Sluggish seat belt retraction

[asymptonic]

Original driver side seat belt is only retracting 80%. Would replace but of course no available parts. Is this something that could be safely fixed with lubrication disassembly or no? I don't want to mess with safety here but with parts (un)availability it's tricky.

 

[RCP Phx]

Thet "can" be rebuilt, but depending on what's wrong could be beyond your capabilities. There are services like this one....... https://seatbeltrepair.com/

 

[cruiser54]

Lots of times there's crap in the retractor hub. Take a look at it.

 

[Saudade]

Also, sometimes the webbing gets stiff from dirt, moisture, kinks (from getting caught in car door).

Mine will retract all the way but I have to guide it up by the buckle.

I did take them out to clean them however, the spring has weakened to the point it won't retract all the way on it's own.

 

[asymptonic]

Also, sometimes the webbing gets stiff from dirt, moisture, kinks (from getting caught in car door).

Mine will retract all the way but I have to guide it up by the buckle.

I did take them out to clean them however, the spring has weakened to the point it won't retract all the way on it's own.

Pretty sure this is my situation. I'll do some light inspection of it but I bet it's the clockspring wearing out.

 

[Saudade]

Informative post

Why, because you inserted a link that is not in the post you quoted?

Post reported.

 

[Dragonslayer]

1) Clean the seat belt. No need to remove it from the car. Pull out the seat as far as it will go, attach a spring clamp to prevent it from retracting, dunk the belt in a small bucket of warm soapy water (I used Dawn dish soap) and swish it around, rinse and let dry. This makes the belt much more supple and able to move through the loop and retractor. I was pleasantly surprised to see all of the dirt and funk that was released from the belt when I did this.

For me, this helped a lot, but it did not cure my seatbelt retract woes.

2). Next on my To Do List is to tighten the rewind spring. See this YouTube video as it gives good advice:

Good luck. Let us know how it goes for you.

 

[fenns7]

1) Clean the seat belt. No need to remove it from the car. Pull out the seat as far as it will go, attach a spring clamp to prevent it from retracting, dunk the belt in a small bucket of warm soapy water (I used Dawn dish soap) and swish it around, rinse and let dry. This makes the belt much more supple and able to move through the loop and retractor. I was pleasantly surprised to see all of the dirt and funk that was released from the belt when I did this.

For me, this helped a lot, but it did not cure my seatbelt retract woes.

2). Next on my To Do List is to tighten the rewind spring. See this YouTube video as it gives good advice:

Good luck. Let us know how it goes for you.

Agree 100% - even if cleaning the seatbelt doesnt cure the issue 100% it WILL definately help on any seatbelt older than 15 years old. Did exactly this on 1994 Mercedes W124 cabrio prior to sale (the slow to retract seatbelts were a niggle I didn't want to be a 'negotiating point') and it made a significant diference