Technical Rear centre seat belt stuck...

[Hellcat]

I'm having a run of things on the Marea getting stuck.

After it passed the MOT I noticed that the centre belt was tightly wound in. I couldn't get any slack to wind it in then back out so I unbolted it. Now I still can't unwind it! Any ideas how to fix a centrifuge belt thingy or should I be looking at a working one from a scrappy?

It must have been working at the time of the MOT so they've knacked it, but I've had my share of favours from them (lots of free retests after brake trouble on the tipo) so I don't fancy having a slagging match with them - plus what will it achieve?

I've took the rear off the seat but that aint uncovered much

 

[bulldog5046]

i'm little confused? do you have a proper recoiling seat belt in the middle? i just have one of those round the waist ones...

 

[Hellcat]

Yeah got a proper 3-point centre belt. Although at the moment its just hanging limply into the boot space.

 

[bulldog5046]

what?!?! why do you get one! i want one!!

 

[Hellcat]

I might have one for sale soon if it doesn't start behaving.

If I can fix mine there is one in a marea in a scrappy near me. I'd remove it and post it down to you at cost - or bring it to Brooklands if you're going and can wait that long.

 

[bulldog5046]

i dont think i can really fit it and make it look good, my leather has molded holders for the clippy bits and one for the middle belty doodle

 

[Hellcat]

I'll take a photo and you can decide for yourself.

 

[NumanR]

The centre seatbelt normally jams like this if you fold the seat down without iot being clipped into the buckle. Because the belt tightens up when tipped this causes the problem of not being able to feed the belt back in to release the ratchet. Normally all you need to do is to remove the plastic cover where the belt goes into the top of the seat (two screws from memory) and remove the cover. This will allow the plastic "button" on the belt to feed back further into the seat and allows you to release the ratchet. By the way all this needs to be done with the seat in the upright position.

 

[Hellcat]

The centre seatbelt normally jams like this if you fold the seat down without iot being clipped into the buckle. Because the belt tightens up when tipped this causes the problem of not being able to feed the belt back in to release the ratchet. Normally all you need to do is to remove the plastic cover where the belt goes into the top of the seat (two screws from memory) and remove the cover. This will allow the plastic "button" on the belt to feed back further into the seat and allows you to release the ratchet. By the way all this needs to be done with the seat in the upright position.

Yeah I thought that would fix it too but all that happened is it eat more of the belt into the reel.. I'll try it upright as you suggest.

 

[NumanR]

It has to be upright as the belt mechanism has weights inside which lock the belt in the event of a crash.

 

[Hellcat]

I'll give it a try tonight when I get home. You offering to pop up and prove me wrong if it doesn't work?

 

[NumanR]

LOL dont need to mate, mine works fine

 

[Hellcat]

Hmmm where do you live and when will you be out?

 

[Hellcat]

NumanR - add yourself to my free beer list!

You jealous yet Ryan?

 

[bulldog5046]

:chin:

 

[tgb]

I went through this trauma last year. I had given up trying to unjam my belt and left it unbolted and draped over the back seat. Then one day it just freed itself! I never leave it unbuckled now when I put the seats down.
I'm just experiencing another annoying trait of these cars for the (1,2,3,4...th) time. That's when the bit you push up to open the boot gets jammed in the up position and you can't get into the boot. I normally free this by hitting the boot numerous times near the catch but my hand is sore. I'm sure there is a solution to this in old threads.
Hope you avoid this on your car!

 

[Hellcat]

Guess what happened to me today.

:bang:

In other news, weekend eat a pair of radiators for breakfast. Easy.