Seat Belt System

Seat belts, inspecting

CAUTION! After every accident the seat belt system must be inspected systematically! If damage is determined when inspecting the check points, customer must be informed regarding necessity of changing belts.

Check points:
- Check belt webbing
- Check retractor (locking function)
- Visually check belt latch
- Check belt latch function
- Check belt guide rings and locking tongue
- Check securing components and anchorage points


Check belt webbing

- Pull belt completely out of retractor or lap belt adjustment tongue.
- Inspect belt webbing for contamination and, if necessary, wash with mild soap solution.
- If any of the following illustrated damage examples (1 and 2) are discovered on an accident vehicle - replace complete seat belt with belt latch and belt height adjuster.
- If one kind of damage under points 1, 2, 3 and 4 is detected on a vehicle which has not been in an accident, only the damaged seatbelt needs to be replaced.




Belt webbing cut, torn or chafed.





Webbing loops on belt edge torn.





Burn marks from cigarettes or similar.





One side of belt edge deformed or area of belt edge is wavy.

Check retractor (locking function)

- The belt retractor has two locking functions.
- The first locking function is initiated by belt being jerked out of the retractor (belt extraction acceleration).

Checking

- Pull belt webbing out of retractor with a firm jerk.
- No locking function - replace compete seat belt with belt latch.
- If difficulties are experienced when pulling out or retracting belt, first check whether position of retractor has been altered.
- The second locking function is initiated by change in vehicle velocity (vehicle-dependent locking function). For this, the vehicle must be moved on a level surface.

Checking
- Fasten seat belt.
- Accelerate vehicle to 12 mph (20 km/h) and then perform a full braking maneuver with foot brake.
- If the locking mechanism does not lock the seat belt during the braking maneuver, the complete seat belt with belt latch must be replaced.

CAUTION! For safety reasons, road test should be carried out on traffic-free stretch to ensure that other motorists/pedestrians etc. are not endangered.

Visually check belt latch
- Inspect belt latch for cracks and chipping.
- If damage is discovered, replace complete seat belt with belt latch.

Check belt latch function
Check belt latch:
- Insert locking tongue into belt latch until it audibly engages. Check whether locking mechanism is properly engaged by giving belt webbing a firm jerk.
- If locking tongue fails to engage properly in belt latch even once during at least 5 tests, replace complete seat belt with belt latch.

Check release mechanism:
- Release seat belt by pressing button on belt latch with finger pressure.
- When belt is slack, locking tongue must spring out of belt latch on its own.
- Perform test at least 5 times. If locking tongue fails even once to spring out, replace complete seat belt with belt latch.

CAUTION! Under no circumstances may grease be used to eliminate noise or stiffness at belt buckle buttons.

Check belt guide rings and locking tongue
- The plastic-covered guides show fine parallel scoring after straining belt system (belt was fastened during accident). (Wear which has been brought about by frequent belt use can be identified by smooth signs of wear which are free of scoring.)
- Inspect for deformation, chipping and cracks in plastic.
- If scoring and/or damage is discovered, replace complete seat belt with belt latch.

Check securing components and anchorage points
- Latch bracket deformed (stretched)
- Height adjuster not functional
- Anchorage points (seat, pillar, vehicle floor) distorted or thread damaged
- If damage is discovered on these components, replace complete seat belt with belt latch.
- Replace anchorage points.

Note: In damage is discovered that is not accident-related, e.g. wear, replace the particular part which is damaged.