Slow seatbelt retract

Goochie · 17-11-2005, 08:43

My seat belt retract has become very very slow, to the extent I have to almost push it back through the cover. I assume this is a simple case of WD40 around the mechanism? Or is is a tired spring that will require a new belt unit?

JBS Auto Design · 17-11-2005, 09:00

I would think that it would want a new unit.
What you have to remember on newer cars is that there is a small amount of explosive stuff.
They are classed as dangerouse cargo.
I would leave well alone if I was you and just replace the unit.
Sarah

Dr Zoidberg · 17-11-2005, 09:02

My drivers one isn't quite that bad yet , but it's noticably showing signs of wear to the mechanism after 67k miles.

I think I might be right in saying that this could be an MOT failure if it's really bad

devonutopia · 17-11-2005, 09:08

Mine needs help too sometimes.

It gets there eventually, but when you want out, the seatbelt hanging there, slowly retracting toward the B pillar, is a bit of a PITA.

Goochie · 17-11-2005, 09:13

It passed the MOT

And wasn't even mentioned as a problem.

Sarah - isnt the explosive charge in the retract mechanism under the seat? (to pull the buckle not the belt)

JBS Auto Design · 17-11-2005, 09:20

As far as I was aware it is in the seat belt bit at the top.
When I was ordering them from Skoda they told me that because of the nature of them I could not get them on overnight as they are dangerous cargo and you do not open them up as warranty as they are dangerous.
Hey I could be wrong.
i thought they did have something on the seat for the "Anti submaring" seats.
Hey I am loosing touch with this lot but that is what I remembered.
Sarah

Goochie · 17-11-2005, 09:23

Perhaps our friend, Ross can shed some light

devonutopia · 17-11-2005, 09:32

I thought the pre-tensioners were in the seat belt unit bolted to the bottom of the B pillar, behind the trim? Only reason I ask is that usually these go off at the same time as the airbags, making the seat belt units useless for re-use. I sold the ones out my wreck at the same time as the airbags as a job lot as it was all needed.

Goochie · 17-11-2005, 09:34

Ahhh, perhaps VAG cars are different to what I'm used to. In a Vauxhall the buckle is yanked under the seat to tnesion the belt. There are long "charges" under the seat to do this.

JBS Auto Design · 17-11-2005, 10:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by devonutopia

I thought the pre-tensioners were in the seat belt unit bolted to the bottom of the B pillar, behind the trim? Only reason I ask is that usually these go off at the same time as the airbags, making the seat belt units useless for re-use. I sold the ones out my wreck at the same time as the airbags as a job lot as it was all needed.

Mmm that is right in an accident it pulls it back or something...
Do Octavia`s have the anti submaring seat?
Sarah

Fabia 12v · 17-11-2005, 15:47

Our octy has slowed down too... but dealers said it really isn't worth the change as seats out etc to get trim off and the explosives... said if we could live with it just leave it.

johnjohnhealy · 17-11-2005, 16:28

The passenger side front one on my Superb does that, gets back eventually but dont half take it's time, I dont really wear my seatbelt on the drivers side so that is fine, guess they just dont last very well with constant use!!

Yes I know I should wear my seatbelt!!

***DGW*** · 17-11-2005, 16:38

The MOT Testers Manual says this about seat belt retraction.

5. Fasten each belt locking mechanism and try to pull the locked sections apart. On retracting seat belts, check that with the mechanism fastened and the seat unoccupied, excess webbing is wound into the retracting unit.
Note: Some types of retracting belt might need manual help before they retract.

That could allow some leeway for seatbelts which are slow to retract but I wouldn't rely on it. If a seatbelt is playing up at all and the car is still under warranty it would be well worth getting the seatbelt changed. A front seat 3-point retracting seatbelt and tensioner for the Octavia is around £120.

big k · 17-11-2005, 20:15

will be dirt/static on the top seat belt mounting (where you adjust it up and down) try cleaning the belt then spraying furniture polish or silicone spray on the belt and around the top mount. belive me this works a tried and tested K little tip

Lummox · 17-11-2005, 20:17

IIRc in the owners handbook it actually states you should keep the belts clean to help with the above fault.

fordfan · 18-11-2005, 07:48

Ant-submarining seats are deeper in the base at the back than the front, a design feature to prevent you from being pulled under the belt.

Skoda won't let you order hazardous stuff VOR, whereas the franchise that we have got will only let you order airbags on VOR, with the old unit having to be returned the same day.

To give some ideas of the forces involved in an accident the seat belt webbing can stretch by upto 9 to 12 inches.

johnjohnhealy · 19-11-2005, 18:01

Holy cow! some of you actually know what your talking about!!!

Just been out and cleaned my seatbelt (all I used was one of them dashboard cleaning wipes) and it now whips back in with all the excitement it did when new!!

Amazing! I wonder why there so prone to slowing down when dirty? dont ever remember having the problem on older cars?

Lummox · 19-11-2005, 18:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnjohnhealy

Holy cow! some of you actually know what your talking about!!!

Funny that, working on them all day..lol

johnjohnhealy · 20-11-2005, 02:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lummox

Funny that, working on them all day..lol

Tis much appreciated!!

ronand · 07-05-2008, 10:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by big k

will be dirt/static on the top seat belt mounting (where you adjust it up and down) try cleaning the belt then spraying furniture polish or silicone spray on the belt and around the top mount. belive me this works a tried and tested K little tip

I know this is an old thread but I found a very useful tip here! My seatbelt would hardly retract at all and with a little clean with dashboard wipes works perfectly. Saves an expensive replacement!

BR

Ronan

17-11-2005, 08:43	#1
Goochie Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Up a tree. Posts: 12,376 Thanks: 7 Thanked 28 Times in 26 Posts	Slow seatbelt retract My seat belt retract has become very very slow, to the extent I have to almost push it back through the cover. I assume this is a simple case of WD40 around the mechanism? Or is is a tired spring that will require a new belt unit?

17-11-2005, 09:02	#3
Dr Zoidberg Briskodian Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: On the back of an AA truck with a failed turbo Posts: 10,538 Thanks: 23 Thanked 186 Times in 137 Posts	My drivers one isn't quite that bad yet , but it's noticably showing signs of wear to the mechanism after 67k miles. I think I might be right in saying that this could be an MOT failure if it's really bad __________________ Alex "I laugh in the face of danger, then I hide until it goes away" www.drzoidberg.co.uk

17-11-2005, 09:08	#4
devonutopia Mongreller Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Ooo-ar, Oi be from Devonshire Posts: 29,506 Thanks: 60 Thanked 308 Times in 253 Posts	Mine needs help too sometimes. It gets there eventually, but when you want out, the seatbelt hanging there, slowly retracting toward the B pillar, is a bit of a PITA. __________________ Jason - Mongrel owner! WOOOOF! Grrrrr Custom Fabia Bonnet Lifter Kits - £45! Click Me. See the mongrel's 260bhp Dyno Video!

17-11-2005, 09:32	#8
devonutopia Mongreller Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Ooo-ar, Oi be from Devonshire Posts: 29,506 Thanks: 60 Thanked 308 Times in 253 Posts	I thought the pre-tensioners were in the seat belt unit bolted to the bottom of the B pillar, behind the trim? Only reason I ask is that usually these go off at the same time as the airbags, making the seat belt units useless for re-use. I sold the ones out my wreck at the same time as the airbags as a job lot as it was all needed. __________________ Jason - Mongrel owner! WOOOOF! Grrrrr Custom Fabia Bonnet Lifter Kits - £45! Click Me. See the mongrel's 260bhp Dyno Video!

17-11-2005, 15:47	#11
Fabia 12v RICHARD Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Twickenham - Middlesex Posts: 4,935 Thanks: 6 Thanked 17 Times in 15 Posts	Our octy has slowed down too... but dealers said it really isn't worth the change as seats out etc to get trim off and the explosives... said if we could live with it just leave it. __________________ First Car: Skoda Fabia MK1 1.2 12v Comfort Replaced with: Volkswagen Golf MK4 GT 1.9TDI Replaced with: Seat Ibiza MK4 Sport 1.9TDI Replaced with: Volkswagen Polo MK5 Ltd. Edition Sport 1.4 16v To be replaced with: Volkswagen Golf Mk5 Final Edition GTI 2.0TFSI 16v... early 2009.

17-11-2005, 09:00	#2
JBS Auto Design Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Central UK Posts: 913 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	I would think that it would want a new unit. What you have to remember on newer cars is that there is a small amount of explosive stuff. They are classed as dangerouse cargo. I would leave well alone if I was you and just replace the unit. Sarah

17-11-2005, 09:13	#5
Goochie Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Up a tree. Posts: 12,376 Thanks: 7 Thanked 28 Times in 26 Posts	It passed the MOT And wasn't even mentioned as a problem. Sarah - isnt the explosive charge in the retract mechanism under the seat? (to pull the buckle not the belt)

17-11-2005, 09:20	#6
JBS Auto Design Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Central UK Posts: 913 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	As far as I was aware it is in the seat belt bit at the top. When I was ordering them from Skoda they told me that because of the nature of them I could not get them on overnight as they are dangerous cargo and you do not open them up as warranty as they are dangerous. Hey I could be wrong. i thought they did have something on the seat for the "Anti submaring" seats. Hey I am loosing touch with this lot but that is what I remembered. Sarah

17-11-2005, 09:23	#7
Goochie Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Up a tree. Posts: 12,376 Thanks: 7 Thanked 28 Times in 26 Posts	Perhaps our friend, Ross can shed some light

17-11-2005, 09:34	#9
Goochie Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Up a tree. Posts: 12,376 Thanks: 7 Thanked 28 Times in 26 Posts	Ahhh, perhaps VAG cars are different to what I'm used to. In a Vauxhall the buckle is yanked under the seat to tnesion the belt. There are long "charges" under the seat to do this.

17-11-2005, 16:28	#12
johnjohnhealy Briskodian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: UK south east Posts: 2,431 Thanks: 1 Thanked 13 Times in 12 Posts	The passenger side front one on my Superb does that, gets back eventually but dont half take it's time, I dont really wear my seatbelt on the drivers side so that is fine, guess they just dont last very well with constant use!! Yes I know I should wear my seatbelt!!

17-11-2005, 16:38	#13
*DGW* BRISKODA Staff Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Cambridgeshire Posts: 17,129 Thanks: 49 Thanked 170 Times in 127 Posts	The MOT Testers Manual says this about seat belt retraction. 5. Fasten each belt locking mechanism and try to pull the locked sections apart. On retracting seat belts, check that with the mechanism fastened and the seat unoccupied, excess webbing is wound into the retracting unit. Note: Some types of retracting belt might need manual help before they retract. That could allow some leeway for seatbelts which are slow to retract but I wouldn't rely on it. If a seatbelt is playing up at all and the car is still under warranty it would be well worth getting the seatbelt changed. A front seat 3-point retracting seatbelt and tensioner for the Octavia is around £120. __________________ Denis 2002 Octavia 1.8T 4X4 turbo Estate - rebreathed on by Jabba ... 31.93mpg 2007 Fabia vRS - CC, ESP and full leather trim by Seat Surgeons ...48.09 mpg...

17-11-2005, 20:15	#14
big k Briskodian Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: u.k Posts: 1,215 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	will be dirt/static on the top seat belt mounting (where you adjust it up and down) try cleaning the belt then spraying furniture polish or silicone spray on the belt and around the top mount. belive me this works a tried and tested K little tip __________________ how can me find a jet engine for me rapid ?

17-11-2005, 20:17	#15
Lummox U18 Automotive Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Newport Pagnell Posts: 21,805 Thanks: 22 Thanked 658 Times in 554 Posts	IIRc in the owners handbook it actually states you should keep the belts clean to help with the above fault. __________________ Unit 18 Automotive Services now open Servicing, repairs, modifications you name it we do it. Cupra console bushes at special price, PM for a very competitive quote.

18-11-2005, 07:48	#16
fordfan ECUless Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,953 Thanks: 28 Thanked 224 Times in 195 Posts	Ant-submarining seats are deeper in the base at the back than the front, a design feature to prevent you from being pulled under the belt. Skoda won't let you order hazardous stuff VOR, whereas the franchise that we have got will only let you order airbags on VOR, with the old unit having to be returned the same day. To give some ideas of the forces involved in an accident the seat belt webbing can stretch by upto 9 to 12 inches.

19-11-2005, 18:01	#17
johnjohnhealy Briskodian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: UK south east Posts: 2,431 Thanks: 1 Thanked 13 Times in 12 Posts	Re: Slow seatbelt retract Holy cow! some of you actually know what your talking about!!! Just been out and cleaned my seatbelt (all I used was one of them dashboard cleaning wipes) and it now whips back in with all the excitement it did when new!! Amazing! I wonder why there so prone to slowing down when dirty? dont ever remember having the problem on older cars?

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