Searched a lot of threads about this....but didn't find any resolutions. Shoulder belt doesn't retract well, gets shut in the door all the time. I would really like to fix this....any suggestions???

 

Mine to. You have to remove the plastic cover and replace the retractor. You can try cleaning it and some WD40 first but it probably needs to be replaced.

 

I saw a thread awhile ago about a Teflon strip as a fix. The fix even had a part number. I called the local Ford dealer and they had never heard of it. I then cam across this Teflon spray at the hardware store. I thought I would try it on the belt and shoulder connection. The improvement is remarkable. The belt now doesn't hang down and get caught in the door anymore. The spray didn't stain and leaves no residue that I can tell. Not perfect but I am pleased. Worth the few bucks to try anyway. I did mine about a month ago and it is still working fine. I am sure I will have to re spray but not sure yet hoe often. Here is a link to the stuff I used.
http://www.elmers.com/product/detail...filterPath=4oz

 

Hey that's great info. Worth trying. One question, did you have to take the seat apart and spray directly on the retracter? I wouldn't expect many results just spraying the belt.

 

Have the same problem... it's the little black "guide" that the belt goes through before the coil. I took mine apart, loosened the U-shaped cap thats hold it down (takes some pressure off the guide) and it retracts freely... tighten the cap back down and it sticks again... The belt in my truck is dirty. I'm guessing from all the years of dirty hands enough gunk has built up on the belt and in that guide to make it stick... I'm going to take it back apart and clean it real good, might even try this stuff ya'll mentioned too....

PS. If I remember correctly the star bit is something in the 30's... I'll have to look again when I get home I can't remember now which one I used to take it apart

Shoot.. I might even take pics and do a how-to for it haha!

 

i HATE that...how do u fix it? i have a local junkyard inwitch i can get parts(and if anyone else needs em i can send) i just need to kno how to get the over off and or how to replace the retractor

 

You pop the little plastic screw covers off with a knife or screwdriver. Behind them are Torque/Star bit head screws. I can't remember exactly what size they are. Take them all out (Seems like there is 1 on each side) and the plastic cover comes off. Then there are 2 bolts holding the U-shaped cap on. That holds the belt guide in place... that's as far as I went. I didnt take anything else apart. But to do what they are talking about & clean that guide and spray stuff in it, thats as far as you'd have to go. I'm going to work on this saturday morning. I'll take some pics while Im at it.

 

Actually I did not take anything apart. I have before in attempting to see if I could add more tension to the retract coil, but no luck. I actually just sprayed the part the belt loops thru at the shoulder harness and then the belt itself. I am sure this isn't a permanent fix, but I haven't had to re spray it yet. Worth a try I guess. I am happy with the results and expect to have to respray it eventually. Since I still have an almost full can of spray, I guess I can do it several more times.

 

OK, I took it all apart. First thing you'll need is a Torx t25 bit. There are 4 fasteners on the plastic cover, and 2 more on the metal strap shown here:


Next remove the hard plastic cover on the seat back. There are 2 push pin type fasteners on the bottom, the top and sides just hook over the wire that's around the edge of the seat. After removing a rubber cover, it looks like the following. There is one bolt (Torx50) and a tab holding on the spool:


After removing the spool, careful removing the black cover over the spring on the right, this is what happened to me (YIKES!):


It is possible to put it back. It was clean and well lubed, so I just made sure to wind it tighter. In fact I got it too tight and it wouldn't reach around my waist, and I'm a skinny guy. I had to take it apart again and let a couple coils out:


The retraction of the belt was better, but still sluggish. As suggested, I used some dry lube on the guide shown here. It's really improved, before I put all the covers back on I'll try it for a few days:


The other side is the inertia assembly which catches the belt in an accident type situation. It has a weight and a ball. It still works fine:

 

I didnt go that far... I just took the top bracket off and the guide and sprayed it, but didnt spray it well enough b/c now it's back to sticking again...

 

What I want to do is install a seat cover on the driver side, but the seat belt would be inaccesable. I think I need to remove the retractor completly.
Any ideas? Videos? Thanks, Rod