My seat belt retract has become very very slow, to the extent I have to almost push it back through the cover. I assume this is a simple case of WD40 around the mechanism? Or is is a tired spring that will require a new belt unit?

I would think that it would want a new unit.

What you have to remember on newer cars is that there is a small amount of explosive stuff.

They are classed as dangerouse cargo.

I would leave well alone if I was you and just replace the unit.

Sarah

My drivers one isn't quite that bad yet , but it's noticably showing signs of wear to the mechanism after 67k miles.

I think I might be right in saying that this could be an MOT failure if it's really bad

Mine needs help too sometimes. :(

It gets there eventually, but when you want out, the seatbelt hanging there, slowly retracting toward the B pillar, is a bit of a PITA.

It passed the MOT And wasn't even mentioned as a problem.

Sarah - isnt the explosive charge in the retract mechanism under the seat? (to pull the buckle not the belt)

As far as I was aware it is in the seat belt bit at the top.

When I was ordering them from Skoda they told me that because of the nature of them I could not get them on overnight as they are dangerous cargo and you do not open them up as warranty as they are dangerous.

Hey I could be wrong.

i thought they did have something on the seat for the "Anti submaring" seats.

Hey I am loosing touch with this lot but that is what I remembered.

Sarah

Perhaps our friend, Ross can shed some light

I thought the pre-tensioners were in the seat belt unit bolted to the bottom of the B pillar, behind the trim? Only reason I ask is that usually these go off at the same time as the airbags, making the seat belt units useless for re-use. I sold the ones out my wreck at the same time as the airbags as a job lot as it was all needed.

Ahhh, perhaps VAG cars are different to what I'm used to. In a Vauxhall the buckle is yanked under the seat to tnesion the belt. There are long "charges" under the seat to do this.

I thought the pre-tensioners were in the seat belt unit bolted to the bottom of the B pillar, behind the trim? Only reason I ask is that usually these go off at the same time as the airbags, making the seat belt units useless for re-use. I sold the ones out my wreck at the same time as the airbags as a job lot as it was all needed.

Mmm that is right in an accident it pulls it back or something...

Do Octavia`s have the anti submaring seat?

Sarah

Our octy has slowed down too... but dealers said it really isn't worth the change as seats out etc to get trim off and the explosives... said if we could live with it just leave it.

The passenger side front one on my Superb does that, gets back eventually but dont half take it's time, I dont really wear my seatbelt on the drivers side so that is fine, guess they just dont last very well with constant use!!

Yes I know I should wear my seatbelt!!

The MOT Testers Manual says this about seat belt retraction.

5. Fasten each belt locking mechanism and try to pull the locked sections apart. On retracting seat belts, check that with the mechanism fastened and the seat unoccupied, excess webbing is wound into the retracting unit.

Note: Some types of retracting belt might need manual help before they retract.

That could allow some leeway for seatbelts which are slow to retract but I wouldn't rely on it. If a seatbelt is playing up at all and the car is still under warranty it would be well worth getting the seatbelt changed. A front seat 3-point retracting seatbelt and tensioner for the Octavia is around

will be dirt/static on the top seat belt mounting (where you adjust it up and down) try cleaning the belt then spraying furniture polish or silicone spray on the belt and around the top mount. belive me this works a tried and tested K little tip

IIRc in the owners handbook it actually states you should keep the belts clean to help with the above fault.

Ant-submarining seats are deeper in the base at the back than the front, a design feature to prevent you from being pulled under the belt.

Skoda won't let you order hazardous stuff VOR, whereas the franchise that we have got will only let you order airbags on VOR, with the old unit having to be returned the same day.

To give some ideas of the forces involved in an accident the seat belt webbing can stretch by upto 9 to 12 inches.

Holy cow! some of you actually know what your talking about!!!

Just been out and cleaned my seatbelt (all I used was one of them dashboard cleaning wipes) and it now whips back in with all the excitement it did when new!!

Amazing! I wonder why there so prone to slowing down when dirty? dont ever remember having the problem on older cars?

Holy cow! some of you actually know what your talking about!!!

Funny that, working on them all day..lol

Funny that, working on them all day..lol

Tis much appreciated!!

will be dirt/static on the top seat belt mounting (where you adjust it up and down) try cleaning the belt then spraying furniture polish or silicone spray on the belt and around the top mount. belive me this works a tried and tested K little tip

I know this is an old thread but I found a very useful tip here! My seatbelt would hardly retract at all and with a little clean with dashboard wipes works perfectly. Saves an expensive replacement!

BR

Ronan