Bench Seat Middle Seatbelt Unlatch DIY

If you have a front bench seat in your Tacoma, you probably know that the middle seat barely has enough room for a backpack, much less another person (especially if you drive a manual transmission). Most vehicles have offered a method of unlatching similar rarely used seat belts in their cars, usually by sticking a key or other flat object into a slot on the latch, releasing the seat belt. Starting at some late year in the 2nd gen line of Tacomas, Toyota decided to stop drilling the slot for you to stick a key in, but left all of the latching and unlatching hardware in place. There was a DIY for this somewhere that I've seen before but the pictures are long gone by now so I figured I'd make a new one (with hopefully a more reliable image host than Photobucket ).

This is a very, very easy mod and is totally free (assuming you have a screwdriver and a butter knife or sharper).

Step 1: Identify the Problem

Problem identified. If you can't find it PM me and I'll help you find an elementary school in your area.

Step 2: Have her open the box...

I found that the best place to pry open from was down around where the belt loops through, it was loose and easy to get the screwdriver in there. Pop off this side and work up the side (it doesn't require very much force at all), rinse, and repeat on the other side.

Step 3: Woohoo

It's now open. That red thing slides to release the seat belt. For me, the seat belt popped out while I was opening the case.

Step 4: Cut a hole in the box (wrong order maybe?? )

I used a boxcutter to cut a hole the right size for my key to fit through to press that red slider. If you cut the hole on the wrong side, it probably won't work (don't know didn't try). You could use any cutting implement of your choice such as a butter knife, chainsaw, or hatchet. After cutting the slot, snap it all back together and you're done.

Step 5: Finishing up

I took off this plastic cover and tucked the end of the seat belt underneath it to keep it from flapping around, poking my neck, or being generally hateful while I'm driving.

I don't know why I waited a month of having the truck to do this. It was stupid easy. I'm not responsible for things you break. Have fun.

 

Thankyou!

 

Omg I need a new buckle and cant seem to find it the tongue on yours is just like mine if you dont mind do you have that part number? What's your model truck if you dont mind me asking??