New Guy - Quick question regarding seatbelts

Hey all,

So I recently just picked up a 04 Tacoma TRD 4x4 with 55k and absolutely love it. It is by far my favorite car i've owned and i hardly know it. I am working on just up-keeping the stuff the previous owner didn't do so good with and had a couple questions.

The first and main thing is both the passenger and driver side seat belts don't retract very well. You have to assist the seatbelt for it to retract all the way and not get stuck in the door when you close it. I have an extended cab and the back seat belts retract perfect; I was curious if you can take the belts from the backseat and swap them to the front or if its better just to get new ones for the front? I see that they are relatively pricey so thats where my question arose from.

The other really quick question I had is the previous owner had some hideous embroidered headrests on it and I cant seem to find replacements anywhere. Does anyone know what other model cars would fit and if there is anywhere to get them online?

Thanks!

 

It works. Did it to mine the day a bought it

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

 

What panels do you have to remove to get the seatbelt off? Tried doing this a few months ago but I couldn't figure it out

 

B Pillar. Remove the bottom mount of the belt first so you can pull it through the trim when you get it off.

 

Thanks for the help! I'm going to try and do this this weekend. It's super irritating to have to worry about slamming the belt in the door anytime you get out. haha

 

On my 03 I hold the belt by the clip (after unhooking it) and raise and lower until it rolls in and leave the clip laying against to top of the seat. Definitely not a fix but might work until it's repaired. Don't know why Toyota didn't fix the problem and my 85 was the same way.

 

a lot of times it just needs lubricating from being old and not used much but if a little oil doesn't fix it do the spring turn trick, just don't go too far, two or three turns is all it takes of it will overwind the spring when in use and that could be a problem.

 

Any how to's on how to remove the B pilliar panel? Don't wont to breat anything seeing mine is a 1996 model and has a few years on the panel.