[Da_Boss]

Is it possible to rebuild the front seat belt retractor on the drivers side? My drivers side is very lazy and doesn\'t like to retract or keep tension. I have a passenger side assembly with a good spring. Is it possible to switch the good spring into the drivers side to renew the retraction?

Thanks

 

[Da_Boss]

Anyone?

 

[G-AMG]

When you say "Lazy", do you mean the belt is "Loose" when you are buckled in (ie. you lean forward, and the belt 'stays' forward, and loose?)

If you UNBUCKLE it, does RETRACT Ok?

"IF" this is the case, you have a problem with the SENSOR in the attachment on the seat itself. Spray some Contact Cleaner down into where the "blade" of the seatbelt strap/buckle inserts into.

Let us know if this is NOT your situation.

G

 

[Benica]

Or are you talking about the belt in the pillar that retracks when you unbuckle the belt? If so, no. I just went through replacing the entire belt system...both sides...took about an hour for both sides. Bought two complete used belts, etc. from phamilton01 on this site.
Work fine now!

 

[ronw123w124]

Bought two complete used belts, etc. from phamilton01 on this site.
Work fine now!

Also had a seatbelt problem on my w140, ended up buying a used one from phamilton01 along with a host of other parts, great guy to deal with.

 

[Da_Boss]

When you say \"Lazy\", do you mean the belt is \"Loose\" when you are buckled in (ie. you lean forward, and the belt \'stays\' forward, and loose?)

If you UNBUCKLE it, does RETRACT Ok?

\"IF\" this is the case, you have a problem with the SENSOR in the attachment on the seat itself. Spray some Contact Cleaner down into where the \"blade\" of the seatbelt strap/buckle inserts into.

Let us know if this is NOT your situation.

G

Yes, this is exactly what happens. If I lean forward, the belt does not retract. It will still lock, but it will not retract until I press the unbuckle button. You think it is as simple as contact cleaner into the buckle?
Where do I get contact cleaner?

 

[Brett San Diego]

Yes, this is exactly what happens. If I lean forward, the belt does not retract. It will still lock, but it will not retract until I press the unbuckle button. You think it is as simple as contact cleaner into the buckle?
Where do I get contact cleaner?

If it retracts when you press the unbuckle button, then the microswitch in the buckle is working fine. The retractor has two springs, the retract spring and "comfort" spring, switched by a solenoid somehow. I don't know exactly what happens, but either the comfort spring loses its "springiness," or the mechanism gets gummed up so that the comfort spring can't retract the belt appropriately. If it's just gummed up, then cleaning and relubing will solve the problem. If the spring is weakened, then there is no cure for the comfort setting (unless you can get a new spring in there as you suggest to do).

I figure there must be a way to disable the switching mechanism so that it stays on the retract spring permanently. Maybe disabling the microswitch in the buckle will do it... but then the seat belt dinger will never go off. It may be as simple as pulling the connector from the solenoid in the retractor. I've been meaning to look into this for a long time but just haven't gotten around to it (like just about every other project this car needs now).

Brett

 

[gyrate]

both of my springs are busted/worn. it takes some careful snaking in to get the belt to retract back; no change engaged or not.

its on my to do list but i haven't really gotten to it. i can't even check because i have to tear out the rear side to get to it. sedan folks have it easier on this one

 

[Da_Boss]

Anyone actually taken the assembly apart and tried to replace the spring? Someone must have tried.

 

[Brett San Diego]

Anyone actually taken the assembly apart and tried to replace the spring? Someone must have tried.

LOL. We talk a lot but not much gets done. And, more than half the time, people don't get back to us to let us know they solved a problem.

Someone who has done a lot of disassembly/assembly on W140s is phamilton01. He also has sold a bit of used parts. May be worth contacting him, but he is usually around, and if he could contribute, I expect he would. Also, there's eddie a for parts.

The thing about the seatbelts is that they are a very important safety item. If they should fail when you need it, that would really suck. If it fails without tampering, at least you could sue someone. I don't know your mechanical ability, but I'd be cautious about disassembling/reassembling one, particularly if it's put together by "stamping" or pressing parts in place. There is also an explosive charge in the mechanism, the pre-tensioner, which goes off, like the air bags, in the event of an accident and rapidly retracts the belt to hold the occupant. Again, I don't know how these things are put together, so I don't know the level of complexity. It could be simple. This is just some cautionary commentary.

I think most of us would like to see a fix for this very common problem. I've been putting off my investigation for a long time.

Brett

 

[SHAUNE55]

I fitted a new belt on a W140 a few weeks ago,didn't attempt to take it apart and fix it. As someone just said it's not worth the risk. It was a simple job once I got the panel off the pillar,that was the hardest part! That was on a four door.

 

[phamilton01]

Ive looked at the belts close up, as far as taking it apart i wont. Once a spring goes bad there is really no way to fix it. Plus its easy to replace. I would rather replace something like that due to a safety reason. I would feel pretty bad if my passengers head was put through the window because a belt failed because i took it apart to fiddle with it. Some things are worth replacing,some things are meant to fix.

 

[Brett San Diego]

I really believe there is merit to thinking that you can rig the spring switch to permanently set the retract spring. I just don't know how it is designed. Is it 0 V = retract and 12 V = comfort or vice versa, or is it a momentary voltage to toggle between the two springs?

Personally, I don't like the reduced tension of the comfort spring even if it did retract fully in use. I'd rather have a more snug belt at all times.

Brett

 

[G-AMG]

Personally, I don't like the reduced tension of the comfort spring even if it did retract fully in use. I'd rather have a more snug belt at all times.

Brett

Then you would LOVE the new W212... When you belt in, the car very actively
tightens the belt around you. I'm with you... strap me in!

 

[Da_Boss]

Rebuilding the old belt with a new spring is going to cost me next to nothing. Finding a good used replacement in the correct color that also does not have this problem is going to be very hard and expensive, as most of the drivers side belts have this problem. I will not be spending $400+ a new belt. Not going to happen. I'm selling the car in 4 months. I just need the belt to work correctly.

 

[MikeJT]

I really believe there is merit to thinking that you can rig the spring switch to permanently set the retract spring. I just don't know how it is designed. Is it 0 V = retract and 12 V = comfort or vice versa, or is it a momentary voltage to toggle between the two springs?

Personally, I don't like the reduced tension of the comfort spring even if it did retract fully in use. I'd rather have a more snug belt at all times.

Brett

I don't think it's controlled by the buckle switch, Brett: I think it depends on the ignition key being in and switched to a 'power on' position, thereby providing 12V to the SRS module. This will cause the belt to loosen if already buckled or to buckle up at the looser tension. If you then remove the key with the belt still buckled, it will revert to the higher tension (so that the belt stows properly when you do release it).

No doubt you could change the SRS module's supply to 'always hot' but this might have some unwanted side effects - e.g., the air bag ccts might be permanently armed.

Mike

 

[MikeJT]

Rebuilding the old belt with a new spring is going to cost me next to nothing. Finding a good used replacement in the correct color that also does not have this problem is going to be very hard and expensive, as most of the drivers side belts have this problem. I will not be spending $400+ a new belt. Not going to happen. I'm selling the car in 4 months. I just need the belt to work correctly.

As I understand it, these belt reels contain an explosive charge, ignited by the SRS system, to haul you in good and tight in a crash. No doubt it's all very safe, but it seems worth bearing in mind while working on these devices.

Mike

 

[Brett San Diego]

Finding a good used replacement in the correct color that also does not have this problem is going to be very hard and expensive.

Have you talked with phamilton01 and eddie a? The people above have already said they got good used belts for reasonable prices.

Brett

 

[Brett San Diego]

I don't think it's controlled by the buckle switch, Brett: I think it depends on the ignition key being in and switched to a 'power on' position, thereby providing 12V to the SRS module. This will cause the belt to loosen if already buckled or to buckle up at the looser tension. If you then remove the key with the belt still buckled, it will revert to the higher tension (so that the belt stows properly when you do release it).

No doubt you could change the SRS module's supply to 'always hot' but this might have some unwanted side effects - e.g., the air bag ccts might be permanently armed.

Mike

Without looking at wiring diagrams to back up my statements, I'm pretty sure all SRS stuff is on its own wiring harness for safety reasons, so I don't think we'd be messing with this.

One spring or the other is always selected, so I figure let's just prevent it from selecting the comfort spring. If the default no-power (ignition off)selection is the retract spring, then I'm reasoning that preventing power from ever getting to the solenoid will prevent it from ever switching over to the comfort spring. Once again, an over-engineered feature on this car that is in hindsight certainly of dubious value.

Brett

 

[Brett San Diego]

Then you would LOVE the new W212... When you belt in, the car very actively
tightens the belt around you. I'm with you... strap me in!

That would be making the decision to purchase one very expensive seatbelt. I'm gonna have to stick with my W140 for now. Other cars need work/restoration.

Brett