Model:1275 GT
Year:1989
Description of problem (please be as in depth as possible):
my front passengers side seat belt has deciced to lock on the inertia reel and now wont move an inch, ive tried pulling it slowly and it still wont move..... is there any way to unlock it or do I need to buy a new one??
Seat Belt Problem
Started by
Grimson2452
, Nov 15 2010 10:44 PM
3 replies to this topic
#2
Dan
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On Sabbatical
Posted 15 November 2010 - 10:50 PM
Unbolt it and make sure it's upright. The reel will lock if it's at an angle. Make sure the belt isn't bunched in the reel. Don't take anything apart, if you can't free it without dismantling it and it has become unreliable replace it. Seatbelts aren't worth messing about with.
#3
Grimson2452
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Posted 15 November 2010 - 11:00 PM
cheers for the info 
will give that a try in the morning.... yer dont want to mess with it too much
will give that a try in the morning.... yer dont want to mess with it too much
#4
dklawson
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- Name: Doug
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Posted 16 November 2010 - 01:18 PM
I have not opened up "late model" Britax or other OEM Mini recoil belts but I have worked on similar parts in the U.S.
There are typically two locking mechanisms in recoil belts. One involves a pawl that is cammed into place (by a swinging weight) when the vehicle is tipped or experiences sudden high-G turns/stops. The second lock is an inertia type which operates with a heavy metal wheel driving a pawl outward when the belt reel is pulled very rapidly. Both of these pawl driven locking mechanisms actuate a "lever" arrangement that pushes a metal locking bar against a pair of saw toothed gears around the outside of the belt reel.
IF the belt is allowed to to rewind too far into the housing, the increased diameter of the belt reel inside the housing can bind the locking bar up and prevent the pawls from releasing.
Though I do not recommend completely disassembling a seat belt if you are not familiar with what goes on inside, you could remove the belt from the car and carefully remove the protective covers around the reel. Look carefully at the two locking mechanisms and the locking bar to determine if any parts are broken or are simply jammed and refusing to return to their rest position. If they are jammed, look carefully to determine what caused the parts to stick in the locked position and if possible... correct the situation.
Sadly a number of belts use a lot of plastic components for the pawls and pawl related parts. These can wear or break causing the other components to not actuate and/or release. If you find any broken parts in your belt assembly... replace with a new seatbelt. Do not be tempted to use "used" seatbelts.
There are typically two locking mechanisms in recoil belts. One involves a pawl that is cammed into place (by a swinging weight) when the vehicle is tipped or experiences sudden high-G turns/stops. The second lock is an inertia type which operates with a heavy metal wheel driving a pawl outward when the belt reel is pulled very rapidly. Both of these pawl driven locking mechanisms actuate a "lever" arrangement that pushes a metal locking bar against a pair of saw toothed gears around the outside of the belt reel.
IF the belt is allowed to to rewind too far into the housing, the increased diameter of the belt reel inside the housing can bind the locking bar up and prevent the pawls from releasing.
Though I do not recommend completely disassembling a seat belt if you are not familiar with what goes on inside, you could remove the belt from the car and carefully remove the protective covers around the reel. Look carefully at the two locking mechanisms and the locking bar to determine if any parts are broken or are simply jammed and refusing to return to their rest position. If they are jammed, look carefully to determine what caused the parts to stick in the locked position and if possible... correct the situation.
Sadly a number of belts use a lot of plastic components for the pawls and pawl related parts. These can wear or break causing the other components to not actuate and/or release. If you find any broken parts in your belt assembly... replace with a new seatbelt. Do not be tempted to use "used" seatbelts.
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