Typical thirdgen, havent even had it a day and something is already wrong. LOL!

Very strange deal. The driver side shoulder harness was stuck in a bad way. I tried pulling and tugging on it to no avail. I finally figured out how to get the rear panel off, and it looked ok. I stuck it with a screwdriver a few times, tugged and pulled some more in different directions, and it finally let go. Seems to work ok now, but I dont want to have to tear this apart again anytime soon.

Anything I should check? Should I grease something? Seatbelts are totally beyond me, never messed with them aside of taking them out and putting them back in. Hmmm.... maybe the thing got messed up on the transport? Anyway, any ideas I'd like to hear em.

 

i don't know if ur problem is simular to mine or not.. but when i pull out the lower part of the belt, it keeps catching, like its supposed to do in emergency stops.. but this does it no matter how gently i pull it out. So i have to keep pulling from different directions, and pull, release, pull release, kinda like trying to get a projector screen to go up, instead im trying to get it out.. I don't think there is any SAFE means of fixing it, but i remember have a simular problem on a old acura integra, and the dealership said seatbelts had a lifetime warrenty, but THEY had to do the work, for free, (i think) but i didn't feel like waiting so i went to a junk yard and got one.. let me know if u decide to choose the dealer option, as i am going to have to go that route soon probably..

 

Yea, its similar to that. Seems like it is kinda hitting the catch just when you're moving the belt. So far its working ok. I cant help but think I should remove it, clean it, and grease it.

I think I might be pooched on the dealer replacement route, dont think these are the same as the coupe setup and that could present a problem.

 

Same problem with my driver's side belt. It locks up just loosely where I wear the belt. No matter how I tug it, it doesnt come loose. So whenever it happens I take off the panel and it just jam the screwdriver in it and play around with it til it frees itself. I have never been able to figure out why it does it. Bahh

 

Well, if cleaning it and greasing it up does me any good, or I can come up with a fix, I will for sure let you know. Seems like a common theme so far...

2nd day I've had the car, I'm noticing more stuff thats not 'perfect', but what the heck... its fun to drive and thats what I am gonna do with it. I need some SFC's though before the 350 under the hood twists the chassis into a pretzel shape. And I thought my 66 rust-o-wreck flexed alot...

 

Yeah that would be great if you let me know of a fix.

I was thinking of some SFC's because the factory's metal beams under the ground effects dont really do that much.

What are the specs on the vert exactly??

 

1989 GTA Convertible- 350, auto, dual cats, aluminum driveshaft, dog-mauled leather interior, 61k miles. Appears to be all stock aside of a new muffler and mix-matched tires. Here's a pic:


I'll probably be looking at the seatbelt closer this weekend. I am gonna put a decent stereo and alarm in it, fix some miscellaneous stuff thats just annoying.

 

Fifty bucks - just like she sits, weird tires and all.

:lala:

O.K. - Seventy-five then...

For the seat belt retractor, the inertial mechanism is a little difficult to explain, with a cam and pendulum-like weight that engages the lock. I've also had some apart that had cenrtifugal weights on a cam/lever mechanism. That was a mid-70s Olds or something similar. Be very careful removing the plastic cover over the mechanism, since there are only a few round expansion pegs that hold it in place.

You might try to slowly extend the belt to its full length, then slowly allow it to retract without twisting or rolling. Do this a few times to excersize the spring and mechanism, and to make sure the belt winds back nice and flat. This can temporarily "cure" the problem.

 

i bid $100

lol:lala:

 

beatiful car BTW

 

Hahahahaaha! Funny guy!

Tomorrow I'm gonna mess with it. Its been working so far, but it acts a bit strange at times. I get the feeling its the same unit mounted to the roof on other thirdgens, with slight modification and laying on its side on the b-pillar. That might have to do with its strange operation, its not in the right position...

 

Cavalier 'vert retractor, I'll bet. Same thing in a Fiero (hardtop) since there's not much space above the driver's head for a retractor. Too bad I didn't know a few weeks ago, or I could have scored a couple of spares for you.

I found all mt Fieros used the Cavalier window motors, too.

 

I don't know if this is related to your problem, or even if all convertables have this, but my convertable has a solenoid mechanism that releases the retract lock when the doors open. I actually never would have known this if I wasn't diagnosing an odd power draw whenever the doors were open even if I had no bulbs plugged in. Then I had the belts all pulled out for some reason and when I opened the door both belts retracted by themselves. It's obviously run off of a courtesy light, because if I turn them on the belts retract also.

Check out that angle..?

 

Fix it yet?

 

Nope.

It was clean, I threw some grease in there on the pivot and where the belt winds up on, seems to act the same way. Mine doesnt have any sort of self-retractor on it, and I didnt see any wires there either. Hasnt hung up again though, so maybe there is some progress