Front Pass Side Seat Belt Twisting/Folding

[ed1948]

I blamed my Wife for not handling the seat belt properly because she always has problems with it twisting in the loop and unable to pull it out all the way. I checked and it happens sometimes when I try it as well. As the belt passes through the loop it folds over itself and jams. I haven't looked into it yet but any ideas as to why the belt folds. The belt looks good at first inspection.

 

[tc1959]

My wife can't use a seat belt without twisting it up. Every car we have owned same thing.

 

[G-boz]

I believe the belt is suppose to be twisted from the factory. I think they do it for strength......
The belt shouldn't jam though

 

[pagrunt]

It must be a wife thing, my wife is a pro twisting belts. It was done in her old Contour, the Monte, Her Santa Fe & my Silverado. Gotta check belts every time she uses them.

 

[ed1948]

The problem is that it then jams in the loop, I need to get out to her side, flatten the belt and unjam the mechanism.
I'd rather drive alone, roll down the windows and crank some Dep Lepperd or Bob Seeger on the stereo or just drive without music and listen to the symphonic tones from the tailpipes

 

[clean8485]

What I've found over the years, is that if the seat belt webbing material gets twisted once, then it has a tendency to want to keep twisting after that. Its almost as though the material has a "memory" of becoming twisted, and wants to keep doing it. At that point, you have to learn to either handle the seat belt carefully when you're using it, or start looking around for a replacement that's in good condition. The driver's seat belt in my Malibu has the buckle twisted 180 degrees from where it should be. I've tried several times to see if I can get it back to normal, but so far, no success. The "loop" in the buckle is so narrow, that I can't get it twisted back. I'm not sure how it got turned around to begin with.

 

[pontiacgp]

The problem is that it then jams in the loop, I need to get out to her side, flatten the belt and unjam the mechanism.
I'd rather drive alone, roll down the windows and crank some Dep Lepperd or Bob Seeger on the stereo or just drive without music and listen to the symphonic tones from the tailpipes

You could always ask her to get in the back seat...🙂

 

[Texas82GP]

I bought a used truck when I wanted to swap the cam and torque converter in my daily driver. It was about 10 years old and the seat belts didn't want to retract. They were stiff and filthy. I pulled them all the way out and used a large binder clip to keep them from trying to retract. I then cleaned them in a large pot of hot water and ammonia with a toothbrush. It worked great. They were almost like new. I don't know if this would help but perhaps it would relax the fibers in the webbing. Just an idea.

 

[ed1948]

Sounds like a good idea that cleaning the belts might make them slide better. Put another item on my to do list.
Just noticed that I've graduated to a G Body Forum Master Mechanic...still feel like a grease monkey - first class.

 

[clean8485]

When I was still working at the dealership, the trim technician there would deal with slow/lazy seat belt retractors by spraying the webbing material with a clear silicone spray. It allowed the retractor to work more smoothly, and a bit quicker. Hope this helps.