Most people know seatbelts play an important role in keeping car occupants safe on a drive. So, it’s natural to feel uncomfortable when you find that the belt is stuck. So, how can you fix it?
You can fix a stuck seatbelt by troubleshooting the cause and mending it. In most cases, you free up the belt by doing any of the following:
- Check for obstructions.
- Pull the belt.
- Unclog the seat belt mechanism.
- Untangle the belt.
- Replace the pre-tensioners.
- Disengage the auto-lock function.
In this article, I’ll look at the methods covered above in more detail. You’ll learn how to fix your seatbelt problem without driving to a repair shop.
1. Check for Obstructions
Tiny objects can get into any part of the seatbelt and cause a jam. For example, an earring can get dragged into the belt pillar loop after falling onto the chair. All it takes is for the pin on the earring to stick to the belt, and the belt won’t function properly.
Running a quick visual check around the parts of the seat belt will expose any obstructing object. The problem should go away if disintegrated bits of the object haven’t gone into the core mechanism of the seatbelt.
2. Pull the Belt
Pulling the seat belt at moderate intensity can dislodge any minor obstructions in its path of movement. Pulling it lightly ensures you won’t worsen the problem—especially if the seatbelt mechanism is the issue. If, after two to three pulls, the belt doesn’t move, try other solutions.
3. Unclog the Seat Belt Mechanism
Most cases of a stuck seatbelt are directly related to a clogged mechanism. The seatbelt mechanism is a complex device with a few moving parts. It contains a spinning gear wheel that might become stuck after prolonged use. A clogged mechanism makes retracting or pulling out the seatbelt more difficult.
Unclogging the seat belt mechanism is more complicated and will take more time compared to some of the other approaches we’ll discuss here. However, it’s doable with a bit of application. Here’s what you should do:
Remove the Side Panel
The seatbelt mechanism is located under the side panel. Move the seats and clear out anything else blocking the panel. Remove the clips holding the panel down. You’ll need a screwdriver and a plier to loosen the panel.
Once you’ve removed the clips, the next step is to remove the side panel. You’ll need a screwdriver to remove the side panel if it is attached too tightly to the car. In some cars, you can pull the panel off with your hands.
Take Out the Mechanism
The seatbelt mechanism that controls the retraction is typically secured with bolts. You’ll need the right-size keys, which are typically 10-14 mm (0.39-0.55 in) to remove them. Open the mechanism. To do this, you must turn it sideways to reveal a plastic cap. Detach the small pins holding it down, and you can open the mechanism easily.
Move the Gear Wheel
Once you’ve opened the gear wheel in the mechanism, rotate it clockwise using your finger to unclog it. If the wheel starts spinning without any drags, your seatbelt won’t get stuck again. Pull the belt to confirm you’ve solved the problem and reassemble everything.
Here’s a YouTube video you can work with when unclogging your seatbelt mechanism:
4. Untangle the Belt
To untangle your seatbelt, here are a few things to try:
Uncover the Seat Belt
You need an unimpeded view of the seat belt to find any hidden problems. So, the first thing to do here is to open up the full length of the belt. Remove the plastic covers around where the seat belt retracts. Depending on the cover, you can open this area up using a flat tool. The flat end of a screwdriver also works.
Slide the tool underneath the plastic cover and push it upward. If the affected seatbelt is in your backseat, you’ll have to lower the seats before your inspection.
Draw Out the Belt Completely
Once you have access to the affected seatbelt, draw it all the way out. Keep the belt from retracting using a clip or any clamp-like object you can find. Slowly go through the entire length of the seatbelt with your fingers to rule out tangles. Small bits and pieces can get attached to the belt, making retraction difficult. Removing any such objects will free up the stuck seatbelt.
Wash the Seat Belt
Since you’ve pulled out your seatbelt, this is a good opportunity to get rid of accumulated dirt on it. Many people don’t wash their seatbelts for years. The accumulation of dead skin cells, loose pieces of fabric, and sweat can cause dirt buildup on the surface of the belt. In that situation, the belt’s texture might change, hardening up.
Dirt buildup is an unlikely reason why the seatbelt is stuck. However, now is a good time to wash the dirt off and forestall future problems.
To wash your seatbelt, here are the steps to take:
- Soak the belt in a bucket of warm water containing some laundry detergent.
- Leave the belt in the water for half an hour.
- Dry the belt with a towel as much as you can.
- Leave it to air dry.
After washing the belt, you’ll notice that it feels smoother overall. It should move more freely within the encasing.
Test the Seatbelt and Reassemble the Cover
Once your seatbelt is dry, reattach it to the mechanism and allow it to retract gently. Draw it out again, and then release it to confirm it returns to its normal position. If it retracts without any stress, you’ve fixed the problem. If the belt remains stuck, then it’s time to look at the mechanism.
5. Replace the Pre-Tensioners
If your car was involved in an accident in the past, the pre-tensioner is likely blown. Without this part, the seatbelt will stay locked.
Some people repair the pre-tensioners, but it’s best to replace them completely. Would you repair an airbag if it was possible? I’d guess no. Pre-tensioners are similar to airbags, so always replace them after they are blown.
6. Disengage the Auto-Lock Function
The auto-lock function can cause a seatbelt to get stuck. It’s one of the more common causes of a stuck seatbelt.
Fortunately, it is easy to fix.
To free up the seat belt from this position, here’s what you should do:
- Unfasten the seat belt and ensure it’s not held down by anything else.
- Pull out as much of the belt as you can.
- Allow the seatbelt to slowly go back into the retractor instead of inserting it into the fastening joint.
You may need to tug at the belt a bit to release the auto-lock mechanism. Once you release the belt, confirm that it has returned to its normal position. If it snapped back in place, the problem is solved. On the other hand, if it hangs loose and doesn’t retract all the way, you should explore the other options we’ve covered here.
Taking Your Car to a Repair Shop to Fix a Stuck Seatbelt
You can take your car to the repair shop to fix a stuck seatbelt if none of the easier fixes work for you and working on the mechanism is impractical.
It takes a lot of use to get the seatbelt dirty enough to hold up retraction. The auto-lock malfunction is a bit more common, but it’s an easy fix. So, the bulk of stuck seatbelt cases are linked to problems with the mechanism.
Unfortunately, even the most enthusiastic DIY experts will think twice about fiddling with even the smallest car parts. Going to the car repair shop to sort the problem makes a lot more sense. You’re all but guaranteed a fix to the problem, and there’s little risk of causing more damage.
Of course, that’s only the case if you choose a repair shop experienced in seat belt problems. Ask around and ensure they can fix your issue before committing money. Older cars are often a bit trickier to work on for even minor repair work such as this.
Be Ready to Replace
If, after your best efforts, the seatbelt remains jammed, you’ll likely need to replace the mechanism. Be sure to get an expert opinion before you purchase a new one. The parts don’t cost a lot of money, but every bit helps, right? The money adds up if you intend to pay someone, so you should be sure before paying for anything.
Final Thoughts
As you’ve seen thus far, there are quite a few potential causes for a stuck seat belt. In most cases, a quick troubleshooting session will reveal a minor issue at the root of the problem. When none of these minor fixes work, you’ll most certainly need to get inside the retraction mechanism.
If you don’t have the experience or the tools to work on your seat belt retraction mechanism, drive over to your car repair shop to fix the problem.
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