Stuck seatbelt

[super50]

The 2nd row middle seatbelt is stuck and will not retract at all.
It is not kinked or dirty. It is hardly used, so I dont want to spend much.
Any DIY ideas before I take it to the dealer?

Thank you.

 

[pfran42]

PB Blaster! That is what everyone uses for anything around here. I even add it to my fuel and it gives me an extra 10-15 MPG.

I'll take a look at mine tomorrow morning and see if I can find anything that may be of benefit to you.

 

[Desert Yeti]

Mine did the same thing,Open it up and clean it out. Works great

 

[weigellj]

SIDE NOTE I have an 04

Mine was rolled, driver and pass fronts are out and will not go in. Is this fixable? Why the hell would it lock, to keep you trapped in the rig??? I am going to take them apart even though it has the cute warning sticker not to....

What is the wire that plugs in to the belt housing? Info to the computer to lock you in your seat after you roll and are in a burning vehicle trapped?????

I've already removed both and played with them to get them to retract. I know some when they tilt or go off canter will lock, but usually they go back once they are level....

 

[agaisin]

Two relevant resources from TIS:
1) from TIS Tech Tip T-TT-0041-10 "Emergency Locking Retractor/Automatic Locking Retractor Seat Belt System Operation"
The customer states, “the seat belt seems to lock in place, whenever I…
• Lean all the way forward and then lean back into the seat or,
• Pull the seat belt completely out in order to get it buckled into the buckle.
This condition may be the result of a customer inadvertently activating the “Automatic Locking
Retractor” when they lean far enough forward or pull the seat belt all the way out of the retractor.
Explanation:
Toyota uses an Emergency Locking Retractor/Automatic Locking Retractor Seat Belt System
commonly referred to as an (ELR/ALR) seat belt. This design permits the occupant to convert the
seat belt from an Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) to an Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) by
completely extending the seat belt all the way out of the retractor until an audible click from the
retractor base is heard. Once the click is heard, the seat belt locks into the desired position.
Here’s how the ELR/ALR Seat Belt System works:
Emergency locking retractor (ELR)
The retractor is designed to lock the belt during a sudden stop or on impact or if the vehicle is facing
upward or downward at a steep angle such as the vehicle parked in a slanted driveway etc. It may
also lock if the occupant leans forward too quickly. A slow, easy motion will allow the belt to extend so
that the occupant can move around fully.
Automatic locking retractor (ALR)
When a passenger's shoulder belt is completely extended and then retracted even slightly, the belt
locks in that position and cannot be extended. This feature is used to hold the child restraint system
(CRS) firmly against the vehicle’s seating surfaces. Note that there is usually an audible click noise
from the retractor when the seat belt is pulled all the way out.
To free the belt from the locked position, push the button on the buckle to release the tab end of the
seat belt from the buckle and allow the belt to fully retract into the retractor mechanism so that there is
no tension on the belt (this action converts the retractor mechanism back to the ELR mode).
RECOMMENDATIONS
To verify that the seat belt is operating properly, follow the recommended diagnostic procedures
outlined in the repair manual “Installation Section” for the specific vehicle you are working on.
If a customer should complain about this feature, explain why the seat belt operates in this manner
and how to properly operate the ELR/ALR Seat Belt System.

2) from TIS Collision Repair Information "SEAT BELT REPLACEMENT AFTER A TRAFFIC COLLISION"
The following information provides guidelines for determining when occupant seat belts
should be replaced following a traffic collision.
The entire seat belt assembly (both the buckle and the tongue ends) should be replaced if
any of the following conditions exist:

The seat belt was in use during a severe impact (even if no damage to the belt is
obvious).

The seat belt warning label under the anchor and sleeve is exposed.NOTE: Not all Toyota vehicles are equipped with this type of warning label. Therefore, it
may be necessary to replace the seat belt even when no label has been exposed.
NOTE: Toyota assumes no responsibility or liability for the replacement of seat belts and/or
seat belt assemblies that were in use and subsequently damaged as the result of a traffic
collision, accident, or other calamity.
NOTE: PLEASE ROUTE THIS BULLETIN TO THE BODY SHOP MANAGER.

 

[super50]

Thank you agaisin and others. Will try it.

 

[NMuzj100]

Mine was rolled, driver and pass fronts are out and will not go in. Is this fixable? Why the hell would it lock, to keep you trapped in the rig??? I am going to take them apart even though it has the cute warning sticker not to....

The warning sticker is because there is an explosive charge inside. Small one but it's still an explosive. Safety wise though yours are probably no longer a threat.

What is the wire that plugs in to the belt housing? Info to the computer to lock you in your seat after you roll and are in a burning vehicle trapped?????

The seat belts have a "pretensioner" It's a pyrotechnic device that tightens down the seat belt during an impact. The computer senses a serious impact and activates the pretensioner which fires tightening your seatbelt before the force of the collision acts against your body weight. This lessens the total impact forces and allows you to decelerate with the whole mass of the truck instead of independently.

I've already removed both and played with them to get them to retract. I know some when they tilt or go off canter will lock, but usually they go back once they are level....

This is not the same as a Automatic retractor. Once the pretensioner is activated the whole front seat belt unit has to be replaced and the center pillar inspected for damage.

Note : The FSM (BO-135) says to use gloves and safety goggles when removing the belt unit with activated pretensioner, not to allow water on it and to bag the part prior to disposal. My guess is that the residue isn't good for you.

Toyota Pretensioner video

How Seatbelts Work : The Pretensioner

 

[Layonnn]

I have this issue as well, though, slightly different.

My 2nd row MIDDLE seatbelt is pulled out with about a foot or so of slack. The seatbelt will not pull out any further or retract. This is the one that is built into the seat.

Any suggestions besides disassembling the seat?

edit:
FIXED.

Not sure exactly what i did. So i popped off the top cover and saw that the seatbelt had a twist in it. I undid the twist, and now the seat belt works fine.

 

[rph74]

Super50-were you able to fix the problem? I have the same issue on my 99.

Edit- I popped the cover off and I did indeed have a twist in the belt. Fixed!

 

[PabloCruise]

I have this issue as well, though, slightly different.

My 2nd row MIDDLE seatbelt is pulled out with about a foot or so of slack. The seatbelt will not pull out any further or retract. This is the one that is built into the seat.

Any suggestions besides disassembling the seat?

edit:
FIXED.

Not sure exactly what i did. So i popped off the top cover and saw that the seatbelt had a twist in it. I undid the twist, and now the seat belt works fine.

Same problem here. How difficult to remove cover to get to middle row seat belt?

 

[rph74]

It wasn't hard at all. It's been 5 years, but if I remember correctly I used a plastic interior trim tool to pop the piece off of the seat.

 

[sean2202]

Toyota seat belts that don't work properly, say it ain't so. The middle belt on mine is jammed up as well.
Interesting side note I had a 03 accord that was 10 years old with 150k and the seat belt jammed up. I took it to the dealer and they replaced it no charge said seat belts had lifetime warranty.
Fast forward a few years. My middle rear belt has been jammed up since I purchased my cruiser. I took it to Toyota dealer (across the street from the Honda place, same owner) they told me seat belts are not warrantied and to call Toyota which I did. Corporate Toyota said they would cover a percentage of the cost of the repair.

 

[rph74]

Try taking the middle seat belt plastic trim piece off, and you may find it to be an easy fix as others of us have done.

 

[sean2202]

True it could be an easy fix. I guess the question here is do car companies have an obligation to fix a defective seatbelt and what would qualify it as defective. Correct me if I am wrong but aren't defective air bags replaced? Both of these are life saving devices. Would having a lifetime warranty on seat belts open a can of worms as there are many more safety devices on new cars that could be considered life saving.

 

[camino70]

True it could be an easy fix. I guess the question here is do car companies have an obligation to fix a defective seatbelt and what would qualify it as defective. Correct me if I am wrong but aren't defective air bags replaced? Both of these are life saving devices. Would having a lifetime warranty on seat belts open a can of worms as there are many more safety devices on new cars that could be considered life saving.

If Toyota doesn't cover it by default, it probably wouldn't take much to convince them to cover it anyway.

 

[rph74]

Speaking for myself, I don't expect Toyota to cover anything under warranty or goodwill on my 17 year old Land Cruiser. Things break, even on well built vehicles such as ours. Owning an older vehicle comes with the responsibility of paying for its repairs. Anything a manufacturer will do as 'goodwill' to help pay is a bonus.

 

[sean2202]

Speaking for myself, I don't expect Toyota to cover anything under warranty or goodwill on my 17 year old Land Cruiser. Things break, even on well built vehicles such as ours. Owning an older vehicle comes with the responsibility of paying for its repairs. Anything a manufacturer will do as 'goodwill' to help pay is a bonus.

I agree things break and need repair and it may or may not be the users fault. However when it comes to a seat belt that could saves someone's life how much do you think that the company would lose by replacing a non working belt under goodwill. If someone died and a lawyer proved that the seat belt was defective in court and the company was aware of the problem, the company could potentially lose millions.
15 year old Tacoma and tundra frames are being replaced as goodwill even under customer neglect. I don't expect much but I do think seatbelts should be lifetime warranty.

 

[AusTxCruiser]

Same problem here. How difficult to remove cover to get to middle row seat belt?

I took Layonnn's recommendation and exactly as he said, the belt had a fold in it. Removed the fold and now the belt works like a charm.

Removal of the cover was simple. I literally took my key and inserted it where the plastic has a seem. After inserting, I gave a slight twist and the right side lifted slightly. With both hands I reached over the top and pried the back off with a left to right gentle rocking motion. It came off and revealed the fold in the belt. In did the fold, put the cover back on with a firm push and it now works great.

Thanks for the advice Layonnn!

 

[Max.Powerzz]

I have a tear in my 3rd row driver side seat belt from a getting caught in the jump seat. Is this a common problem? I got a replacement off mud but it is locked and won't unspool. Any tricks to unlocking the seat belt, is there sort of safety button? It won't retract back in to unlock, I've rolled it by hand all the way and it is completely locked. I could also use the belt from the new to me seatbelt and thread it through my old mechanism, which still works great, but not sure if that's possible.

 

[SQRRRL]

Can anyone show a pic of how to remove the plastic seatbelt cover on the 2nd row middle seat? Mine is twisted inside and jammed.