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  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech

Seat Belt Problem!

  • Thread starter Thread starter RED2001GT
  • Start date Start date Oct 25, 2006

RED2001GT

20+ Year Stangneter
Mar 18, 2003
270
2
18
Oct 25, 2006
#1
  • Oct 25, 2006
  • #1
My driver's side seat belt does NOT retract back into the seat belt slot that's located behind my seat on the inside of the driver's side rear quarter panel.
The belt is "twisted". The twisting is towards the end after the belt is pulled to its full length all the way out. I took it to Ford and the mechanic told me that the belt is twisted deep inside the plastic moulding that's on the interior on the inside of the driver's side quarter panel. He told me that I will need a brand new driver's side seat belt because he is unable to unravel the twisted seat belt when he pulls it out all the way to its maximum length.
The mechanic told me that he will need to take off the rear left plastic moulding on the driver's side which is above the rear seat cushion.

I would like to know exactly which parts will need to be disassembled and stripped for the mechanic to get to the seat belt to put a new seat belt in? Is this a big job? How much of the interior will get stripped to replace the seat belt? Will the rear seat cushion have to come out and which plastic mouldings will need to be disassembled to replace the seat belt?

I am worried that I will have loose mouldings and "fit" problems with the interior after the mechanic puts everything back together again after he takes off the plastic mouldings to get to the seat belt. I am also concerned that the mouldings will be loose. Exactly which interior mouldings will need to be taken out to do the work. Should I have Ford fix this problem or should I just live with it for fear of the mouldings being loose and having fit problems after they are taken apart and put together again?Do they have to rip out the entire interior to fix it? I was looking in the back seat area and there is a LOT of plastic moulding along the inside of the left rear quarter panel. WIll they have to take out the seat cushion and then pry off the plastic moulding above the seat cushion that goes all the way up to the small triangular side window and to the head liner in order to get to the seat belt? Will they also have to pry off the plastic moulding that runs along the inside of the running board which connects to the moulding which is located above the side of the seat cushion?

I am afraid that if they have to pry off all of these mouldings that they will be loose after they put everything back together again. How much tearing apart of the interior will they do in order to take out the old seat belt and put a brand new one in?

If I decide to get the work done, it will be covered by my Ford warrantly.
 

merc123

Active Member
Jan 27, 2003
420
2
39
North GA
Oct 25, 2006
#2
  • Oct 25, 2006
  • #2
Mine doesn't retract any more on it's own either. I have to use the pull and push method. I would say they just have to pull that side panel off though without the seat.
 
B

bakos24

I find there is nothing better than a tasty wiener
Nov 29, 1999
4,461
87
134
NE, OH
Oct 25, 2006
#3
  • Oct 25, 2006
  • #3
I took mine to ford and they fixed mine for free. I have no problems with my panels being loose.
 
K

Kilgore Trout

Fried or Broiled ?
10 Year Member
Mar 30, 2005
4,749
95
134
Oct 25, 2006
#4
  • Oct 25, 2006
  • #4
There is a recall on this, the dealer will install a piece of slippery teflon tape in just the right place to make the seat belt retract more easily...
 

ocbaud

Member
May 7, 2005
239
1
18
Midwest City, Oklahoma
Oct 25, 2006
#5
  • Oct 25, 2006
  • #5
you guys both have '01's like me. i thought this was a tsb not a recall???

my car isnt under warrenty so a tsb wouldnt be free.

are you both saying you've gone to ford and they fixed it free out of warrenty?
 
K

Kilgore Trout

Fried or Broiled ?
10 Year Member
Mar 30, 2005
4,749
95
134
Oct 25, 2006
#6
  • Oct 25, 2006
  • #6
Yeah, maybe it is TSB... Anyways, it is a piece of tape, how much could it cost...
 

the98stang

Active Member
Aug 12, 2005
2,408
0
47
Clovis, CA
Oct 25, 2006
#7
  • Oct 25, 2006
  • #7
Kilgore Trout said:
Yeah, maybe it is TSB... Anyways, it is a piece of tape, how much could it cost...
Click to expand...

a sh1t load of money, killy

bastards wanted $65 for ONE of those 'pieces of tape/metal/plastic'

I've been trying to find an alternative....but no luck
 
K

Kilgore Trout

Fried or Broiled ?
10 Year Member
Mar 30, 2005
4,749
95
134
Oct 25, 2006
#8
  • Oct 25, 2006
  • #8
Wow!
 

superstang01

Active Member
Oct 11, 2006
448
9
29
Kingston, On, Canada
Oct 25, 2006
#9
  • Oct 25, 2006
  • #9
I took my car in and they gave me a new seat belt
 

Bolt on 5.0

Founding Member
Jun 26, 2002
302
0
17
Suffolk, NY
Oct 25, 2006
#10
  • Oct 25, 2006
  • #10
I am a little confused, what belt is twisted, the drivers seat belt, or the drivers rear? either way its not that big a deal. If it is the front belt they'll prob charge you 1 to 1.5 hours of labor plus the part. I think the belts run close to $200 though.
 

RED2001GT

20+ Year Stangneter
Mar 18, 2003
270
2
18
Oct 25, 2006
#11
  • Oct 25, 2006
  • #11
It's the driver's belt that does not retract. After I pull it out and use it, I have to manually push it back into the slit that it came out of. The belt does not retract all the way back in the slit. It does not retract at all. That's the problem which I am having here.

Ford service told me that I will need a brand new belt. Does anybody in here know whether or not the brand new belt that Ford ordered me comes with the mechanical part which retracts the seat belt ALL THE WAY back inside the slit (which is the plastic moulding next to the driver's shoulders)?
 

BlackenedSVT

Active Member
Jan 18, 2004
1,841
7
38
New Jersey
Oct 26, 2006
#12
  • Oct 26, 2006
  • #12
Can anyone get me a part number on this slipperty teflon tape? I have a connection through ford, i'll try and get it and just do it myself.
 

Jinx

I like cats, cats like me. Cats and I fully agree.
20+ Year Stangneter
Oct 2, 2003
12,166
4,237
223
Cat Country
Oct 26, 2006
#13
  • Oct 26, 2006
  • #13
I have he same problem with mine ('03 GT). I always thought Ford deliberately put that twist in it to help guide it through the loop holder on the headrest?? If you can't do the teflon tape thing and end up replacing the belt, can we buy an aftermarket belt from JC Whitney or something.

On another note:

RED2001GT said:
After I pull it out and use it, I have to manually push it back into the slit that it came out of.
Click to expand...
for some reason that comment struck me as funny for a CT.
.
 

RandyStinchcomb

New Member
May 25, 2005
1,159
3
0
Randallstown, Md
Oct 26, 2006
#14
  • Oct 26, 2006
  • #14
SteedaGTJ22 said:
Can anyone get me a part number on this slipperty teflon tape? I have a connection through ford, i'll try and get it and just do it myself.
Click to expand...



yeah, I got the part # here and even wholesale its @$50.00
 

Bolt on 5.0

Founding Member
Jun 26, 2002
302
0
17
Suffolk, NY
Oct 26, 2006
#15
  • Oct 26, 2006
  • #15
yes the belt from ford comes with the belt and the retractor as an assembly.
 

DTMach1

New Member
Jun 14, 2004
240
0
0
Virginia Beach, VA
Oct 26, 2006
#16
  • Oct 26, 2006
  • #16
seat belts should be a lifetime warranty thing...

I had the belts on my '91 ranger replaced this past year for free
 

BlackenedSVT

Active Member
Jan 18, 2004
1,841
7
38
New Jersey
Oct 27, 2006
#17
  • Oct 27, 2006
  • #17
RandyStinchcomb said:
yeah, I got the part # here and even wholesale its @$50.00
Click to expand...

holy moly!!! for tape!! LOL Guess i'll go to my vinyl sign shop and see if i can snag some clear vinyl
 
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