my seat belts dont work!!

[vetteKID]

i was out for a cruise earlier this week. My passenger and I stoped for a drink and hoped back in to find that my seat belts were stuck in the retracted state. We tried and tried but the belts wouldnt come out, and unfortunatly we had to drive home with out belts. what could be the problem?

 

[tcarollo]

I don't know if this applies to the type of belt retractors that you have but if you take the seats out to access the retractors, there's a bar that runs across width of the belt. This bar is what locks the belts when it gets pulled to fast. It is meant to slide up and lock the center spool. If you can get to the retractor and the bar is locked, you should be able to free up the slide bar with a screw driver or small hammer and be able to pull the belts out again. Sounds as though the retractors could use a little cleaning and restoration though.

 

[73Roadster]

Just joined today so i thought I would lend a hand if i could.
I had the same problem on my 73 a few weeks back.
To resolve the issue, I had to remove the seats, the plastic cover and then remove the belt.
After that I was able to pull the belt all the way out and then back again...I did this several times...used some WD-40 on the moving parts that were not sealed...then put it all together again.
As soon as I had it together the seatbelt was stuck again...I was ****ed. I decided to move the seat a bit before taking it apart again. Moving the seat did it...have not had a problem with it since.
It's probably a temporary fix until I get new belts.
I even got the seatbelt buzzer to work again.

 

[Michel73]

I had a simular problem with my belts:crazy then I gave up and put in new ones


Save the Wave

 

[finadk]

I do not know if it is the same as a 76 but on my car the retractors sit in a well under the seat. If the car leaks the well fills up with water and rots the retractors. It is not a pretty sight seeing the rotted metal that is supposed to hold you in place in a crash. I wouyld pull the seat and inspect the retractors to make sure they are still in good condition.
Scott

 

[CS72Roadster]

I had the same problem on my '72. I did what the others did by removing and cleaning. Also, carefully, lubed the coil spring and that did the trick. However, after installing new carpet; I had a problem with the retracting due to friction created by the new carpet and the rod that the belt runs under. Had to go back and cut the carpet back some.

CS

 

[GerryLP]

Hi y'all,

My best personal recomendation would be for you to send your seat belt for repair at Ssnake-Oyl

The seat belt in my L81 works like a charm (NOW! That is.) Back in April 2002 they charged me $146.45 for repairing the seat belt assembly by replacing the spring, webbing, transfer my original seat belt labels to the new webbing (which by they way...matched exactly to the factory one minus the accumulated dirt of 22 years), and a reasonable expedite-fee of $15.00.

If you're missing your labels, then they cannot help you, but if the old ones are still good, then they can re-saw them on to the new webbing. Years ago, the new left side seat belt assembly retailed for $445 dollars. Today, they're not available, and if someone like Paragon or Corvette Stop has them, then they are expensive to obtain; however, if repair is what is needed, then give them a try.

I am not sure if this qualifies as a testimonial, but believe me -you'll be greatly satisfied with the quality of work and best of all peace of mind that your love one will have the seat belt in working order if ever involved in a crash.