1st Generation Specific (1979-1985) 1979-1985 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections

What are these things on my passenger Miata seat rails??

Old 11-29-07, 06:39 AM
  #1  
Resurrecting Gus

Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
 
Glazedham42's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Indiana
Posts: 2,790
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
What are these things on my passenger Miata seat rails??

So I bought some '06 Miata seats for my 83 GS. I'm working on getting them mounted in the car and noticed that there was a bunch of garbage bolted to the bottom of the passenger seat. The driver's seat didn't have all this stuff, just the passenger side. There are two long flat metal pieces that have some kind of electrical sensor on them. The plug into the silver foil covered box that was also mounted on the bottom of the passenger seat. At first I thought maybe it was something to make sure that the passenger has their seatbelt fastened, but quickly ruled that out.

Is this something to do with side curtain air bags, or some kind of safety device? I'm sorta stumped as to what these things are. If they're worth anything I'm gonna put them up on ebay since I don't need them. But mainly my curiousity has the best of me now....
Attached Thumbnails What are these things on my passenger Miata seat rails??-pict0391.jpg   What are these things on my passenger Miata seat rails??-pict0392.jpg   What are these things on my passenger Miata seat rails??-pict0393.jpg   What are these things on my passenger Miata seat rails??-pict0394.jpg  
Old 11-29-07, 06:56 AM
  #2  
Old Fart Young at Heart

iTrader: (6)
 
trochoid's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: St Joe MO
Posts: 15,145
Likes: 0
Received 7 Likes on 7 Posts
Call the dealer and ask them to search the part minber.
Old 11-29-07, 03:02 PM
  #3  
FB+FC=F-ME

 
steve84GS TII's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Rohnert Park CA
Posts: 3,353
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Possibly........ seat position sensors to alter airbag deployment based on the passenger's distance from the airbag.

Its common to see electical stuff shoved under the seats,but that is actually part of the rail,so its likely that they detect seat position.For what reason is the real question......
Old 11-29-07, 03:07 PM
  #4  
Bubble Gum's Good

iTrader: (1)
 
glewsRx's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Norfolk, VA
Posts: 625
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Maybe the sensor to tell if there is indeed a person in the seat?
Old 11-29-07, 03:09 PM
  #5  
Wrkn Toyota, Rootn Wankel

 
BlackWorksInc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: "Haystack" Hayward, CA
Posts: 1,642
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
That's hella weird... I'd go with some sort of position sensor... It probably is for the side curtains or adjusting for how close or far away the seat is from the airbag since its a fairly modern car...

Or maybe its just a built in car bomb? lol
Old 11-29-07, 03:11 PM
  #6  
Resurrecting Gus

Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
 
Glazedham42's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Indiana
Posts: 2,790
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
I just wondered what the heck they were for. I hate to throw them in the dumpster if I could sell them on ebay and make a little cash back. Also, it would be a cheap alternative for someone who needed them (although I'm thinking that's not very likely.)
Old 11-29-07, 03:13 PM
  #7  
Former Site Sponsor
 
Atkins Dan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Tacoma WA
Posts: 4,368
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
My wifes mazda6 wagon had something like thoes under the right seat and what it is a sensor for the airbag...

Dan
Old 11-29-07, 03:23 PM
  #8  
Super Moderator

iTrader: (3)
 
gsl-se addict's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Lynchburg, VA
Posts: 5,088
Likes: 0
Received 11 Likes on 11 Posts
I have a newer car that I use for a daily (Toyota) and I suspect that it has something similar. It does have a sensor to detect if there is more than ~10lb in the passenger seat. This will trigger the passenger seat belt warning light and likely activate the passenger air bag as well. I haven't looked at the sensor to see if it looks like what you have. Yours looks like it might also have a seat position sensor (likely to control the passenger airbag). Check with the dealer or post it up on a miata forum.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
astrum
2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992)
24
11-15-17 08:44 AM


Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Quick Reply: What are these things on my passenger Miata seat rails??



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:13 PM.