Front Seat Belt Removal - Avoid Breaking Covers

[Dissent]

I'm removing the front seat belts from my 97 LX and can't figure out how to remove the cover on the upper bolt, attached to the sliding mechanism. I don't want to break the plastic cover but I need to remove it to get to the upper bolt.

Any tips?

 

[BILT4ME]

Use a hair dryer to warm it up, then pop it off. It will flex better when warm.

 

[Dissent]

Arw there clips on the sides, where do you pry to release them?

 

[davesax36]

Pinch the two height adjuster buttons together then flip the little cover up from the bottom. The whole plate will slide down far enough to get to the bolt.

 

[nukegoat]

Use a hair dryer to warm it up, then pop it off. It will flex better when warm.

I dont know why this idea never occured to me but thats a great suggestion

 

[Dissent]

Pinch the two height adjuster buttons together then flip the little cover up from the bottom. The whole plate will slide down far enough to get to the bolt.

Did this but nothing is budging. Anyone have a pic of the inside of a removed clip? I put a lot of pressure on the bottom of the cover where the bolt is hidden and nothing wanted to give.

 

[davesax36]

How much have you removed? You have to have the carpet panel and the lower B pillar plastic molding off for it to work. Post a pic, and I can help. I really don't want to take mine apart again even though it was SO much fun.

Wait, are you talking about the actual seat belt? I'll work on a vid of that.

 

[Dissent]

How much have you removed? You have to have the carpet panel and the lower B pillar plastic molding off for it to work. Post a pic, and I can help. I really don't want to take mine apart again even though it was SO much fun.

Wait, are you talking about the actual seat belt? I'll work on a vid of that.

I can take everything off (b-pillar wall panel, lower bolt, weatherstripping, etc.) without issue. I just can't get the cover to pop off covering the upper shoulder bolt on the sliding mechanism. I've heard you just pry up the tab covering the bolt, while squeezing the adjusters together. I've tried this and nothing moved. I'm worried it will snap if I keep prying on it.

This isn't the actual belt of course (I'm at work and can't take a pic) but the red circle is the piece I'm prying up on mine. I've heard it should just pop off then can be slid up to access the bolt.

 

[davesax36]

Whoa. Yours are different than mine. I guess they wanted the Lexus people to feel fancier than the Toyota people. Is it possible that they're in there with the metal pin/clip things? I'd take the trim off and see if you can look behind them a bit. Some of those metal clips really scared me right up until they popped off.

 

[Dissent]

Whoa. Yours are different than mine. I guess they wanted the Lexus people to feel fancier than the Toyota people. Is it possible that they're in there with the metal pin/clip things? I'd take the trim off and see if you can look behind them a bit. Some of those metal clips really scared me right up until they popped off.

That's not the actual belt, I just referenced a similar setup to show the tab. I can't get a pic right now.

 

[davesax36]

Here

 

[Dissent]

I did it! The hair dryer trick made it possible. Thx for the tip. Just pry up on the bottom and it hinges on top. The side goes over some nubs. No problem with a warm piece of plastic. Thanks to all for the help!

 

[davesax36]

Next time be sure to pinch the buttons all the way until they click. You don't want to snap a tab and have the belts just hanging there.

Glad you got it.

 

[Dissent]

Next time be sure to pinch the buttons all the way until they click. You don't want to snap a tab and have the belts just hanging there.

Glad you got it.

Yup, did that. Thanks for the tip!

 

[jatree]

I know you got it but I had a hell of a time with one of mine so really studied the one I had taken off. The trick is not only to pinch the height adjustment but also help both sides of the cover overcome a lip so the cover can flip up. So the hard part is flipping up while helping the two sides to flex outward. Glad to hear the hair dryer worked!