Trophy won't move unless seat belt worn

[GaryMiller]

Our Trophy has the irritating habit of intermittently refusing to move unless the seat belt is worn - this is very irritating when one gets out of the car to open our gate and then have to put the seat belt back on to move the few yards further on.
I can't see any mention of this anywhere - has anyone a similar experience?

 

[RichardW]

Yeah my, Extended, does the same. Sometimes I can jump in and park it, other times it refuses to go until I put the seat belt on

 

[maskull]

My ZS is the same ,so it must be an MG thing

 

[Rolfe]

Most of the time mine is fine. I drive out of the garage without the seat belt, and for all the car knows I could be setting off on a 500-mile drive rather than simply intending to park on the drive while I go back and close the garage door. Similarly when I get home, I always get out to open the door then reverse the car in without putting the seatbelt back on. I have on occasion driven a few hundred yards to a friend's house, or to the church, without the seatbelt, and it just boings at me. It's even polite enough to stop boinging if my speed falls below about 10-15 mph.

I do remember once or twice having it to refuse to move though, including once while in a car wash when I got out to fetch my handbag from the boot and sat down again in the car. The car-washer motioned me to drive a few feet forwards and the car wouldn't move until I fastened the belt.

 

[Ferretusmaximus]

There is a similar problem (somewhere in this forum) where, when waiting with the parking brake on, pressing the throttle results in the car rocking against the brake, but not moving, and demanding you wear your seat belt (even though you have it on). Releasing the seat belt and reinserting clears the problem. All very strange.

 

[Tuareg]

You can drive the car without the seatbelt attached simply by disengaging the electronic handbrake using the switch to the right if the 'R,N,D' control. I do this every time to move my car, get out and close the drive gates. No issue at all

 

[Kenp1]

You can drive the car without the seatbelt attached simply by disengaging the electronic handbrake using the switch to the right if the 'R,N,D' control. I do this every time to move my car, get out and close the drive gates. No issue at all

I was just going to say that but you beat me to it.

 

[Rolfe]

Useful to know.

 

[slmorgan42]

You can drive the car without the seatbelt attached simply by disengaging the electronic handbrake using the switch to the right if the 'R,N,D' control. I do this every time to move my car, get out and close the drive gates. No issue at all

Ditto it’s just when you use the hold brake by pressing the brake pedal for a long time. If handbrake on then it should be fine

 

[Rom]

I've stepped out of my car a few times, thinking it was like my last car, without putting it into park and the car starts driving off on me without me in it.
On my old car, a Fiat, as soon as I took my seat belt off my handbrake would automatically go on and it wouldn't move off unless I pressed down the clutch and brake, then accelerator.
The MG doesn't seem to detect any of that so I've got into the habit of using autohold all the time when I brake, just in case I forget to put park on.

 

[pjmmk]

I can't move my X Power three feet without using the seat belt.

 

[Corindikev]

If the car is level it will not require the seat belt to be worn. If it detects a slope it will not move until the seat belt is fastened. It does not have to be much of a slope. When I reverse out of my garage the driveway slopes away and only a degree or so but I always have to fasten the seat belt if I stop & then want to move either forward or reverse.

 

[YaR]

If the car is level it will not require the seat belt to be worn. If it detects a slope it will not move until the seat belt is fastened. It does not have to be much of a slope. When I reverse out of my garage the driveway slopes away and only a degree or so but I always have to fasten the seat belt if I stop & then want to move either forward or reverse.

Yes - this is my experience. What the safety logic is I'm not sure, maybe to avoid the chances of people leaning in and starting on a slope without sitting down so the car runs away?

 

[Tuareg]

If the car is level it will not require the seat belt to be worn. If it detects a slope it will not move until the seat belt is fastened. It does not have to be much of a slope. When I reverse out of my garage the driveway slopes away and only a degree or so but I always have to fasten the seat belt if I stop & then want to move either forward or reverse.

Not quite correct. The road outside from my drive is on a slope. I often park, open gates and get back in the car to reverse onto my drive. No seat belt, foot must be on brake and push the parking brake down to release it and then the car can be moved forewards or backwards. Works every time on my Xpower.

 

[Ferretusmaximus]

I've stepped out of my car a few times, thinking it was like my last car, without putting it into park and the car starts driving off on me without me in it.
On my old car, a Fiat, as soon as I took my seat belt off my handbrake would automatically go on and it wouldn't move off unless I pressed down the clutch and brake, then accelerator.
The MG doesn't seem to detect any of that so I've got into the habit of using autohold all the time when I brake, just in case I forget to put park on.

How bizarre. It knows whether somebody is sitting in the driver's seat so you would think that it would prevent movement if there's nobody in the car. Would appear to be a gap in the NCAP tests.

 

[Martinonline]

Just been to the recycling centre which is entered via a downhill slope In the queue I used the Trophy's parking brake: when I needed to move again I pressed the accelerator and more often than not I had the seatbelt warning flash on the driver's display even though the seatbelt was engaged.

My drive is flat and I often move the car without the seatbelt engaged.

As for non-driver movement, if I open the door with the car still in drive/reverse the brakes slam on.

 

[Kithmo]

I have extenders plugged in to mine, which overcomes this.

 

[Tuareg]

It's very logical, the car keeps the parking brake applied once you unplug the seatbelt. If you explicitly release the parking brake while applying the foot brake, the car can then be driven without the seatbelt plugged in. Simples.

 

[Kithmo]

The car also selects "P" when you leave your seat in "D" or "R".

 

[GaryMiller]

Thanks for all the info - I hadn't realised that it was such a widespread issue - looks like the parking brake method is the answer
Thanks again.