Sluggish seatbelts on older vehicles

Take the covers off to expose the actual retractors, and lubricate with WD40. Use liberally to clean and lubricate.

tvman44 wrote:

Johno02 wrote:
Take the covers off to expose the actual retractors, and lubricate with WD40. Use liberally to clean and lubricate.

Might add a bit of silicone on it after.

Or a light oil. WD-40 isn't really a good lubricant.

Silicone wouldn't hurt. WD40 goes away pretty quick.

I thought of those solutions, but worried about lubricant slopping onto the belt, while not lasting very long at the same time. Guess I really have little to lose. Think I will do the WD40 followed up with some as yet unknown lubricant.

Use a dry lube product....

I took the covers off my toad and gagged. Clogged badly with dirt.
Mixed up some hot water grabbed some rags and a can of computer duster.
Pump sprayed soapy water into the mess sprayed air to help and more soapy hot water until the drippings were no longer dirty colored. Rinsed with clear water. Flushed well with air. Let air dry three days fully extended. Then lubed with silicone spray. They work like new and are clean and won't stain clothes. Use enough rags when washing and rinsing. Mighty dirty.

BillyW wrote:
Not specifically a RVing question but it does apply to my older tow vehicle. Especially in the winter time, the seatbelts are difficult to pull out and hesitant to retract. I have two older vehicles with this behavior. Do the mechanisms need replacement, or is there a way to lubricate/revive them?

Pretty common problem.. Not an cheap fix..

Depending on the vehicle and year not much can be done without causing damage to them..

Pretty much 2000 and up seat belts can have an explosive charge built in that is supposed to latch the belt quickly in an accident.. Those types definitely are not designed to be serviced.. I wouldn't bother messing with those.

Lazy retraction is often from lint/dirt buildup, I would try a good quality shop vac and see if it pulls any lint/dirt out of the assembly..

Randomly spraying WD40, silicone or any other liquid into the belt mech most likely will just gum it up even worse and possibly damage the seat belt material in the process (you DON'T want to harm the belt material as in weaken it).

The real way to fix is to replace with a new belt unit, not saying I like it BUT that IS the way it is (designed) done or just put up with the lazy belt (I have a 2003 which suffers from the lazy belt syndrome and I just put up with it).

Explosive?
!!!

Glad I have a 95. Thanks for the tip Gdetrailer!

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
Explosive?
!!!

Glad I have a 95. Thanks for the tip Gdetrailer!

LOL! :B

Lucky for me (or not) the vehicles I'm talking about are both pre 2000. I like the idea of cleaning them as Mex has mentioned, but that will wait for Spring. I found a recommendation for a dry lubricant that goes right on the belt to free up travel through the automatic tensioner. I'm ordering some and will report back on the results.