Seat belts not retracting

I wish Toyota knew how to make seat belts? Mine wore out on retraction,,,, so I bought two new ones from Toyota,,, still won't retract most of the time,,, sometimes yes, but barely.

Anybody pursued taking them apart to make the "whatever" spring wind tighter? I think it's doable but just don't want to make it not do it's job when needed, never hopefully. They're limp
wristed at best now.

 

Did you get the whole retraction mechanism and the belt, or just the retraction assembly? A dirty grungy belt is not nearly as flexible and anything will have trouble retracting it.

There are several threads of people taking the assembly apart and cleaning everything (including the belt), lubing it and it ends up like new, or better than new. Just do a search (here and/or google), you should find them.

 

Yeah, i bought the whole enchilada.
my computer skills suck at best,, i can set valve clearance's but computer skills or terrible,, i'll give it whirl,
thanks,

 

@pulldo
http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/minutemods/seatbelt/

 

Surely brand new from Toyota (not refurbished ones)? I did replace both front seat belts in my 95 truck (Replaced all front seat belts and buckles for brand new OEM) and the first time I used them they almost choked me to death. And I need to be careful releasing them because I'm worried that flying hasp would break my side window.

 

What did the seat belts cost from Toyota?

I had a (sorta minor) accident and I think it may have stretched out the webbing of the driver side belt. Apparently they have some « give » built in as a safety feature. I’m wondering if it’s cheap enough to change out as a precaution.

 

I remember my seatbelts were always weak to retract since new. They still retract the same lame way they always have. My trouble was the end fraying on the passenger side belt. 4 years ago I grabbed my soldering iron and cauterized that end and it's been fine since.

 

What's a retractor

 

Bust out that vacuum brother!

 

The price will vary based on the year - my 1995 did not have pre-tensioner like later models and if I remember right they were something like 140-ish dollars per each side. Your might be mode expensive because of pre-tensioner.

 

Is that like being "sorta pregnant"?

I've actually never heard of "stretchy" seatbelts.

But if it makes you feel better, do it. It's like a motorcycle helmet or a climbing rope. If you suspect it *at all*, replace it.

 

Brandy new,,,,, I still have the receipt if anybody is interested,, I've had them a few years now, re-placed when I had the truck painted. They've worked the same since install,,, very weak on windup.

 

You know you drive a Toyota truck whenever you look back at it in the parking lot and the belt is hanging out the door.

Been driving one so long its just habit for me to reach back and help it retract.

 

Forgot my manners, thanks for the link.

 

So if you bought them from a dealer or reputable on-line seller (like official parts seller), not from Amazon or ebay I see only two possibilities: Toyota or or dealer screwed up something, or they have some rub after the installation. If you got them of less known sources (ebay, amazon) all bets are off.

All I know brand new seat belts are smooth running and very efficient on retraction. I had them like that when I bought my truck in 1998, my 2012 4Runner still runs tight, and now new replacement seat belts for Tacoma. Just to be clear what I'm talking each came in the box like that:



On the picture you can see how much belt is left when they are fully retracted:

 

How much did you pay for those? if you don’t mind sharing, my drivers side is garbage and frayed and don’t really want to go the junkyard route.

 

I bought my seatbelts brand new from the dealer last year. They only cost me about $160 total for the driver’s side if I remember correctly.

 

I have developed the habit of releasing and holding on to the buckle with my left hand, then holding it up toward the roof before releasing it. Nearly always retracts in good order.

 

I’ve gone through 3 sets and all were brought from the dealer.

Bottom line the spring is weak to start with for retracting the belt.

The one I have now is a year old and the belt will not always rewind without help

 

I read somewhere on TW that you can send them somewhere to refurbish?