Service Procedure
Figure 1:
A. Inspection
Inspect the position of both front (inboard) seat belt buckle assemblies.
^ Figure 1 shows the normal (upright) position of a belt assembly in relation to the seat cushion. If both front belt assemblies are positioned as shown in Figure 1, the belt assemblies are OK and do not require replacement. Proceed to the Repair Procedure and install reinforcement plates to both front belt assembly mounting locations.
Figure 2:
A. Inspection (Continued)
^ Figure 2 shows a damaged seat belt buckle assembly. If either front belt assembly has been bent away from the seat cushion as shown in Figure 2, replace the belt assembly.
Note: Replacement belt assemblies are of a revised construction and do not require reinforcements at the mounting location. Also, the new assemblies come equipped with a proper mounting bolt and rubber bushing and are ready for installation
Figure 3:
Figure 4:
B. Repair Procedure
The following repair should be performed on all front-belt assemblies (driver and passenger) that inspection shows do not require replacement.
1. Remove the front (inboard) seat beft buckle assembly and discard the attaching bolt.
Important: This repair involves the installation of a reinforcement plate at the mounting location of the belt buckle assembly. Refer to Figures 3 and 4 to ensure proper plate application for the vehicle being serviced.
^ All involved 1989 model vehicles contain belt assembly straps that are angled (Figure 3) above the mounting hole. Therefore, all 1989 models require angled reinforcement plates to fit the contour of the angled belt assembly straps.
^ The parts package for 1989 vehicles (C3940431) contains only angled plates.
Figure 4:
B. Repair Procedure (Continued)
^ 1990 model vehicles may contain angled belt assembly straps, straight straps, (Figure 4), or one of each.
The parts package for 1990 vehicles contains both angled (black) and straight (silver) plates. Select the proper reinforcement plates - angled or straight -- from the parts package to fit the belt assembly straps of the vehicle being serviced.
Figure 5:
2. Use pliers to break off the anti-rotation tab protruding from the belt assembly strap, above the assembly mounting hole (Figure 5).
Note: The tab must be removed to ensure that the belt can rotate fore and aft when it is installed.
Figure 6:
3. Selecting the proper reinforcement plate -- straight or angled -- position the belt buckle assembly in its mounting location with a reinforcement plate over the mounting strap so that the plate will be sandwiched between the strap and the mounting bolt head as shown in Figure 6. (The rivet protruding from the plate should be inserted into the tab hole of the belt mounting strap, to align the reinforcement to the strap.)
Note: The rivet tip on the reinforcement plate is not supposed to engage in the seat frame hole when the belt strap is reinstalled. It is only to hold the plate in the proper position on the belt strap during installation.
4. Secure the belt assembly, using a flat washer (from the parts package or dealer supplied), with the supplied rubber grommet and shoulder bolt (Figure 6). Tighten the bolt to 350 in.lbs. torque (40 N-m).
Important: Install the flat washer so that it is located between the belt strap and the rubber grommet. The washer is needed to compress the grommet enough to support the buckle in the upright position.
Verify that the belt can rotate fore and aft around the bolt. It must be able to rotate if loaded, but it should not flop freely.
5. Repeat the above procedure for the other seat belt assembly, as required.