Yes, I'm aware this is an all to common issue and I just finished rewinding the spring with no noticeable difference. Just wondering if there's any other option (I haven't seen any in the archives/search, but that doesn't mean that I searched correctly). Are the Tundra belts any better? Any Toyota's? Anything that I can steel a spring from? Has anyone tried cutting the spring down? Replacing the spring? God, there has to be SOMETHING that works out there. I'm sick to death of my door shutting on the belt (or trying to shut, more often than not it doesn't latch when the belt's hanging out).

Very frustrated...

I made an improvement that does not address the winding part of the problem directly, but it has definitely improved the "closing the daggum belt in the door" problem. I had closed the door on the plastic piece that protects the stitched folds ("replace this seatbelt if you can read this") enough to crack it, so I removed it (the plastic cover). I then unbolted the floor anchor, took a 12" or so long piece or 1.25" (or 1.5"?) vinyl tubing and pulled the seatbelt through. This was a *very* tight fit and required fishing the end of the belt and the metal tab though the tubing with some coat hanger. I then rebolted the belt to the floor and pushed the tubing back over the metal tab at the floor.

This does a couple of things. Early on, the way the tubing fit over the metal tab did a great job of holding the belt straight up - keeping the belt out of the way of the door and taking some of the weight that the retractor has to pull. The plastic has loosened up so it does not stand up as straight now (2 years or so later). Also, this protects that stitched safety fold thingy from the abuse of the door - I really do not think it will interfere with the function of that bit in the event of a crash. I can't remember the last time I closed the door on the driver side seat belt. In fact, it is time to do it on the passenger side...

I don't have a picture of it, but it looks a bit like this :


That is how I had the inboard end of the seatbelt set up before I got a proper, T-100 bucket seat in there.

Scott

My personal favorite is when the seatbelt leaves the door wedged open just enough the light goes off, but the whole interior gets soaked and I get to drive to work with soggy wet butt.

Ask me if I am bitter about that one, I dare you!

I tried the tricks posted about this in other threads, and found that the problem persists <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/angry.gif" alt="" />. I ended up tying the dang thing to the front seat with a piece of wire to keep it out of the doorway. Kinda backwoods, but it works <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/notooth.gif" alt="" />

How about when driving solo and put the windows down (FLAP FLAP FLAP!!!) and the pass side seatbelts are giving your interior a beat down!

Or when its humid out and the belt won't retract. Or you pull too quick and then it jams! And again! And F)^#*!!!

If it weren't that the freaking thing had saved my life once, I'd cut it out and shove it up the Toyota of America CEO buttocks sphincter! Allowing such a pos on the roadway...all for a buck!


Mr Superpicky..over and out! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/butwiggle.gif" alt="" />

Did you try filing off some of the plastic where the belt comes out as was mentioned on another thread? Seemed to help that guy. Brad

Pull the seat belt out as far as it will go and spray the hell out of it with silicone spray till its soaked. Let it retract repeat a couple of times, and if doesn't work you're screwed join the crowd. I've tried the other fixes and they work for a little while but not long, its not worth the time and effort involved. We should send all the threads concerning this subject to toyota with a nice virus attached. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/evil.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/butwiggle.gif" alt="" />

Josh Carlson contributed a maintenance article for cleaning the seat belt assembly; check the articles on this site.

Hey everybody I feel your pain. I have something that may or may not help some of you guys. My belts on my 97 T100 wouldn't retract worth crap, so I went down to the local stealership where it just so happpened that I knew the service writer. He too had this problem on his "T". He said look at where the belt goes through the slider on the top by the hight adjuster. Lift up the belt and look at the plastic under where the belt slides at a heavy angle. He said you will probabley see a bunch of brown gummy buildup there. Take some very light sandpaper to that serface to clean it, and your troubles will be gone. Well I did it, and shure enough it worked. So it may be something you want to try. Good luck!

I thougth there was a TSB on this and Toyota had to fix it for free because it is a safety issue...