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Seat belt lockup

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by galaxee, May 19, 2005.

  1. galaxee

    galaxee mostly benevolent

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    I notice on occasion the seat belt will not let me extend it to buckle up. This has happened once shortly after I started the car, before I shifted out of Park, and one other time I was driving through the parking lot, got irritated with the beep, came to a complete stop and it would not extend. I could understand while driving or while in a gear other than Park but while in park or stopped?

    It will go after 5 or 6 tries but it is really irritating. Just curious if it's my car or if others have seen this too. BTW it's only the driver's belt- none of my passengers have had trouble. But of course 90% of my trips are solo so maybe it hasn't showed up because of that.
     
    #1 galaxee, May 19, 2005
  2. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Hmm, pulling too hard or too fast will cause the belt to lock. My friend's Accord (1996) has that problem with the front passenger seatbelt. It's quite sensitive so I've just learned to pull really slowly when I'm in his car.

    If it's really a seatbelt malfunction, take it in and get it replaced. I remember when our 97 Corolla had a driver's seatbelt malfunction. It was replaced under warranty but I never figured out what was wrong.
     
    #2 Tideland Prius, May 19, 2005
  3. DanMan32

    DanMan32 Senior Member

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    I believe there is a lock that works off of centripital forces. If you stop abrupty, a weight shifts, causing the seatbelt to lock. Sometimes it engages if I lean forward just as I brake.

    However, it sounds like your mechanism may be hanging.

    But first, check that your strap is not twisted, especially in the retractor. That will also cause it to stick.
     
    #3 DanMan32, May 19, 2005
  4. tag

    tag Senior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DanMan32\";p=\"90895)</div>
    That's precisely what happened in my case; strap somehow got twisted and wound up jamming the mechanism.

    I mentioned it the last time I took the car in for an oil change. It ended up where they just ordered the entire assembly and replaced it under warranty.
     
    #4 tag, May 19, 2005
  5. bobc

    bobc New Member

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    Galaxee,

    Mine does the same thing. I usually have to unlatch the belt and let it retract all the way before it disengaged and then I can pull it out without it locking up again.
     
    #5 bobc, May 19, 2005
  6. Grdn2

    Grdn2 Junior Member

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    I just had the same thing happen to me yesterday before I even made it out of the garage. I ended up yanking on it several times (more than 5 or 6) before it finally freed itself. If it happens again I'll take it in for service.
     
    #6 Grdn2, May 23, 2005
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