Interior and Upholstery Working Seat Belts

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

Mod Dude

Feb 18, 2001

43,218

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Massachusetts

Sep 20, 2016

#1

• Sep 20, 2016

• #1

Something that has concerned me lately. My seatbelts don't seem to lock. If I grab and pull quickly, they lock maybe every 5-6 pulls. But for the most part a quick yank does nothing.

Anyone else's like this? I don't know any other way to test them other than the obvious.

Kinda concerns me as I want functioning belts for me and my passenger.


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Davedacarpainter

Chicks can make things hard if they’re inspired...

SN Certified Technician

Nov 28, 2015

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Discordia

Sep 20, 2016

#2

• Sep 20, 2016

• #2

Aren't they centrifugally locked (I think that's what it's called, but I've been drinking)? Meaning when you hit the brakes (or a tree), they'll lock up? Those will pull out fairly easily even when you try to force the lock with a quick pull.

 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

Mod Dude

Feb 18, 2001

43,218

17,902

224

Massachusetts

Sep 20, 2016

#3

• Sep 20, 2016

• #3

I thought so too, but every other car I own will lock with quick yank.

Just trying to confirm mine are ok


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skyline247

Advanced Member

Jul 28, 2014

816

225

73

Cincinnati, OH

Sep 21, 2016

#4

• Sep 21, 2016

• #4

Mine do the same thing. After a while, they actually start dropping a little until I pull on them to tighten up again. It used to concern me a lot but I slammed on my brakes a few times at some point to test them and they locked each and every time. I'm still not sure if they are supposed to be like this but I feel a little bit more secure now. I do want to get a new set of seatbelts at some point to eliminate the slack I keep getting. I've always wondered if this problem is common or not so I'm interested in everyone's experience here.

Fwiw, I looked at both of my seatbelt retractors and aside from a little gunk in the passenger side one, I didn't see anything obvious that indicated it wasn't working properly. I didn't take the assembly apart though.

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Last edited: Sep 21, 2016

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

Mod Dude

Feb 18, 2001

43,218

17,902

224

Massachusetts

Sep 21, 2016

#5

• Sep 21, 2016

• #5

Guess i'll have to wait on road testing them. In the meantime, hopped in my Taurus this AM and yanked on the belt a few time very lightly and it easily locked every time.

Now granted I don't have any other 30+ year old cars sitting around to go test out, but I think the newer belts do work differently.

Just trying to see if I should look into replacing/repairing them, or if they are ok. I found a few seatbelt repair shops, but none will do older than 1996 or so.

 

jrichker

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Mar 10, 2000

27,512

2,813

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Dublin GA

Sep 21, 2016

#6

• Sep 21, 2016

• #6

The front seatbelt adjusters on my 89 lock when you hit the brakes hard. That is by design; there is a swinging gizmo that locks the motion of the reel on sudden changes in velocity. It's the same design as used in airplanes built before 1940; it's called an inertia lock.

 

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Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

Mod Dude

Feb 18, 2001

43,218

17,902

224

Massachusetts

Sep 21, 2016

#7

• Sep 21, 2016

• #7

Good enough. Guess i'll test it out while braking hard next chance I get.

 

Davedacarpainter

Chicks can make things hard if they’re inspired...

SN Certified Technician

Nov 28, 2015

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Discordia

Sep 21, 2016

#8

• Sep 21, 2016

• #8

jrichker said:

The front seatbelt adjusters on my 89 lock when you hit the brakes hard. That is by design; there is a swinging gizmo that locks the motion of the reel on sudden changes in velocity. It's the same design as used in airplanes built before 1940; it's called an inertia lock.

Click to expand...

Inertia lock! That's the right words.

 

GearHeadGuy

Member

Dec 19, 2016

8

4

13

Dec 20, 2016

#9

• Dec 20, 2016

• #9

My dog chewed the driver's side belt, so I believe I will also have to deal with the seat belt replacement. Anyways it was already old. I am looking at a universal seat belt and believe it is a good way out, anyways all the hardware is fine.

 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

Mod Dude

Feb 18, 2001

43,218

17,902

224

Massachusetts

Dec 20, 2016

#10

• Dec 20, 2016

• #10

Forgot to update. After driving the car around, they do lock when I brake.

 

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