Sluggish seatbelts on older vehicles

[TurnThePage]

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?

[Rickieblue]

Yes..Explosive...after an event that sets off the airbag, the seat belts will be locked up do to there deployment to save passengers. Once they have been locked up, they of course need to be replaced. And..if a local dealer does not have replacements..you will wait forever to get replacements..ground shipping only..no explosives in air shipping.

[lryrob9301]

As Gdetrailer explained, you should not be trying to clean the retraction mechanism other than vacuuming. These mechanisms are not owner serviceable. Some manufacturers cover their seat belts for the life of the vehicle, some for 10 years/ 100,000 miles, some for 8 years/ 80,000 miles, and some for 5 years/ 60,000 miles. So the best thing to do is contact your vehicle manufacturer, NOT THE DEALER, to determine coverage. Who knows you my get new belts.

[Camp__Forrest__]

I heard a *rumor* that cars sold in the US are required to have lifetime warranties on the seat belt retractor mechanism. This was the case for my 2000 Chevy and my 1986 Ford anyway. Both replaced for free with no hassle from the dealer.

[hershey]

Suzuki's belts quit retracting easily in about 25,000 miles. Mine were replaced twice in its 70,000 mile warranty period. I tried to lube after that and had little luck.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Wotta fight dirty seatbelt retractors are. Danged passenger side has the whopee slipee shoulder belt retractor over the door. Sucker'll eat a finger if a person gets careless. Every square inch of this country has ultra intense enforcement of seat belt laws. Many areas have a thousand peso fine. Howmuch izzat? Sixty-eight USA dollars. Kinda weird getting written up as a stake truck with 28 people standing up in the bed passes by. The driver had danged well be belted-up though.

[_40Fan]

Don't put anything on the belt. It is the mechanism that gets dirty.

[Gdetrailer]

BillyW wrote:

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.

Make sure the belt has not flipped over (AKA "twist") when it was rolled up.. Pretty easy to twist the belts and a twisted belt in the mech would definitely jam things for sure.

[TurnThePage]

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.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Explosive?
!!!

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

[Gdetrailer]

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).

[MEXICOWANDERER]

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.

[the_bear_II]

Use a dry lube product....

[TurnThePage]

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.

[Johno02]

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