1996 850 Pressing red seat belt release button does not work

T64me · Post by **T64me** » 29 Oct 2014, 22:33

I have a 96 Volvo 850. When I press the red seat belt release button it does not release the seat belt. I really have to work at it to get the seat belt to release. Any suggestions as to how to fix this issue? Strangely I have the same issue on the driver and passenger side of the car.

Post by **stephansvolvo** » 29 Oct 2014, 22:51

Are you referring to where the metal piece locks in? If it's happening on both sides there maybe a sensor that's the culprit.

T64me · Post by **T64me** » 29 Oct 2014, 22:55

I press the red "button" and it takes a lot of jiggling to get the metal piece to release

Post by **scot850** » 30 Oct 2014, 11:31

They can get 'gummed' up over time causing problems latching or releasing. Shine a torch down them and see if coffee or pop has been spilt down them, as this lets gunge catch in them.

I just had to do this recently on 2 of my seatbelts as the wouldn't latch properly. If this doesn't work, then replace them!! Plenty in auto wreckers.

Neil.

T64me · Post by **T64me** » 30 Oct 2014, 11:37

I was thinking of squirting WE 40 in them to clean any goo out of them. Maybe that would work?

Post by **cuhfs** » 30 Oct 2014, 12:01

I had that problem 2 times and fixed it. Both times there was a glass chard from a shattered window in the buckle slot the metal piece went into. One was a car I bought that seat belt buckle did not work right. 2nd time I knew about the glass break. Maybe a small foreign object that is hard to see is in there. Like a piece of shattered window?

T64me · Post by **T64me** » 30 Oct 2014, 12:07

Good input. I will try compressed air.

rhalkyard · Post by **rhalkyard** » 30 Oct 2014, 21:21

T64me wrote:I was thinking of squirting WE 40 in them to clean any goo out of them. Maybe that would work?

I freed mine up with some silicone lubricant spray. Just squirt a tiny bit in there, latch and unlatch the buckle a few times, wiping off the excess each time, and it should free up. WD40 would do the same job, but I've found that it attracts dirt, and will eventually gum up again - silicone is better in that respect, if you have some on hand.

T64me · Post by **T64me** » 30 Oct 2014, 22:14

Blew them out with compressed air then squirted some WE 40 in them. Now the work perfectly.