Seat belt not retracting/weak

[JonFD]

Hi guys,

My drivers belt is annoyingly weak at retracting, as in if you lean forward any amount - like at a junction, the belt stays out and slack. Takes a decent tug to make it retract back tight. Had the same issue on my old car as well, and that was near double the mileage.

Any fixes or is it new/good used belt time?.

Google suggests dirty webbing, but I'm highly doubting something as easy a clean will fix any 28 yr old Fd problems

 

[Satoshi-FD3]

You would be surprised, remove it from the car and get it on a bench. The best way is to slowly unwind the entire spindle of belt and make sure it's secure with no chance of it flying across the bench, if you have access to a compressor or air duster spray the spindle cartridge to blow out any fuzz, dust, debris.

Then using either a silicon or PTFE grade spray grease apply to both outer portions of the belt carrier rotating assembly bearing points. (Left and Right side of the spindle shaft). Allow the belt to retract, then unwind and apply spray grease again, continue until it retracts freely without resistance.

You do not have to completely retract you can simply allow 2 revolutions and repeat, until it is free.

HTH

 

[JonFD]

You would be surprised, remove it from the car and get it on a bench. The best way is to slowly unwind the entire spindle of belt and make sure it's secure with no chance of it flying across the bench, if you have access to a compressor or air duster spray the spindle cartridge to blow out any fuzz, dust, debris.

Then using either a silicon or PTFE grade spray grease apply to both outer portions of the belt carrier rotating assembly bearing points. (Left and Right side of the spindle shaft). Allow the belt to retract, then unwind and apply spray grease again, continue until it retracts freely without resistance.

You do not have to completely retract you can simply allow 2 revolutions and repeat, until it is free.

HTH

Fair play I'll give that a crack

 

[Jake_rorx7]

Fair play I'll give that a crack

Did you manage to sort this? My drivers side does this - I bought another used one, and it still does it...

 

[JonFD]

Did you manage to sort this? My drivers side does this - I bought another used one, and it still does it...

No no luck with it, blew it out, greased it, tried cleaning the webbing as well, and no change.

I also tried putting some more tension on the spring by giving the cover a few more turns, on one attempt I let go and had the spring fly out.... I got it all back in but its the same as it was.

I actually found the belts from my old car, tried the same without any 'spring time' lol but it is also just as crap... the other 3 are like new.


I found this place, https://www.safetybeltservices.co.uk/contact.html Called them and gave him the story, the guy said send it to them and they can check torque of the spring, and replace if needed, webbing or whatever it needs for around £70. So I'm doing that. He also said by cleaning the webbing you remove the silicone from it so makes it worse... figures as that's exactly what bloody youtube recommends

They reset or re charge pre-tensioners after crashes etc, kinda cool - obvs nowt to do with Fd's, but I've never heard of that anyway..



Lucky you found a used, I've not had any joy, but on the basis that 4x driver belts are doing this then maybe a refurb is the way.

 

[Satoshi-FD3]

I found this place, https://www.safetybeltservices.co.uk/contact.html Called them and gave him the story, the guy said send it to them and they can check torque of the spring, and replace if needed, webbing or whatever it needs for around £70. So I'm doing that. He also said by cleaning the webbing you remove the silicone from it so makes it worse... figures as that's exactly what bloody youtube recommends

It's why I suggested you use a silicon / PTFE based lubricant.

Chances are the spring is chuffed. £70 is not a lot per belt.

 

[JonFD]

It's why I suggested you use a silicon / PTFE based lubricant.

Chances are the spring is chuffed. £70 is not a lot per belt.

I did get a comma ptfe spray grease for it, then tried the clean as it was out.

Seems pretty common for Na/B Mx5 guys too..

And yeh £70 seems a bargain if it's like new.

Interestingly another mobile seat belt repair place said they'd clean the webbing, somehow I trust the guys I linked now

 

[JonFD]

I got the belt back the other day (was near next day turn around) and put it in earlier, I would have taken a pic, but its just a seat belt lol.

Night and day difference, its literally like new, something much needed on a 28 year old car, one less reminder it's that old..
- Saying that how nice would one touch indicators n wipers be @Ceylon we can leave auto headlights for another 5 years tho I recon

They changed the webbing, its nice and black, and doesn't have the ASHIMORI IND CO label anymore so assuming its new, and presumably the spring as it works properly now. For £70 I can't complain.

 

[JonFD]

Also @Ceylon or anyone else that would know, What is the plug connector on the belt for?

Reading some mx5 stuff they list is as electrical un tensioner? (almost the same apart from the bracket) it does connect the the housing with the spring.

I guess you'd never notice it work but would it have been controlled by the stock ECU (im on apexi) As I've always found the belt a little frustrating if it does lock at the wrong time.

I'm assuming by un tensioner the do mean 'release' not like new cars that lock you in if you brake hard?

https://www.southcoastroadsters.co.uk/products/mx5-mk1-na-1989-1998-1-6-electric-seat-belt


I have had a decent google, but can't find an answer lol..

 

[Jake_rorx7]

Also @Ceylon or anyone else that would know, What is the plug connector on the belt for?

Reading some mx5 stuff they list is as electrical un tensioner? (almost the same apart from the bracket) it does connect the the housing with the spring.

I guess you'd never notice it work but would it have been controlled by the stock ECU (im on apexi) As I've always found the belt a little frustrating if it does lock at the wrong time.

I'm assuming by un tensioner the do mean 'release' not like new cars that lock you in if you brake hard?

https://www.southcoastroadsters.co.uk/products/mx5-mk1-na-1989-1998-1-6-electric-seat-belt


I have had a decent google, but can't find an answer lol..

I believe it just undoes the locking mechanism when you click open the belt buckle, uncase youre stuck upside down or something and unable to release tension on the belt. You can hear it click on/off when you put the belt in sometimes... or at least I can, when I try to put the buckle in but something is in the way, like my jacket lol. Sounds like a little relay click in the reel.

The tightening on new cars when it thinks you might crash is called a pre-tensioner... Same sort of system I guess but a bit different.

 

[JonFD]

I believe it just undoes the locking mechanism when you click open the belt buckle, uncase youre stuck upside down or something and unable to release tension on the belt. You can hear it click on/off when you put the belt in sometimes... or at least I can, when I try to put the buckle in but something is in the way, like my jacket lol. Sounds like a little relay click in the reel.

The tightening on new cars when it thinks you might crash is called a pre-tensioner... Same sort of system I guess but a bit different.

Ahhh nice one, that makes sense I gave up on googling. I'll listen out for it next time. Hopefully something I won't need to actually test for real


Re the new car locking thing, I meant like my E91 will lock me in sometimes when braking, and not like I've flown into the belt either , not srs pretensioners they usually go off when airbags do and are explosive - I have tested them real world, in a Primera where they went off with the airbag.. Two/one bloody big bang, one from the bag and one from the belt/pillar, and right in my ear.....they deffo work, was propper pulled into the seat, weird feeling going back and forwards lol