SDS Photography

My '03's driver side seat belt is stuck retracted. I can do the trick where I hold tension on it and pull and get it to release inch-by-inch, but this is not really helpful for day-to-day driving. I have also released it all the way, and it is not doubled over itself anywhere. I have been unable to find a replacement part. If they are no longer made, then what do I do to correct the problem?

Thanks.

redzg

No new ones for quite some time now. Used or refurbished are the only options. Not sure if the 03 is the same as my 99, but I've been ripped off on used ones on ebay that had been extended, removing the overlap, and the belts were very clearly marked as non-usable.

lewislgZ06

There is a company (Safety Restore) that can fix the retractors for you, and the turnaround is very quick. (About a week and that is mostly due to the shipping to and from)

I sent mine to them to have them re-webbed in red and I’m very happy with them.

Here is their website if you’re interested.
https://www.safetyrestore.com/

jdmvette

I've been right where you are and I know what's wrong and how to fix it.

Ok, now hear me out...Your **** spring has come loose from your screaming troll.

You still with me?

First, get your belt out the car and ready to do surgery.



Use small flatheads and remove the lower seat belt end cap.


Say hello to the **** spring and the screaming troll






Now the middle plastic piece (that rides along with the big plastic gear) needs to hook into the other end of your **** spring (which is shown not connected above).




This is a close-up of the plastic arm that ties it all together.






And this is how the small arm end should press down on this purple tab in order to release the seat belt lock. You do need to align the big end of the plastic arm to where the plastic gear stops when fully retracted. You'll figure it out as you get in there but it should look like this when you are ready to put the plastic endcap back on.



Basically what happens when the seatbelt will not release is the small end of the plastic arm disconnects **** spring and the purple tab can no longer be pressed down which activates the locking mechanism immediately. No amount of pushing the seatbelt lower into the receiver will free the belt because the spring is no longer connected and the release tab is on full lock at all times.

I am fairly confident that disassembling and reconnecting the spring as outlined above should fix your belts. Since all of us with C5s cannot get replacement seat belts, we will all be in the same boat eventually. I didn't see any detailed info on the forum so I went ahead and took pics for posterity. Hope this info helps you or anyone in the future.





Here is a bonus picture deeper in the belt to visually explain just how the locking mechanism works.




Normally the yellow arm is hanging free and the plastic gear is freely spinning. When the yellow arm gets hit with a jarring motion, the arm will fall off the wobbly chrome beer keg. Then the yellow arm will lock into the plastic gear which then causes a metal tab to drop onto an outside larger metal gear (snaaake!) which then locks the belt.

bjones7131

Outstanding write up and the picks are killer. I hope I never need this info. LOL Thanks

MWWarlord

Fantastic write up! Great job!

jrp1588

Mine does this very occasionally, like once every few months. Once I get it extended enough to use, and drive around a bit, it seems to fix itself. Looking at the mechanism, I can't understand how it would just sometimes not work. haha

SDS Photography

This may be the greatest line ever written in a forum. Thanks for the awesome write-up!

SDS Photography

UPDATE: I did this tonight and it is now working correctly. Fun side story - it can be done without removing the seat belt. Not the most fun thing ever, but it can be done.

jdmvette

Great! Glad you're back in business.

Vetteman Jack

Glad you got the belts to work again.