Seat Belt Retractor Stuck!?!?!

[RyanSBCA]

So, I ended up doing some wheeling at the Pismo Dunes this past Saturday.

At the end of the day, the passenger seat belt was not able to be extended (and buckled) it seems like the mechanism is stuck... on Sunday, the same thing happened to my drivers side belt... it worked again later that afternoon, but then again became stuck...

Had the top and doors off... obviously sand got a lot of places. I took the plastic side off and inspected the belt retractor, but not that much sand was found on/in it...

I have been able to find a post in another forum talking about some ball mechinism that knows when you break hard and will lock the belt... and that if sand/dirt/etc gets in the tube it can keep the ball in the stuck position...

Anyone else have this issue? Any ideas on how to fix it without disassembling the whole mechanism? I've heard hitting it with a rubber mallet may fix the issue...

Thanks in advance for the help guys! (fyi this is a 2007 2DR Sahara and the rear belts work fine still).

[Desert Dog]

There is a mechanism in the seatbelt spool that prevents the belt from unspooling when it is not level. This spool mechanism is completely mechanical (no electric gizmos). The seatbelt latch is connected to an electric sensor, but would not prevent the seatbelt spool from functioning. Try the following;

1) Blow out the mechanism with low pressure compressed air.
2) Make sure mechanism is perfectly level.
3) feed about 1/4" of belt into the spool to unlock then gently pull seatbelt out.

[RyanSBCA]

Fixed it!!!

Spray it with air... Still stuck, tap w mallet NOW Works!!!

Thanks DD

[casaintsfan]

[quote="RyanSBCA"]Fixed it!!!

Spray it with air... Still stuck, tap w mallet NOW Works!!!

Thanks DD [/quote]


Best tool in the tool box is a BFH

[chuckanut105]

dont force it get a bigger hammer

[RyanSBCA]

Well hammer worked for the drivers side... still hangs up once and awhile and wont let me pull it down when on my angled driveway (I used to be able to) oh well, it works!

The Passenger side, I had to completely disasemble... blow out, painfully reinstall the springs... Now, it works better than the Drivers side!!

[Josh JP]

so the same exact thing just happen to my jeep. i had the doors off and my passenger seat belt wont unlock. i took the seat belt mechanism completely off tried cleaning it out but stays locked. i will try and blow it all out. I'm just pissed off cause the dealership had my car for over a week for the clutch and now this and i dont even have 1000 miles. I LOVE MY JEEP but this is annoying.

[chuckanut105]

welcome to the club. That stupid seatbelt thing has gotten everyone. I think you got a lemon budy as much crap as you have had to do to it already.

[abendx]

[quote="chuckanut105"]welcome to the club. That stupid seatbelt thing has gotten everyone. I think you got a lemon budy as much crap as you have had to do to it already.[/quote]

lemon.... What else? I've been asleep lately.

Mine did the seatbelt thing too. replaced under warranty, as I couldn't free it using the methods above.

[Josh JP]

well he is referring to my clutch and seat belt. i thought it was a lemon also and i told the dealership it was BS for a bit there they had my car longer than i had.

truth be told the clutch problem is common with the "newer" JK's and it needed to be replaced regardless so I am glad to have that over and done with. the seat belt is stupid to be that sensitive but shit happens. besides those I have no problems or complaints.

I had about given up on my Jeep until this past weekend I went to some sand dunes to get away from all my drama. there was a guy there with his wife and kids in a Rubicon. he had the doors off and was ready for some action. he tired going up this one hill probably 10 times. so me being mr. cool guy i wanted to try it. now this goes back to the stick/auto debate but i noticed he had a auto and was getting some good speed and i don't know if he had the pedal to the floor but he would get stuck about 80% of the way up the hill. so i hit it was in 4wd low range started off in 2nd and right before going up the hill hit 3rd went to about his area and started losing a little power i down shifted to 2nd again and it pulled no problem all the way up the hill. so bash me all you want but i was so proud. not so much the standard part but this guy has a good amount of work done to his rig and it was a Rubicon and i loved trying that hill one time and nailing it. like i said before sand dunes and rock crawling are fun but ive always been a trial guy. some hard obstacles here and there but scenery mostly is what i love. But it did feel amazing to show that guy up. made me fall in love with my Jeep all over again.