DIY - Fixing Seatbelt Retractors

Do you have a seatbelt that doesn't retract all the way when you take it off? Tired of slamming the door on it? Sick of having to untangle the mess each time you need to put on your belt? Lets see how can you fix that pesky seatbelt in 10 easy steps.

Tools needed:
Small Flathead Screwdriver
Ratchet
10mm Socket
14mm Socket

Seps 1: First remove the garnish that covers the lower part of the seatbelt and the retractor, you dont need to remove the seat, just slide it all the way forward and move the back forward too. Then start off by getting any kinks or binds out of the seat belt.

Step 2: There is one little 10mm bolt that hids behind the seat, you need to remove that, then, on the bottom end, below the ruber cover there is a 14mm bolt that holds the seatbelt end and the retractor (dont loose the washers order), then you can remove the rectactor there is a little pin that will give you some trouble but nothing important.

Step 3: Now on to the top bolt, lift the plastic cover and remove the 14mm bolt (also dont loose the washers order).

After those 3 steps, you will have the seatbelt assambly free and you can remove it from your car


This is the culprit of your loose seatbelt, that spring should be tight


Step 4: Pull the seatbelt out until it ends. It is necessary to hold the retractor straight up and down to move the belt out. The retractor has a mechanism that keeps the belt from moving when the ball is anywhere but level in the bottom. After you have removed all the belt you will see some thing like this.


Step5: Push the seatbelt so some it sticks out the other side. That way you can use the screwdriver to pull the loop out.

Step6: Remove the plastic bar and then remove the seatbelt from the retractor. Note how the belt came out so you can put it back together. Always keep pressure on the spool. Do not let go or else it will completely unwind.


SIDE NOTE: now you can wash your seatbelt, just put a sock on the card ends and put it on the washing machine, then let them dry and they are ready to be reinstalled


Step7: Turn the spool until the metal spring on the side is completely wound up. This may take awhile. This spring was tight out of the factory, but after time the spring will stretch out.


Step8: Back the spool off until you can line up the belt and the part it goes into. It is easier to back it off a little farther and thread the belt in to reach the spot on the spool. Reinsert the plastic bar then thread the belt into the spool.

Step 9: Test the belt to see whether the belt is correctly inserted.

Step 10: Retract the belt. Reinstall all the bolts and torque them correctly (10mm/21 lb-ft - 14mm/53 lb-ft) Reinstall all the covers.

very nice work bro

Thanks

Wow, I'll have to try this once I get home from vacation. You may just have saved me $20.

kennydang91 wrote:

Wow, I'll have to try this once I get home from vacation. You may just have saved me $20.

you can start with the passenger side and learn how it works, get some practice, and then do the driver side

Nice writeup! Will try this on my Sera next week.

you solved a huge problem here mate thanks alot for sharing

Hi Ruf

Nice write up will try it tired of buckles hanging out not properly retracting.

Thanks

thanks a lot! worked for me!

I just attempted this yesterday myself. Worked for me as well. :)Saved me a trip to the junkyard and $20

I tried this on mine yesterday, i can get the spring all wound up tight but as soon as i put the belt back in and wind the belt up the spring gets loose again, any way around this or is it time too visit the scrap ayrd