat belt has to carry in the event of a crash at 48 KPH. The "stress test" on the gadget must carry about 4,800 pounds at least.

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/seatb.html

It shows more seat belt scenarios plus when no seat belt is used.

i agree. i dont think this is safe. it solves the problem of the chime but at the same time it renders the seatbelt useless since its durability and strength is questionable. thanks for the suggestion though. i think disabling the chime by "hack" is the best way to go.

**tidus1203** · March 2nd, 2011 02:08 PM

How about buckling the seatbelt and then sit on TOP OF THE BUCKLED SEATBELT para wala na kailangan hack pa and at the same time removes the beltminder. I know its dangerous but so is not using a seatbelt anyway so ganun pa rin...

**dcph172** · March 2nd, 2011 02:41 PM

its still quicker and more convenient to just sit and go and not worry about the chime anymore than buckling it first before sitting on top of it everytime. however this are for trips within the village only. otherwise, i always use the seatbelt as prescribed.

**master siopao** · March 2nd, 2011 04:04 PM

I agree with vivafox and i do not recommend using that seatbelt lock extension for fast driving, it is easy to disengage it, put it aside in the door pocket and use it again for "bili patis" driving, then disengage it again when you need to use the original for faster driving. However, i am too lazy, its a personal demon that i nurture hehehehe

**kevo888** · March 2nd, 2011 04:52 PM

If you really want to drive without your seatbelt, I would recommend using the "hack".
At least then, when you use your seatbelt, you will know that it will actually work.
The hack takes around 30 secs, and then you can "set it, and forget it". It is just as easy to turn it back on.

I was involved in an accident as a 10 yr old, driving with my Dad. We hit a traffic light post, in fog, and in a brownout, at only 20km/hr.
The speedo jammed at 20km/hr on impact. The engine was pushed back into the passenger compartment. I broke my nose, smashing the glove box door with my head. My Dad almost died as his ribcage broke the steering wheel in half, at only 20km/hr. I would recommend using your seatbelt at all times...even in a village where people tend to relax a bit whilst driving, thinking they are safe, the worst possible scenario. I even make my passengers wear their seatbelts. If they don't want to, they have to walk

I don't want to spend the rest of my life feeling responsible for somebody elses misfortune, when it could be so easily avoided.
Also, if the airbag goes off, and you aren't using your seatbelt, the airbag explosion can cause you damage, because you may not be in the correct sitting position at the moment of impact. Here endeth the lesson

Sorry about the rant, I said I wouldn't.

**master siopao** · March 2nd, 2011 05:17 PM

Hey Thanks Kevo, the seatbelt in and out nine times did work! No more chime, no need for the seatbelt extention gizmo anymore. Since the seatbelt on indeed flashed on the dashboard, my guess is its a computer that will reset to default when you take out the battery power. Love this forum, this is where i learned how to do that window up tick and now this! Btw sorry for the bad experience you had in childhood.

**kevo888** · March 2nd, 2011 05:38 PM

Yeah, its very easy...position 2 with your key (the dash icons light up), in/out with your seatbelt 9 times, then you will see seatbelt icon light up in right side of display. Reapeat procedure to re-enable chime.

My bent nose is a constant reminder to use my seatbelt. Everytime I look in the mirror

My dad used to keep the broken steering wheel in the back of our garage as a reminder for him.

**tidus1203** · March 2nd, 2011 05:55 PM

Originally Posted by kevo888

If you really want to drive without your seatbelt, I would recommend using the "hack".
At least then, when you use your seatbelt, you will know that it will actually work.
The hack takes around 30 secs, and then you can "set it, and forget it". It is just as easy to turn it back on.

I was involved in an accident as a 10 yr old, driving with my Dad. We hit a traffic light post, in fog, and in a brownout, at only 20km/hr.
The speedo jammed at 20km/hr on impact. The engine was pushed back into the passenger compartment. I broke my nose, smashing the glove box door with my head. My Dad almost died as his ribcage broke the steering wheel in half, at only 20km/hr. I would recommend using your seatbelt at all times...even in a village where people tend to relax a bit whilst driving, thinking they are safe, the worst possible scenario. I even make my passengers wear their seatbelts. If they don't want to, they have to walk

I don't want to spend the rest of my life feeling responsible for somebody elses misfortune, when it could be so easily avoided.
Also, if the airbag goes off, and you aren't using your seatbelt, the airbag explosion can cause you damage, because you may not be in the correct sitting position at the moment of impact. Here endeth the lesson

Sorry about the rant, I said I wouldn't.

Totally agree, even me inside a village I wear my seatbelt...

**vivafoxpro** · March 6th, 2011 11:05 PM

Continuing with my quest for the blinking "lock engaged" indicator, I needed a source for a constant 12volts supply, "always hot" is the term I encountered. I also previous mounted my "auto lock" circuits behind the glove compartment.

If you need to take out the glove compartment: