Seat belt won't retract

[77scottsdale1]

My shoulder strap seat belt has decided to stop retracting. Has anyone fixed this or know any info on how they come apart and what not?

 

[1987 GMC Jimmy]

Did it just break, and it won't do anything, or is it super slow/you can feed it back in? I saw this video that I wanted to try, because mine acts just like this guy's seatbelt.

[yt]8XL8QbooM84[/yt]

 

[77scottsdale1]

I was thinking it rusted up on me because it got pulled all the way out and wouldn't go back in.

 

[1987 GMC Jimmy]

Ahh, well it was worth bringing up. I'll bet @chengny would know.

 

[chengny]

My shoulder strap seat belt has decided to stop retracting. Has anyone fixed this or know any info on how they come apart and what not?

I have one with the cover popped open and the spring is falling out, so I have nothing to lose by tearing it open and seeing how everything works:

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I have to go to the garage this evening. So, if you don't want to cause more damage to yours by going into it blind - give me a few hours. I'll bring it home, open it up and take some pictures so you can see what's inside.

I have "fixed" some retractors before - the kind with the detonators in them that pull tight when the airbag system deploys. Those systems can get pretty involved. Same with the overrunning clutch that kicks in and halts the belt's rollout in the event of a panic stop.

But as for everyday, slow motion roll-out/retract operation - like when you get in/out of the truck - that's pretty straight forward. If you've ever worked on a small engine starter cup assembly, the retractors won't be a problem.

If your's won't even try to retract - and it happened all at once, probably the coil spring just broke off at the inner anchor point.

If it's been retracting slower and slower until it just stopped, it might only be gummed up. In that case, a good flush with carb cleaner followed by a light coat of dry lubricant might bring it back.

 

[77scottsdale1]

I have one with the cover popped open and the spring is falling out, so I have nothing to lose by tearing it open and seeing how everything works:

You must be registered for see images attach

I have to go to the garage this evening. So, if you don't want to cause more damage to yours by going into it blind - give me a few hours. I'll bring it home, open it up and take some pictures so you can see what's inside.

I have "fixed" some retractors before - the kind with the detonators in them that pull tight when the airbag system deploys. Those systems can get pretty involved. Same with the overrunning clutch that kicks in and halts the belt's rollout in the event of a panic stop.

But as for everyday, slow motion roll-out/retract operation - like when you get in/out of the truck - that's pretty straight forward. If you've ever worked on a small engine starter cup assembly, the retractors won't be a problem.

If your's won't even try to retract - and it happened all at once, probably the coil spring just broke off at the inner anchor point.

If it's been retracting slower and slower until it just stopped, it might only be gummed up. In that case, a good flush with carb cleaner followed by a light coat of dry lubricant might bring it back.

It probably does need washed and all, but it was working and it got pulled all the way out by someone and wouldn't go back in. To me it would be worth the wait so I'm not going in blind. I'm on spring break now and I'll be working on the truck tomorrow because of the gas tank I just bought and one of the hangers needs work. It won't bother me to work on that tomorrow either. Thanks @chengny

 

[77scottsdale1]

Would it be the same for both sides? Not that it matters I'm just curious.

 

[87ChevyR10]

Yeah, a seatbelt thread!

My passenger side has this nasty habit of insta-locking when pulling it out. You have to pull really really really really really really really really slow to get it to come out enough to buckle. Even then, it'll lock-up after getting it on.

Hmmm... Was this about a seatbelt or did I just write about porn?

 

[CSFJ]

Yeah, a seatbelt thread!

My passenger side has this nasty habit of insta-locking when pulling it out. You have to pull really really really really really really really really slow to get it to come out enough to buckle. Even then, it'll lock-up after getting it on.

Hmmm... Was this about a seatbelt or did I just write about porn?

I haven't looked at the belts in these trucks in a long time, but the symptoms you describe sound identical to what happened to my jeep when I redid it. The belts on the jeep are for all intents and purposes identical in appearance. They however , are not the same inside. After fighting the belts like you describe for a week, I switched them from side to side. Problem solved. If these belts look similar to each other, someone may have put the wrong one in that side of your truck at some point.

 

[chengny]

Alright, I have some info. I'm sorry for the delay, but not that sorry.

First thing is: If you can get the belt to retract from outside the cover, it looks like you'll
have to go inside.

The spool for each belt is different. One appears to be the "master" and it's operation seems way more involved than the "slave". The the master spool operates the lower/forward belt (i.e. the one that snaps into the buckle). The other belt (i.e. the one that is bolted to the top of the A pillar) is operated by the rear spool.

Each spool retracts its associated belt (my slave spool was the one that the spring popped out of). Each has the overrunning clutch that engages a ratchet pawl and locks the spool if belt payout rate exceeds a certain speed.

With the cover removed, I tried to duplicate your situation, it took some effort but eventually I got to where you are. The belt on the master spool was completely withdrawn - with the spool locked. No amount of jiggling, yanking, etc. on the belt would get it to pull back in. But with the cover off, I had access to the ratchet/pawl and its operating bar. With everything exposed like that, I was easily able to the spool to retract the belt

Unfortunately, to gain access to the spools and ratchet pawls you'll have to either pull the bench seat (and drill a couple of holes through the inner wall of the plastic cover), or you can release the entire assembly from the floor and break the two aluminum rivets that hold the cover closed.

I have been taking pictures and will post them soon. You have to decide which way you want to access the internals and then do it. When you gain access, there is a very good chance you won't even need and pictures. You'll probably have the belt back on the spool in a minute.

BTW: I am assuming that it is your master spool/belt that is stuck - correct?

 

[77scottsdale1]

It is the lower lap portion. The slave spool I think is what you called it.

 

[chengny]

Yep, the slave is the forward one (with the raised lip around the belt slot). And the other one would be what I am calling the "master":

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Remember, those are not the correct terms. I have no clue about seat belt component terminology - so I am making up part names as we go along.

So, first of all, I was wrong when I said this:

With the cover removed, I tried to duplicate your situation, it took some effort but eventually I got to where you are. The belt on the master spool was completely withdrawn - with the spool locked.

I know now that your problem isn't with the master - it's the slave spool that won't retract it's belt - correct?

However, as noted above, it is the slave spool on my retractor assembly (that these images show) which is broken:

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So, unfortunately, as it turns out I didn't duplicate your situation. And, since it appears that I'm missing the end cap for my slave spool's retracting spring, there is no way I will be able to. But just from what I have learned so far, I would have to say that the recoil spring for your slave spool is broken. Here's why I think that:

The only ratchet & pawl assembly that could stick - and cause the belt not to retract - is mounted on the end of the master spool's shaft. The retract rachet is the white one in the images below. These images show the direction of rotation for the spools when the belt is being pulled out - and retracting:

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As you can see, since the only ratchet assembly that would impede belt retraction is on the master. There is no cross connection from that recoil ratchet to the slave spool. The slave does have a ratchet/pawl assembly on each end but both of those are designed to lock the spool only when it is in the pay-out direction.

What I would check first is that the recoil spring - that drives the slave shaft - isn't somehow bound up and causing the spool not to retract. You might want to try drilling a hole - where indicated below - and using a screwdriver to push on the teeth of the ratchet. Maybe if you rotate the ratchet wheel in the recoil direction a bit, it might get the spool started.

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That's about all I can suggest without opening the cover up and inspecting the mechanism. I don't know if you have ever pulled a seat belt retract assembly, but I have - many times. And for some reason - unlike the other seat belt related bolts (i.e. the one at the top of the A pillar and the ones that secure the stationary belts to the floor) - removing the recoil assembly anchor bolt is not usually a big deal. It generally can be released with just a breaker bar.

 

[77scottsdale1]

Thanks man! I will definitely have to inspect. I can't today because the daylight is gone.