Interior Discussion about interior restoration, repairs, and modifications.

Seatbelt won't retract

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Old Jan 27, 2008 | 03:32 PM
  #1  
autoholic's Avatar
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From: Maidstone, Kent, UK
Car: 1988 Camaro RS, 1972 Dodge Dart
Seatbelt won't retract

Not sure if this has been dealt with before, apologies if it has. I did try a search first.
My passenger upper belt was been fully extended and now will not retract.
Any advise on how to get it to go back?
Thanks in advance
Steve
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Old Jan 28, 2008 | 11:04 AM
  #2  
Buck268's Avatar
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From: Troy, MI, USA
Re: Seatbelt won't retract

I read in some thread about a metal clip or pawl that may get bent and prevent the belt from retracting, try doing a search.

I'm currently on the hunt for ways to improve seat belt retraction speed... without much luck...
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Old Jan 28, 2008 | 07:58 PM
  #3  
Tmic87TPI's Avatar
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From: Guilford, Connecticut
Car: 1987 Trans Am
Engine: 355
Transmission: t56
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: Seatbelt won't retract

very common problem, you may want to look into swapping in 4th gen seatbelts.
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Old Jan 28, 2008 | 11:22 PM
  #4  
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From: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Car: 1987 IROC-Z
Engine: 383 with Edelbrock ProFlow EFI
Transmission: TH350
Axle/Gears: 12 bolt 3.73 Eaton posi
Re: Seatbelt won't retract

I have found a similar problem with my passenger seat belt. It's not that it doesn't go in, but that it doesnt have any tension and is loose when worn by anyone. I've already had a friends mom ban her from getting a ride to a party with me because of it (not sure if it was me or the car but I like to blam the car).

How difficult of a swap would this be? Pull out the headliner, unbolt old seat belt, bolt in new seat belt, and bolt to floor in old location? Would the onld retractor still work or would that need to be replaced as well? What about the fact that the fourth gen doesnt have a retractor on the floor? I heard/read somewhere that in order to make it look good you have to find the door sill of an early 80's car to get the sleeve and such to fit right without any abnormal gaps. Doesn't seem like a big job as long as you have all the parts ready.
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Old Jan 29, 2008 | 08:47 PM
  #5  
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From: Guilford, Connecticut
Car: 1987 Trans Am
Engine: 355
Transmission: t56
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: Seatbelt won't retract

the top bolts right up, the bottom you have to modify a little, but not too much, theres a tech article on it with all the info.
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Old Jan 31, 2008 | 07:16 PM
  #6  
z1colt45's Avatar
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From: AA County, MD
Car: 1990 Firebird Formula
Engine: 305 TBI
Transmission: 700R4
Re: Seatbelt won't retract

If it just got pulled all the way out you can unbolt the top part and take off the plastic on the retractor housing. There is a "bump" sewn into the cloth of the seatbelt that keeps it from getting pulled out all the way but if it gets yanked the bump will keep the belt from being retracted back in. That happened to me last month.
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