Seat belt retractors Ford E450 Cutaway chassis
I have a 1998 Coachman Santara 302SA Class C which is apparently built on a 1997 Ford E450 Super-Duty RV Cutaway chassis.
The (Ford) seat belt retractors (technically, pretensioners) don't retract. Local shop says they can't correct the problem, must replace. BUT... Ford parts are not available. They thought they had found a generic replacement that would work. We waited two days for the parts to come and, no go. They suggest Ford dealer or salvage.
Next stop, Ford dealer. They say driver side is available, takes a week to get, costs about $200. Passenger side simply unavailable. They suggest salvage.
We find a dismantler who has the parts. Or they think so. Similar model, not identical. They think it will work. Confirmed with my shop that they would do the install if I could get the parts. I drive an hour there. My guess is they would do except for one little thing: They don't retract.
Our only idea now is to go on the road (we planned to leave two days ago) with seatbelts we have to help wither the retraction every time we shift position, and hunt along our path for salvage parts and a willing installer (or do it ourselves, which I'm not eager to.)
Any other suggestions?
The (Ford) seat belt retractors (technically, pretensioners) don't retract. Local shop says they can't correct the problem, must replace. BUT... Ford parts are not available. They thought they had found a generic replacement that would work. We waited two days for the parts to come and, no go. They suggest Ford dealer or salvage.
Next stop, Ford dealer. They say driver side is available, takes a week to get, costs about $200. Passenger side simply unavailable. They suggest salvage.
We find a dismantler who has the parts. Or they think so. Similar model, not identical. They think it will work. Confirmed with my shop that they would do the install if I could get the parts. I drive an hour there. My guess is they would do except for one little thing: They don't retract.
Our only idea now is to go on the road (we planned to leave two days ago) with seatbelts we have to help wither the retraction every time we shift position, and hunt along our path for salvage parts and a willing installer (or do it ourselves, which I'm not eager to.)
Any other suggestions?
