Self Height Adjusting Seat Belt Not Working. Any Help Would Be Greatly Appreciated
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 169
Likes: 7
From: Monroe, NY 10950
2007 S550 4Matic 2009 ML350 4Matic
Self Height Adjusting Seat Belt Not Working. Any Help Would Be Greatly Appreciated
I read in the owners manual that the seat belt heights are self adjusting, My passenger belt will raise/lower when I adjust the headrest, yet my drivers side belt doesn't move at all when I try this.
I can manually move the driver and side belt height by hand so it's not stuck, but when I let it go, it just drops down to a certain height on it's own.
Has anyone addressed this? I am not sure if I should remove the side panel where the belt is (thinking maybe the adjuster is disconnected by accident/too much use) or down by the seat or in the door panel itself as I am wondering if there is a connection for it where the headrest adjustment is.
I did a search and came up with nothing. Any help would be great. I am tall and right now my belt is right below my shoulder as I drive...
I can manually move the driver and side belt height by hand so it's not stuck, but when I let it go, it just drops down to a certain height on it's own.
Has anyone addressed this? I am not sure if I should remove the side panel where the belt is (thinking maybe the adjuster is disconnected by accident/too much use) or down by the seat or in the door panel itself as I am wondering if there is a connection for it where the headrest adjustment is.
I did a search and came up with nothing. Any help would be great. I am tall and right now my belt is right below my shoulder as I drive...
Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 84
Likes: 18
S65 GL320CDI GLS63 80 Series Landcruiser
There is a cable that attaches under the seat somewhere I believe that can become detached. There was a bulletin on this.
P-B-91.40/185 JAN09 221.171/176/177/179/186 up to VIN A199347 seatbelt height adjustment is nonfunctional the rivet which retains the pin for the cable of the seatbelt height adjustment mechanism on the seat rail may be broken. Resolve, pin attachment repair.
https://mbworld.org/forums/s-class-w...ns-date-3.html
Look at post #68
Randy
P-B-91.40/185 JAN09 221.171/176/177/179/186 up to VIN A199347 seatbelt height adjustment is nonfunctional the rivet which retains the pin for the cable of the seatbelt height adjustment mechanism on the seat rail may be broken. Resolve, pin attachment repair.
https://mbworld.org/forums/s-class-w...ns-date-3.html
Look at post #68
Randy
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 427
Likes: 57
13 GL350, 14 SL550
Mine was simply unhooked from under the seat, not broken.
There is a pulley system with a stainless steel cable in the B-pillar (the one where the seatbelt is mounted). At the bottom, a cable comes out and hooks onto the seat with an S-hook.
Get a strong flashlight and look under the seat carefully. You should see a stainless flexible wire hooked to the seat itself. In my case, the wire and hook were sitting on the carpet. Got some pliers, pulled hard, and hooked it back on. It worked perfectly after that and hasn't come off in over a year.
I have heard they do break (as mentioned by the previous poster), so that's definitely a possibility.
Basically when you pull on the cable or release it, the shoulder portion of the seat belt goes up and down. So it is hooked to the seat allowing the shoulder portion to go up/down if the seat goes up/down.
There is a pulley system with a stainless steel cable in the B-pillar (the one where the seatbelt is mounted). At the bottom, a cable comes out and hooks onto the seat with an S-hook.
Get a strong flashlight and look under the seat carefully. You should see a stainless flexible wire hooked to the seat itself. In my case, the wire and hook were sitting on the carpet. Got some pliers, pulled hard, and hooked it back on. It worked perfectly after that and hasn't come off in over a year.
I have heard they do break (as mentioned by the previous poster), so that's definitely a possibility.
Basically when you pull on the cable or release it, the shoulder portion of the seat belt goes up and down. So it is hooked to the seat allowing the shoulder portion to go up/down if the seat goes up/down.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 169
Likes: 7
From: Monroe, NY 10950
2007 S550 4Matic 2009 ML350 4Matic
Guys, thanks for pointing me in the right direction. I looked underneath the seat and happened to notice the stainless steel clip just laying on the carpet. From the back seat, I connected it back despite the metal rivet/pin being broken and it worked like a charm.
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
W221, W166
Excellent thread!!
I've had this problem on driver's side of mine.
Thanks to this thread, I've sorted it. Cable had fallen off.
I moved seat all the way to the forward position, and then was easily able to re-attach the cable to the metal clip.
Job done!! For now, anyhow!!
Thanks for the pics above, they helped too.
I've had this problem on driver's side of mine.
Thanks to this thread, I've sorted it. Cable had fallen off.
I moved seat all the way to the forward position, and then was easily able to re-attach the cable to the metal clip.
Job done!! For now, anyhow!!
Thanks for the pics above, they helped too.
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 893
Likes: 242
From: New Jersey
‘16 Mercedes GLE450 amg,’15 Mercedes gla, coupe,’07 Mercedes w221,’12 Audi A
The pictures are not too clear as to where the clip attaches under the seats. Can someone tell me exactly on under the seat?
Last edited by clb0099; Dec 4, 2021 at 11:00 PM. Reason: Incorrect
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Newbie
Joined: Jun 2024
Posts: 10
Likes: 3
S65 AMG, Porsche Cayenne, Audi A5, Jeep Wrangler
For those with the same metal clip as the one pictured above, and wondering how to do it like I was:
1. Put the front seat all the way forward and upward.
2. From the rear floor, pull the metal clip attached to the cable towards you a couple inches past the plastic/composite nut thing that's connected to the seat rail to give you some slack.
3. Point the clip perpendicular to the side of the car, slip the clip onto the plastic/composite nut thing, then pivot the clip back 90 degrees so that the cable tightens slowly and makes it taut.
4. Enjoy your functioning seatbelt!
1. Put the front seat all the way forward and upward.
2. From the rear floor, pull the metal clip attached to the cable towards you a couple inches past the plastic/composite nut thing that's connected to the seat rail to give you some slack.
3. Point the clip perpendicular to the side of the car, slip the clip onto the plastic/composite nut thing, then pivot the clip back 90 degrees so that the cable tightens slowly and makes it taut.
4. Enjoy your functioning seatbelt!
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2024
Posts: 10
Likes: 3
S65 AMG, Porsche Cayenne, Audi A5, Jeep Wrangler
The seatbelt height automatically adjusts based on the forward/back position of the seat. I have an S65 AMG so not sure if they're on all W221s, but I believe most of them do.
Easy way to check is to just move your seat back and forward and see if the seatbelt moves up and down on the B pillar. If it doesn't, you either don't have it, or you have the problem above!
Easy way to check is to just move your seat back and forward and see if the seatbelt moves up and down on the B pillar. If it doesn't, you either don't have it, or you have the problem above!
