For the first time in a LONG time my car has back seats in as had to give TWO colleagues a lift to audit this week....

On monday morning all went fine with the seats and re-bolting in the buckles, but both rear seatbelt rolls had fully rolled up and would not pull out. I could see the pre-tensioner that usually tightens up on heavy braking pulling down on the belt however gently I pulled on the roll. Had no time to fiddle around with it so one colleague had to sit in the middle and use the lap belt!

Question is, can these rolls be split open and put back to normal again? They have been in a box for a year or so, so curious as to what has exactly happened with them.....

Do you mean the pre-tensioner (pyro-) or inertia lock?

I dont think there are pretensioners on the rear belts, only the front. So it sounds like the inertia real is stuck.

Yeah - sorry - thought it was a pre tensioner, but yeah, inertia lock sounds more likely. It won't release any belt at all.

Guy at work has got a MG B Roadster and has had the same situation recently, he gave the reel a tap with a rubber hammer.

Once the real was free, he pulled the whole belt out and gave it a good blow through with a compressor to remove all the loose dirt.

Edited 20 April, 201016 yr by Browny_37

Did you notice the extra weight Jase? Or have to reached a point now where the power just wins through regardless?

Just saw no point in having seatbelts with no seats. They do weigh a fair bit though.

Rear seats back out the car again - probably won't be back in again until this time next year when this audit rolls around again!