AndyK

For some reason, the rear driver-side shoulder belt is stuck in the "locked" possition. It's fully retracted, against the rear seat, and I can't pull it out to lower the rear seatback.

Anyone know how to get the retractor to let go??

Yabo

cool, you got one of those? can you like, pu tthat in an earlier car somehow?

pete944

Maybe try pulling the carpeted panel around it off and smack the mechanism with a small hammer a few times.

AndyK

Ah, the scientific approach!?

pete944

Yep, it usually works.

OT- There's a deaf girl outside my office right now that is talking to herself in sign language. It's freakin' me out.

threesticks1

One of the shoulder belts would intermittently stick in the retracted mode. I would give sharp repeated jerks on the belt and most of the time retraction mech. would loosen its grip and the belt would unwind.

I finally got tired of this and disassembled the unit. Inside I found a cup with a small steel ball. The ball rests in a small indention in the bottom of the cup. There is a lever on top of the ball which is inturn attached to the retracting locking mech. What I found was several small pieces of dirt had entered the cup and were displacing the ball out of the small indention and lifting the lever and locking the retracting mech. I removed the dirt and the belt has worked fine ever since.

I hope that this helps

AndyK

Interesting...how does the unit open up? Can it be done without removing the whole thing from the car?

Dave in Chicago

They take small hands to remove, but...

Pull cover carpet panel away from the side where seatbelt retracts into. Remove the bolt holding it into the little metal box shape (17mm I think).

Note that these will only allow belt to feed out within a VERY NARROW angle. The angle provided by the mounted belt, its associated guide through the carpet cover, and the mounting point on the C-pillar is the perfect angle in a car on LEVEL ground. It's the devil to get it right on a "free" unit, just takes patience.

Inspect webbing for wear and fraying while you're at it.

Note to Devon: No go for the 85.5. Take a look at cars from about 88 on (maybe mid-87) and you will see the metal box under the carpet cover where the retractor resides in later cars. That's a must have item for the factory rear 3-point installation.

AndyK

Sounds like I'll be using the "hit it with a hammer" method! Wouldn't want to be stuck with a non-functioning free-floating seatbelt!