A seat belt is a must-have item in the vehicle interior. It is designed to reduce the likelihood of injury during an accident. Traffic regulations indicate the mandatory use of this device. Therefore, if the seat belt has broken for some reason, it must be repaired urgently. It is quite possible to do it yourself.
If the seat belt is not pulled out , you can perform a series of actions that will help to quickly solve this problem. Experienced auto mechanics are ready to give some tips on how to properly fix the breakdown. At the same time, it will be possible to avoid visiting a car service center and additional costs.
Seat belt device
If the belt does not come out of the slot, most likely it is jammed. To fix the problem, you need to understand the principle of this car element. With such a breakdown, it is likely that it is the locking mechanism that is working incorrectly. Sometimes the belt may not stretch after an accident. There is a special technology on how to eliminate such breakdowns.
First of all, you should understand the safety belt system . Inside the lock mechanism there is a special element that is responsible for fixing. It has the appearance of a ball that moves through the levers. At the same time, he clings to the gears of the coils.
The seat belt latch responds to pulling out too quickly while blocking the ball. It is in this system that problems may occur over time. In this case, the belt may not stretch or, conversely, be locked in a fastened position.
Reasons for the problem
There are several main reasons why a seat belt does not stretch. First of all, it is worth mentioning the banal wear of the system. Moreover, this can relate to only one of its elements, for example, seat belt pretensioners or a locking device may fail due to wear. The roller mechanism may also be worn.
Bad weather conditions also provoke such malfunctions. Severe frost can cause this phenomenon.
Sometimes seat belt pretensioners fail after an accident. This may break the coil lock or the entire main mechanism. After an accident in many cars, the belt may not retract at all to its intended place. This is due to the triggering of the squib system.
If the car has got into an accident, even with smooth pulling it can jam the mechanism. Then you have to look for the cause of the breakdown and fix it.
What will be needed for repair?
For the above reasons, sometimes the seat belt is not pulled. What to do The advice of experienced auto mechanics will help. First of all, you will have to disassemble the casing and remove the coil. Some models will have to dismantle the seats in the place where the breakdown occurred.
To do this, prepare screwdrivers (flat and Phillips), as well as ring spanners. Their diameter should be different. You should also purchase a universal lubricant. Seats must be protected against accidental oil ingress. Napkins and wire are also required.
Repair can be simple and more complicated. In some cases, you have to completely change the coil. For some models of machines you will need to prepare special tools. But independent repair of a seat belt will help to save quite a lot of money from the family budget.
Coil Repair
Do-it-yourself belt repair is most often done in the coil area. To get to it, you must remove the side panel lining. It can be fixed with clips or bolts.
For safety reasons it is necessary to remove the terminal for the negative conductor from the battery. The contacts that lead to the airbags (if possible) are also disabled. The colors of the respective wires are specified in the instruction manual.
These simple steps will prevent accidental operation of the squib. Otherwise, you may be injured during the repair process.
The coil housing must be opened. Most likely, the spring of the tape return mechanism has failed. This item can be replaced. Getting it will be easier than installing it in its original place.
How to disassemble the system?
If the seat belt does not stretch , you need to properly disassemble the system. On the bottom plate of the door pillar (middle), 4 bolts are unscrewed. Next, the pad is carefully removed.
It is necessary to prepare a paper clip. Now you can remove the belt. On a special eye, it is fixed with a paper clip. After that, you can unscrew the bolt that holds the coil. To prevent the belt from twisting, it is fixed with the same paper clip.
The coil is easily pulled out. The locking mechanism is on the side where the ball will ring. You can shake the device and easily determine the right direction. 4 pistons are unscrewed, the cover is removed in a horizontal position. So you can get to the ratchet.
Frost effect
Sometimes the seat belt lock may not work due to severe frost. You do not need to change any details. In some older cars, the insulation of the mechanism may be insufficient. This is the reason why the belt is jammed.
In this case, the oil that lubricates the system becomes thicker in the cold. You will have to disassemble the coil and lubricate its elements with a special substance. It must be resistant to frost. This, for example, may be silicone grease or lithol.
In some cases, the situation can be corrected by bending at a smaller angle of the “foot” of the ball mechanism metal. In the vertical arrangement of the coil, the latch should not be in contact with the teeth of the gear. This should only happen when the bobbin is tilted.
Coil Replacement
In some cases, repairing a seat belt with your own hands requires a complete replacement of the coil. If after the performed actions the tape is still not removed from the reel, this action is most likely not to be avoided.
A characteristic feature when the coil should be replaced is the absence of changes after cleaning this system. If, after removing it outside and lubricating it with a new substance, as well as bending the metal foot, the belt still does not get, you must purchase a new mechanism.
For each brand of car, you need to choose your own special type of device. Therefore, the store must show the old coil. This will allow you to choose the right mechanism.
Diagnostic device
If the seat belt is not pulled out , a high-quality autoscanner can show the cause of the breakdown. Experts recommend purchasing quality devices from trusted manufacturers. This will accurately determine the cause of the damage presented.
In addition, the autoscanner can detect many other malfunctions. Moreover, the program can be installed on a smartphone. The use of such devices will save money. You do not need to visit specialized services and perform expensive maintenance.
Having considered why the seat belt is not pulled out , you can replace or repair the mechanism yourself. In this case, you do not need to visit the service center and pay for the expensive repair of the presented system.