2subway

Hello all,
Searched this particular forum for the same problem I'm having and found some results but I didn't find any solutions other than go to the dealer.

The problem I'm having is that the rear window seat seatbelts will not retract. They are about halfway out and stuck there. I read that they can be replaced but I can't seem to find the OEM part.

Does anybody have any advice about this?
I realize that at some point I will need to go to a dealer but I recently got stationed to Germany and using the language here will be a task in itself so if possible I would like to be well informed before I make the visit.
Thanks for the help,
Henry

ontmiss

This could help you there.

BF_JC230

Make sure it is not loose for "Child Seat Application" the rear seat belts are designed with special retractors which allow the parent to pull out the seat belt. This allows easy feeding through a child seat if needed due to no LATCH. To tighten the belt after car seat installation or to return the belt to adult use – pull the belt ALL THE WAY OUT. When you get to “the end” of the belt pull quickly again to unlock the special ratchet locking mechanism. This will then allow the retractor to pull the belt back with regular winding forces.

2subway

Well i forgot to add that the belts will not retract from their current position nor can i pull them out any further than they are.

Glyn M Ruck

Give them one hell of a tug & see if they will retract. Hard sharp motion - multiple times if necessary.

LILBENZ230

My car has LATCH. Facelift addition?

2subway

Well i tried the "hell of a tug" a few times on both belts. They are stuck. I have tried to find replacements but i only found aftermarket belts that may need modification. Anybody else have advice or suggestions?

LILBENZ230

IIRC, my Honda cars had lifetime seatbelt warranties for that sort of stuff. What about Benz?

tommy

Wow, that is scary - that was exactly what I was going to post. I know that people are still having Honda dealers fix their seatbelts from the 80s. I think that's kind of cheesy to expect the dealer to fix a 25-year-old car's seatbelts, but as far as I know, the owner has always gotten 'em fixed, even when their dealer would protest.

LILBENZ230

It's good PR to show concern for the safety of your customers. While there are most definitely exceptions, I'd think the majority of people driving 20+ year old Hondas probably would have to choose between paying rent or repairing a seatbelt. Which do you think they're gonna do? Whereas if they can get it fixed for free they're more likely to get it fixed and be safer because of it. I owned so many Hondas I thought it was common practice for seatbelts to be covered for life. Like Mercedes allowing their safety technology to be used in every car, it would just seem to be for the greater good.

Edit: There is no excuse for a 2003 model car of any make to have seatbelt failure. The fact that neither rear outboard belt retracts is strange. Do you have an SRS warning on the dash? Those seats have pretensioners.

Glyn M Ruck

Never heard of this problem. Retractors must be damaged. Both sides at the same time seems strange.

2subway

Well, this problem went away for while......but now it's back! May visit Mercedes tomorrow.