Rank Amatuer · Mar 21, 2024

Houston, we have a problem.
The larger of the two rear seat backs is folded down and the centre seatbelt, having taken up the slack, has jammed. Now I cannot raise the centre seat back. Wiggle the seatbelt it as much as I like, but I cannot get it free. Cannot get at the bottom to unbolt it (if that is even possible)
There's a couple of prior threads similar to this, but no resolution.
How do I access the seat internals to get at the webbing drum?

Nodge68 · Mar 21, 2024

Not a problem I've had myself, although I have seen a couple of threads about it over the years.

Rank Amatuer · Mar 22, 2024

I think there is a rollover mode with these seatbelts. With the rear seat folded down I know I lurched down a very potholey descent and I reckon whatever locks the seatbelt drum in the event of a rollover got activated.
I’m still no nearer gaining access to the drum though.
I might be able to undo the bottom belt fixing where it bolts to the chassis. I’ll try that today if it stops pissing down.

Rank Amatuer · Mar 22, 2024

All sorted!
I used a scissor jack to lift the seat back as much as I dared to give me access to the bottom end fixing nut; it's 18mm.
Got that undone and once I'd taken some of the strain off the belt by lowering the jack a little I was able to prise the bottom fitting bracket off. Note: The belt end and the NS passenger seatbelt clip share the same bracket.
Once the seat back was vertical the belt retracted and I was able to slide it in and out no problem. It still locks up when you give it a jerk, so all good.
Note: Even with the bottom end undone, and the belt slack, it would not retract until the seat was vertical.
I can't say for certain if this is a rollover safety feature but in future I'll be fastening the centre seatbelt before I lower the seat back. If it jams again I could release the clip and that would give me enough slack to raise the seat.

Nodge68 · Mar 22, 2024

Well done.

I've not checked the rear belts for a ratcheting mechanism, which I thought had been outlawed now. My old Ford Maverick had ratcheting rear belts, so if they were pulled beyond a set point, they couldn't be pulled out again, without them being almost fully retracted first. I didn't think the FL2 used them though, but I'll check mine tonight just for my own peace of mind.

J_D · Mar 22, 2024

I saw scissor jack and thought you'd lifted the car enough to release the seat belt!
They operate quite crudely but effective using a pendulum type arrangement that if it gets swung too far it locks the belt.

Arctic2 · Mar 26, 2024

Rank Amatuer said:
All sorted!
I used a scissor jack to lift the seat back as much as I dared to give me access to the bottom end fixing nut; it's 18mm.
Got that undone and once I'd taken some of the strain off the belt by lowering the jack a little I was able to prise the bottom fitting bracket off. Note: The belt end and the NS passenger seatbelt clip share the same bracket.
Once the seat back was vertical the belt retracted and I was able to slide it in and out no problem. It still locks up when you give it a jerk, so all good.
Note: Even with the bottom end undone, and the belt slack, it would not retract until the seat was vertical.
I can't say for certain if this is a rollover safety feature but in future I'll be fastening the centre seatbelt before I lower the seat back. If it jams again I could release the clip and that would give me enough slack to raise the seat.

I would be careful fastening the centre seatbelt before you lower the seat back, because when you try and raise it, the seat will be locked to the point of where the stop button is on the strap, and you can brake the button off ask me how i know

Rank Amatuer

Well-Known Member

Nodge68

Well-Known Member

Rank Amatuer

Well-Known Member

Rank Amatuer

Well-Known Member

Nodge68

Well-Known Member

J_D

Well-Known Member

Arctic2

Well-Known Member

Similar threads