Seat Belts

themick · #1 (**permalink**) 11-04-2009, 07:13 AM

Neither of my seat belts in my '91 Spider will retract....I can buy new ones easy enough, but is it a problem for a novice mechanic to replace the belts or would I be better off bringing them in to a service station to be replaced...

**Tifosi** · #2 (**permalink**) 11-04-2009, 03:22 PM

No reason you couldn't do it yourself if they're just conventional belts.

1 big bolt at the sill to hold the free running end, 1 big bolt at the reel to hold that in place, belt threaded through hoop on seatback. That's it.

You'll need to remove the cargo panel to get at the reels, but otherwise it's about as straight forward as it can get. (be prepared for the anchoring bolts to be tight)

Have you tried removing the cargo shelf, pulling the belts all the way out as far as they'd go, clean things, spritz a little lube (silicone or lithium based) into the reel mechanism to lube the pivots, rollers and springs, then working the belt in and out a few times to spread things around, free stuff up and generally make sure the belt is rolled up straight and true?

themick · #3 (**permalink**) 11-04-2009, 04:05 PM

Thanks..I actually got the driver side to retract and now I will look into the passenger side..I think I will be able to get that one freed up as well, if not than I will only need to buy one belt and try to install it myself...I don't think I can do that much damage, and if I cannot do it myself I will bring it to someone to fix...once again thanks for your input...

**vf31rhill** · #4 (**permalink**) 11-04-2009, 06:27 PM

Take the retracter reels out and turn them upside down and tap on them with a screwdriver handle. Most likely there is dirt or some other foreign object in them. See if you can shake out anything which may have gone into the belt opening of the reel. Them spray a little WD-4 on the reel axles and work the belt in and out until it functions freely. If this works, reinstall the reel and do the "quick yank" test to make sure the inertial stop function is working correctly. It does no good to get the belt to pull out and retrack smoothly if it does not "lock" when it is needed in the event of your body suddenly being slammed forward in an accident. Better to buy a new belt and reel than get injured as a result of trying to salvage an inoperative reel.

Robert
1988 Black Spider Veloce

**Tifosi** · #5 (**permalink**) 11-04-2009, 08:27 PM

Must be mine are OK then: they lock on me every time I need to sit forward to look around the side curtains of the top when it's up, so I get to sit there rockinging for and aft to try and unlock them so I can lean forward to see the intersection

themick · #6 (**permalink**) 11-09-2009, 08:02 AM

Thanks everyone for your input...I was able to correct the problem...both seat belts needed to be reset in the housing...it was simple...two screws on the reardeck to remove and I was able to get to the seat beal housing....so all is well now...