Re-tensioning seat belts.

The message from Z contains these words:

Has it lost it completely or is it just sluggish? Often it's the belt being grubby and slightly sticky that causes it to be slow retracting.

In article , Guy King writes

It's just sluggish. The MOT is due May and presumably a service (it's a company van) I'll maybe just leave a note for the garage if it's part of the MOT. Otherwise perhaps if drivers and passengers side are the same part and not reversed I could swap the two over.

sometimes belts need shaving of loose strands which make them sluggish, sometimes the belt is twisted which stops them retracting. Pull the belt all the way out and check for twists, usually the problem is obvious, if the belt will fully retract with slight assistance then it should not fail mot. However , if the belt will not retract the bit needed when you are normally seated then it will not protect you properly and should be replaced. I have sometimes dismantled and cleaned the mechanisms, but usually a good secondhand unit from an uncrashed car is a better bet.

I tried two things for similar symptoms before an MOT with quite some success.

The effect was to renovate the belt to pretty close to its former return strength. Hand grease and fraying of the fabrick seem to be the demons. If the fabrick does get too frayed to return, it probably needs replacing anyway.

Hope it helps

Tony.

In article , mrcheerful writes

I haven't bothered looking at the spring yet as it's a works van and it's MOT is coming up . It seemed to work OK yesterday but other days it doesn't. The belt is clean enough.

Could you recommend a maker / brand?

I used a proprietary brand from RS Components, the electrical components supplier. Haven't got the can now but it is just sold as an aerosol dry film lubricant. Sprays on and then dries to a clear invisible film. You might get the same stuff at a plumber's, good tool shop or electrical supplies. But I repeat that the major difference was from de-greasing the strap with the detergent and water. Tony.

Noted.

I see it, Book 1, Page 1241 PTFE dry film lubricant 200ml aerosol 494-736 GBP6.06 I'll hold off buying it and try the detergent and water first as you recommend. It's high time I tidied and cleaned the inside of the van but it's rained every available day off I've had.