turbo1k

03 s55 passenger front seat belt won’t out more than 10-15in. It worked fine until I had the interior detailed and the carpets shampooed.
Under the passenger seat I noticed a small cable that was detached and just sitting there. I see where it get attached but it very loose with lots of slack.
Anybody know what the cable is for or any idea what my issue could be.
thanks

maw1124

You should also have a PreSAFE warning in the dash, either white or red. I know there is an actuator in the B-Pillar that goes out. P/N 220-860-09-88 remedied mine (https://www.mbdirectparts.com/oem-pa...ter-2208600988). I wouldn't be surprised if that's what's out (meaning, unplugged) on yours. As a test, raise your driver side headrest higher and see if the seatbelt adjuster in the B-Pillar raises as well. IIRC, those two functions are linked, so that a higher headrest position adjusts the B-Pillar seatbelt higher. If not, I'd bet that's what's unplugged and needs to be addressed.

But, because all of this is tied to the PreSAFE system I'd probably have a dealer address it, unless one of the MB Techs in here knows something.

Make sense?

maw

GrepAwk

I don’t recall the seatbelt height adjuster on the B-pillar moving automatically on my ‘03. (It’s in storage at the moment so can’t test that). I think b-pillar adjustment is done manually. You squeeze the button and slide it up or down to the comfortable height.

maw1124

Good catch @GrepAwk ... I just confirmed on my '06 the B-Pillar seatbelt height adjustment is automatic and moves with the seat fore/aft adjustment, which also moves the headrest up and down. But simply moving the headrest does not move the seatbelt height adjuster as I was thinking. From what I recall when I had that part replaced, a lot of the time was in readjusting the mechanism once installed. Cheap part, lots of labor, sort of thing.

maw

EDIT... OP can let us know whether his '03 seat belt adjuster is automatic v manual.

turbo1k

My seat belt adjust is automatic. The cable has come off the pulley system and currently not working.
the seat belt not pulling out is a separate issue. I currently have the b-pillar apart and awaiting a new belt mechanism to come in.
thanks

maw1124

Yeah... I'm not sure the seat belt not coming out is actually a separate issue. But you'll let us know.

When I had mine replaced, the dealer thought it was EITHER the adjuster OR the seat belt latch -- they couldn't tell. So I told them to replace the adjuster and then we'd see. The seat belt latch had a crazy price tag, and since I could hear the adjuster clicking in the B-Pillar, I started with that. Again, this is part of a complicated safety mechanism called PreSAFE. So I don't think the seat belt latch is the "dumb" latches we have in mind from prior years. I think it gets an electronic signal when something in PreSAFE isn't working correctly to secure the passenger. That's likely what you're experiencing. My only question is how is this going on without a PreSAFE warning in the dash?!?!

And you now know what I know about it. GL

maw