96 850 wagon seat belts locked for third row seat

mctruth · Post by **mctruth** » 05 May 2010, 15:15

Hi I have a 1996 850 turbo wagon and I'm in the process of installing the third row seat. It is a very simple install but I have a problem with the used seat belts that I bought. They are rolled up and locked and will not release to give me any more slack. This obviously prevents me from being able to install the belts and I'm wondering whether the belt tensioners are broken or if there is a simple fix for this. It's really frustrating because I was looking forward to have the third row installed to go on a trip with my family. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Sulaiman

mctruth · Post by **mctruth** » 05 May 2010, 15:32

Just to update the person I bought the third row assembly from on Ebay responded to me "The belts need to be mounted in the correct position to unlock". The problem is there is only enough slack to mount the belt in one of the three bolt positions so when I mount it in one position it still does not want to release. Is it possible that the belt wasn't meant to be rolled up so much?

Thanks,
Matthew

Post by **jblackburn** » 05 May 2010, 16:19

You are usually able to unlock them by feeding a little slack back into it, and then it will pull back out. If it has wound up entirely too much, I have seen them on other cars lock up for good to the point where they can't be used anymore.

mctruth · Post by **mctruth** » 06 May 2010, 17:15

Man I'm at my wits end with these belts they are not releasing any slack at all and I have them both mounted in the top position. I guess I'll have to find some used belts. The problem is people rarely sell the belts separately from the rest of the third row assembly.

If anyone has any Third Row belts they want to part with please let me know...

Thanks,
Sulaiman

Ludwighouse · Post by **Ludwighouse** » 01 Jun 2010, 11:25

No such thing as "can't be used..." Try holding them so the belt feeds streight up, now feed just the smallest amount os slack on the reel and wrap the bottom against something lightly... you should hear something inside rattle (thats the weighted do-dad that activathes the pawls inside) now without tipping... unreel the belt.

If that didn't work: carefully pull of the oddly shaped cover on one side of the reel (not the side with two screws... thats the spring, YIKES!), there are two plastic rivits [sic] (just push the center pin out with a tooth pick)and a plastic catch (lift with fingernail) that have to be undone. Once open it's a bit of a puzzle in there but it should be easy to see how it works (easier than I can explain here). The key is holding it belt-feeding-UP and not shaking it once the bronze weight thing falls down and opens the pawl-catch. Once you get some slack, tape the belt to the side of the reel to keep it from rewinding.
While I'm at it: the reels go inside the side walls right where the rear seat back latches to the right and left compartment walls. There is a little vent-like grill that comes off they are bolted on from the car interior. This piece of the puzzle is not easily put togehther.