Seatbelt recoil

[madison]

'99 pathfinder seatbelts don't recoil. Can I get into the mechanism and tighten up the springs? Maybe wind up the springs a couple of turns? I'm tired of them getting lost and closing the doors on them! Any suggestions on a fix? Also after 15 years they could sure use a cleaning while I'm at it.

[atraudes]

Man, it is your lucky day Seatbelts in the 89-02's have a lifetime warranty, and slow retraction is covered! I got mine replaced shortly after buying it. The dealership kept the car overnight, gave me a G37 to use in the meantime, and I paid precisely nothing. You could tell the manager in the repairs department was a little grumpy about having to do it, but they didn't give me any hassle.

They're going to ask you to use a q-tip and alcohol to carefully clean the plastic guide that your seatbelt rides on at the top (near your shoulder) to get rid of the black gunk that accumulates over time that impairs belt travel. Do that before you go in (it probably won't make much of a difference) so you can say you already tried that. Don't try to crack them open or adjust them yourself, or you'll likely void the warranty.

[madison]

Hey thanks atraudes for the heads up. Today I drove into the service department of our local Nissan dealership. I was greeted by a friendly service technician that wished to help me. Yes, I said, I am here to see about some warranty work. I showed him my warranty booklet which said that my seatbelts had a lifetime warranty. I also happened to have a copy of the FSM fix on the "D" ring which I said that I had tried and didn't work. I also had a post-it on the FSM with the 800 number to Nissan. I explained that these seatbelts just wouldn't work right and could he please help me? He checked them out, and made a call or two and.................They ordered the f'ing parts and soon I'll have new seatbelts! Cool! Got my fingers crossed.

[atraudes]

I know, right? It's one of the few warranties they'll honor without too much grief. It's amazing how new your car will feel with new belts Let us know how it goes!

[madison]

Atraudes. If you could see me you'd be looking at a guy w/ new seatbelts and a washed car. Thanks so much for the tip!

[atraudes]

[Finkle]

Well boys, I’m trying this next week to see what they say all these years later. I’ll report back.

[mdmellott]

Well boys, I’m trying this next week to see what they say all these years later. I’ll report back.

If you're looking to see what they say about honoring a warranty like this when you are not the original owner, then good luck. A few years back I found a solution to this common problem that has nothing to do with the recoil spring. Although the spring can likely get weaker over many years of use, I found that the stiffness of the seatbelt strap to be the most common cause of the belt not completely retracting after you unbuckle it. Over the years dirt and grime build up on and within the fabric of the seatbelt, making it stiffer, and that keeps it from retracting. I soaked my belt in hot soapy water and worked it like my great grandma did with clothes on a washboard. Rinsed it well to get all the soap out of the tightly woven fabric of the belt and then let it dry, never letting it retract at anytime during this wash and dry chore. The belt was then as supple and flexible as a new belt and worked good as new when it then retracted completely on its own.

[Mike W.]

Well boys, I’m trying this next week to see what they say all these years later. I’ll report back.

If you're looking to see what they say about honoring a warranty like this when you are not the original owner, then good luck. A few years back I found a solution to this common problem that has nothing to do with the recoil spring. Although the spring can likely get weaker over many years of use, I found that the stiffness of the seatbelt strap to be the most common cause of the belt not completely retracting after you unbuckle it. Over the years dirt and grime build up on and within the fabric of the seatbelt, making it stiffer, and that keeps it from retracting. I soaked my belt in hot soapy water and worked it like my great grandma did with clothes on a washboard. Rinsed it well to get all the soap out of the tightly woven fabric of the belt and then let it dry, never letting it retract at anytime during this wash and dry chore. The belt was then as supple and flexible as a new belt and worked good as new when it then retracted completely on its own.

Interesting. I'm cursed with the exxxxxxtra slow retraction on my '03 Q. I did give them a wash once to zero effect. Not a bit of difference. Perhaps not well enough, I can't say. I then gave them a spray with some Teflon dry lube and they were better. For a while.

Spring tension is not the problem, there's plenty to pull them back in, it's going over the D ring that's the problem. I hadn't associated it with stiffness, I initially suspected a stickyness from dirt accumulation over the years, but my cleaning didn't help. I didn't remove it from the car, but did feel like I did a pretty good job of cleaning. Perhaps not, IDK. I might try it again, or maybe just more teflon spray. But it is a PITA.

[Finkle]

I’ll swap it out myself if they don’t want to mess with it, as long as they’ll sell me the new seatbelt cartridge.

[atraudes]

It doesn’t matter if it’s 30 years later or if you’re the first or fifteenth owner, the only condition of the warranty was that the belts are slow to retract. After feeling how spectacular the new belts were, I can’t recommend taking advantage of this warranty enough. The only thing trying costs you is time.

[Finkle]

It doesn’t matter if it’s 30 years later or if you’re the first or fifteenth owner, the only condition of the warranty was that the belts are slow to retract. After feeling how spectacular the new belts were, I can’t recommend taking advantage of this warranty enough. The only thing trying costs you is time.

Oh I’m definitely going in there to try first. I’m no push-around either. I’ll work the service advisor for it. If then it’s still an issue, I’ll buy a new belt cartridge if they’ll let me.

Mine goes back in fine for the first half, then the rest stops, the belt twists, and the loose part and the male end of the buckle gets in the door frame.