Seatbelts don't retract or extend, stuck

geokilla · Post by **geokilla** » 03 Feb 2013, 18:45

Ok not really dangerous, as they are actually safe, except for when they don't work! Has anyone ever faced a problem where their seatbelts don't retract or extend and stay stuck in a position? It's happened to me probably half a dozen times now. I'm gonna see if I can get it fixed this week, along with checking out the suspension problem I stated in another thread. That and oil change... Expensive February is expensive.

Post by **JRL** » 03 Feb 2013, 19:28

You're probably going to need a new seatbelt

geokilla · Post by **geokilla** » 04 Feb 2013, 19:55

Really? I was hoping maybe it is one of those simpler fixes that I can DIY because inside the B pillar, it might be dirty or something..

Klausc · Post by **Klausc** » 04 Feb 2013, 20:01

One of my friends found a collection of nylon fibers in the bottom of the B pillat, they came from the seatbelt strap. After he cleaned it out, it all worked again.
If, however, one of the locking pins came loose, I suggest getting the belt replaced. The seat belt is more important than an airbag.

geokilla · Post by **geokilla** » 04 Feb 2013, 20:26

Klausc wrote:One of my friends found a collection of nylon fibers in the bottom of the B pillat, they came from the seatbelt strap. After he cleaned it out, it all worked again.
If, however, one of the locking pins came loose, I suggest getting the belt replaced. The seat belt is more important than an airbag.

Locking pins is the piece of metal that makes a sound when you suddenly pull the seat belt right? And then the seat belt is like locked in place and you can't extend it anymore, and can only retract it? Because when mine didn't work those few times, there was no metal sound or any sound coming from the seat belt. It just refused to extend and retract. Then few minutes later, all was well.

Klausc · Post by **Klausc** » 05 Feb 2013, 09:14

If I were a repair shop, I would install a new seatbelt. Just for liability purposes. You, on the other hand, can pull off the B pillar plastic and at least investigate what is going on. Without looking at the mechanism, you will never know.

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 05 Feb 2013, 12:16

I have successfully repaired one before. Once you remove the B pillar cover you will see that the strap fits on a spool. If you can get a large screwdriver under the bottom of the spool and pry upward while pulling the seat belt upward, towards the headliner, you can sometime get the belt to release. If it won't release or continues to stick you need to spray the shaft that the spool rotates on, at the bottom below the bottom of the spool, with a penetrating oil to loosen up the pawls.

...Lee

Post by **regent** » 05 Feb 2013, 16:52

Re: Seatbelts! Dangerous! Holy!

New postby JRL » February 3rd, 2013, 9:28 pm
You're probably going to need a new seatbelt

I think that if the condition raises the leaste amount of safety concerns, then the right approach would be a visit to the pull-a-part store, yes?

geokilla · Post by **geokilla** » 06 Feb 2013, 22:12

Ozark Lee wrote:I have successfully repaired one before. Once you remove the B pillar cover you will see that the strap fits on a spool. If you can get a large screwdriver under the bottom of the spool and pry upward while pulling the seat belt upward, towards the headliner, you can sometime get the belt to release. If it won't release or continues to stick you need to spray the shaft that the spool rotates on, at the bottom below the bottom of the spool, with a penetrating oil to loosen up the pawls.

...Lee

Looking here, I guess I just pretty much yank it out with brute force? The plastic covering the B pillar that is. Then to put it back in, I just snap it in place?

Post by **rspi** » 07 Feb 2013, 05:51

Yes it just pulls off, not much force needed.

I would replace it with one from the junk yard.