Hello,

The middle, rear seat belt in my Fiesta Zetec is jamed, and it is due for it's MOT.

I have taken the plate off, on the back of the seat to access the mechanism, but I can't see what I can do with it?

Help! Any ideas?

Thank you!

 

Is it the middle lap belt ?

Some of those are non retractable

Welcome to Pf

 

Thank you for the welcome.

It is indeed the middle belt, however it is a full inertia seat belt. With a hatch for access on the rear of the seat.

 

Is it jammed open or closed (in or out) ?

 

It is closed. I don't think I have actually ever used it! I didn't even realise there was anything wrong until I pulled on it.

The inertia function has kicked in and the seat belt reel won't spin.

 

I know its daft and you possibly have tried it but - are you pulling from the right direction ? Sit in the seat and try to use it normally.

Push the belt back in about 1 inch to release the inertia and gently extract it by pulling slowly in the right direction.

 

Nope, tired that. It's not budging.

In fact, it is now not moving at all. Before it had a couple of inches of slack on it. Now it isn't going anywhere.

 

I had the same problem with a seat belt on a sierra.
I had to disassemble the housing and refit a little spring.
The spring comes out of its place and don´t make its job.
this spring is the one in charge of returning back a little hook, as that hook is the one in charge of retaining the belt, so the spring makes the hook loosen the belt.
So if that spring it´s out of its place the hook is retaining the belt all the time.
When you open up the seat belt housing. you will have to brake a little bracket. But don´t worry, you will be able to close again the housing without that bracket.
And here it is, the seat belt runs again.
This happened to me with all the seat belts. I unbolt them to rebuild my car and one year later when i went to fit them again, all of them where looked.
Now they all work fine.
Hope this will help you