General Rear centre seatbelt

[SteveC81]

Hi
My wife has had her Marea Weekend for about a year and loves it.

Today it failed its MOT on numerous things one being the rear centre seatbelt.

The belt has jammed in the mechanism and the garage have told us to replace it. Having searched the internet I can only find lap belts for the car. Our car does not have a lap belt, it has a 'proper' belt i.e. 3 points.

So firstly, should it have a 3 point seatbelt in the rear centre, or has the previous owner modified it?

Secondly, do any tips on where to get one at a reasonable price?

Thanks in advance

Steve

 

[Venters]

Don't know about the weekend but my Saloon has a 3 point center belt. Only place I can imagine you could get a replacement would be a dealer.

 

[MrMigs08]

Don't know about the weekend but my Saloon has a 3 point center belt. Only place I can imagine you could get a replacement would be a dealer.

Really?

My saloon has left and right 3 point but center 2 point, but the center has also a fold out arm rest if that makes any difference .

 

[Venters]

Really?

My saloon has left and right 3 point but center 2 point, but the center has also a fold out arm rest if that makes any difference .

I've go the fold out armrest too. It may be a spec thing, mines an HLX only option it doesn't have is leather. Even has the electric drivers seat.

 

[bpetersb]

My 2001 Weekend has a three point belt in the centre.

For an MOT replacing your centre three-point belt with a two-point lap belt will not cause the car to fail. In this case the tester has to check what he is presented with so if the two-point belt works and is not frayed he has to pass it.

From a safety point of view two-point belts have been proved to cause horrific internal injuries in accidents as they cause the body to jack-knife violently. When I have had cars with two-point belts in the middle rear I have never used them, I have tucked them under the seat and used the car as just a four seater.

Be safe

 

[Notorious131]

3 point centre belt should be on all marea's after 99/2000.
As to the jamming mine does it regular when not in use, you may find that by dropping down the seat section quite hard and then banging it back up, that sometimes it will free up the mechanism.
May take a few attempts and save you a few quid at the same time, very much doubt its a failed mechanism more than likely due to lack of use.

 

[bpetersb]

Hey Notorious,
Glad someone is awake. Of course the centre belt disappears into the seat back so what you say makes sense. Because they don't get a lot of use they do sometimes stick and lowering the seat may release it.

Good luck

 

[71matt]

Try undoing the nut which hold's the bottom of the belt in place ( 3/4 socket I think) and just keep pulling at it until it releases. Mine failed on the same thing, took me 10 minutes to free it up. Bit of perseverance and it should work, once free keep it plugged in, then they can see it works at the MOT centre. Hope this helps