Seatbelt doesn't retract properly

[cespenar]

Just wondering if any of you out there have experienced this:

When I pull the seatbelt out to put it on it won't retract back it just sits there with slack. Sometimes after a little driving it suddenly retacts to its proper position, otherwise I have to turn the car off (when the car is off it retracts) then back on to drive safely.

Car in question is a 1996 JZA80 Supra. I will pull of some panels and have a look at the unit, to see if anything is visibly wrong or if there are loose wires however I didn't think there were meant to be any wires there.

If anyone can shed some light before I go taking out panels that would be good. Cheers.

[Ae92typeX]

Im assuming they are the pretensioning ones? If it always retracts with the ignition off then it does sound like and electrical/mechanical issue.
On non pretensioning ones, I have come accross the plastic housing guide (cottonreel type one) wearing and catching, but that does not sound like the case here.

[rallymazda]

sounds like it may be twisted or rewinding unevenly on the coil

maybe easiest thing to do is to buy a 2nd hand one as it wont pass a warrent if it dont retract

[cespenar]

Yeah it's tricky because sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn't Hmmm... I didn't think it had pretensioner seatbelts but I guess I will have to look thanks anyway

[Dragger_Dan]

I found with my AW11 that if the whole retractor unit is not sitting level properly it won't retract. No idea how they get like this but it isn't the first AW11 i've seen it happen on. Quick fix in this case is to take off the pannels, undo the mounting bolt(s), level it out and tighten it all back up. Of course you have to do this on a level surface for it to work.

[MasCam]

My Caldina seatbelts have a tension relief device that operates while the car is on, this is designed to incerease the comfort and reduce the fatigue of the driver according to the owners manual. You can notice it by turning the car off with the seatbelt still on and you can notice a very slight jerk as the tension comes back on, there is also a very quiet click.

Yours could be your problem if this system is fitted to your car, it could explain why it dosn't retract when the car is on.

[Timmo]

while we are on the subject: I bought some second hand seatbelts for my car (Mr2) but, im guessing, when they were sent the have wound back up too far (usually the amount they can wind back onto the reel is limited by the buckle hitting the top mounting in the car...when out of the car the belt is able to retract fully).....

So now i cant pull the belt out from the reel as its catching/latching....i cant get enough back up to pull it out (if that makes sense: I.e when you are in your car and the belt isnt pulling out you usually let it go back in a little then try and pull it out again: because mine have gone right back in i cant do this)


Any ideas about how to get them out? (without taking them apart...dont want to risk that)

[sergei]

try it doing it on different angle, when it is unlocked it goes easy in both ways, infact in most seatbelts the locking mechanism is behind clear plastic and you will be able to see when it will unlock.

[FXGTV]

One of my back seat seatbelts is tied in a knot up the top...it got a warrant at a VTNZ station, which i was surprised about

[Timmo]

hmm have tried every which angle, tried doing it soft...doing it hard but it wont budge

It looks like the problem is it cant reel back far enough for the latching/locking mech to fully release...

[Ae92typeX]

hmm have tried every which angle, tried doing it soft...doing it hard but it wont budge

It looks like the problem is it cant reel back far enough for the latching/locking mech to fully release...

you can carefully take many apart and unlock, and pull out...HOWEVER ONLY DO THIS IF YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING...

so- is it fully hard stuck, or does it movie a little and then lock. Also try wheeling the belt while slowly pulling- it can jam up in the reel as well as the locking mechnism locking.