Re: [AMC-list] amc seat belt interlock system & tickets

[Ken Ames <ameskg@xxxxxxxxx>]

I wouldn't blame all those electrical issues on the seatbelt interlock. My 74
Gremlin has been pretty much trouble free in 160000 miles. 


Ken 

AMCA = http://www.amcalberta.ca


Quoting Eddie Stakes <eddiestakes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>:

> On the Seat Belt Interlock law, Lee Iococca pushed this thru at the time, and
> it became law and all the US based automakers, AMC, Ford, GM, Mopar had to
> incorporate this into their 1974 models. 
> 
> With AMC....it was a electrical nightmare and something I have often wrote
> about thru deades is that just about EVERY 1974 AMC I have owned thru years
> has some sort of electrical problem associated with it. Could be hard
> starting, sometimes courtesy lights blow out, others include: headlights
> going off when driving, (fun when coming home from work at 3:00am) fuel or
> temp gauges giving inaccurate false readings, dash lights won't work, tail
> lights that sometime work, wiper that stop mid windshield during hurricane,
> and fuses blowing out.
> 
> If...you have ever looked at AMC Technical Service Manuals (shop manuals)
> from say, 1967 thru 1973, they are about 1 inch wide. Then you come to 1974
> manual it is size of War & Peace, Ivanhoe or Harry Potter book. Then 1975
> smaller again. And 1974 most of book is 'electrical troubleshooting' also. 
> 
> Imagine a new AMC owner in 1973 at store in Milwaukee in snowstorm, and her
> new Sportabout or 
> Matador won't start. It could be the bag of groceries or her purse sitting on
> passenger seat, and the car would not start because it senses pressure/weight
> on that seat. But in the owner's manual it tells you to open hood, and push
> matchstick or something similiar into the little 'seat belt relay' under hood
> located on passenger side engine bay. Well, that is good way to sell cars.
> Stand in blizzard and hit bypass switch under hood. 
> 
> It was such a disaster for automakers that congress stepped in and recinded
> that stupid law (and it is a stupid law) for 1975 model year. However, many a
> AMC and other models for 1975 still had this ridiculous system wiring harness
> thru December 1974. I am guessing here but probably the automarkers were
> using up what was in part's bins and could not get regular harness from
> suppliers in time. 
> 
> I have 3 1974 AMCs right now, a 74 Hornet Sportabout, 74 Javelin & 74 AMX.
> Actually another 74 AMX parts car so 4. But the Javelin has some fuel/temp
> issues I have not traced down, while the 74 AMX has courtesy light issues,
> but have not had time to work on it. 
> 
> If your classic AMC does have a seat belt interlock system in it, back when
> cars were new, and had 'issues' not uncommon for people to stick in and break
> off a matchstick in the relay under hood. That keeps it open and car would
> start each time even if your loaf of bread on passenger seat. Others screwed
> in a screw to it. All 3 1974's mentoned above still have their relay, two
> have matchsticks one has screw, all from previous owners, the 74 Sportabout
> is 1 owner car too. So original matchstick I would guess. 
> 
> If you want to bypass this gadget under hood, many years ago American
> Performance in Florida on my VENDORS list reproduced a small bypass wiring
> harness that simply eliminates the relay. Good for when you showing your car,
> don't want to display it with matchstick, even if original owner matchstick!
> Yup, I'm really glad about all these 'advances' government has come up with
> for cars.
> 
> CAFE ratings, air bags, seat belts, 5 mile per hour bumpers for those who
> can't parallel park, mandatory car insurance although 40% in some states
> don't carry it (much less a valid license, but you can get good driver
> licence from China or have done at local flea market....VERY well done and
> many have same holograms and 'Homeland Security' preventive measures
> incorporated into them, quite sophisticated) so yes, quite good to see this
> crap. Now I'm off to go pour my anti freeze into bayou behind my house and
> throw my 14 inch tires in there to create habitat for wildlife endangered
> species! Turtles LOVE 14 inch tires. 
> 
> http://www.planethoustonamx.com/main/amc-seat-belt-interlock.htm
> 
> Eddie Stakes
> 713.464.8825
> eddiestakes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> www.planethoustonamx.com
> 
>   ----- Original Message ----- 
>   From: Terry Atkins 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
>   You remember GM's sholdier straps in the 70's. They were stored above the
> front doors and had a seperate latch in the seat. I never knew anyone who
> ever wore them. Yea the interlock law. That was a bright one. Couldn't start
> the car if the seat belt wasn't fasten. So you either fasten the seatbelt and
> sat on it or unpluged the plug under the seat. I bet your glad Eddie and I am
> too that the government has come up with all these safety items on cars. I
> don't know how I survived growing up. I can remember like it was yesterday
> that the way I rode in our 51 Nash convertable was for me to stand up in the
> middle of the front seat and my parents hand would come out in front of me if
> they had to stop fast. If a person did this with a kid today they would be
> locked up for child abuse. Of course by todays standards I had horrible
> parents. My mother smoked and enjoyed her rum and coke when she was pregnant
> with me. They both smoked when I was growing up and I knew what a belt felt
> li
>  ke on my ass. I guess I died about 60 years ago and nobody has told me yet.
>   Terry
> 
> 
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