Modified seatbelt. Can it be put back?

[chssvl]

I've recently bought a second hand Honda Jazz. One of the rear seatbelts wasn't retracting (got a discount) and I initially thought that this was because the mechanism had broken. However, I had a poke around and it would appear that the seatbelt has been modified to go over the pre-tensioner pipe and then up in a way that prevents it from retracting as it brushes against the panels (the retracting mechanism is fine), rather than going through the "slot" and straight up as it should - see pictures.

Going through the history of the car, it appears that the previous owner had kids and child seats installed so I'm assuming that was a motivation for this apparent modification.

In any case I was going to see if I could put it back, but it seemed a bit fiddly and thought I'd first ask if it is possible to put it back without cutting it or anything. Or am I better off just replacing the whole thing.

Worth maybe just noting that the strap appears to have been joined up between two segments in a way that the other seatbelt wasn't, so I'm wondering if this was cut before to do this.

Thanks!

 

[Tigercubrider]

Can’t comment on the fix
But isn’t that an MOT failure?

 

[chssvl]

Actually, the online MOT history said that there was a minor observation because seatbelt could not be checked because of child seat being present.

 

[Mottie]

Can’t comment on the fix
But isn’t that an MOT failure?

Only if it can be tested.
The rear seat belt in my Golf has a lump out of it where it got caught in the latch when I slammed the rear seat back in place. I just borrow the child seat from the A3 when it’s test time as they are not allowed to test a seat belt with a child seat fitted although if the OP is going to have anyone use that belt (I don’t in the Golf) then I’d say replace it.

 

[Old Salt]

The white cable tie looks as if its holding the plate in place. Perhaps if that was removed the belt may be manouvered back into the correct position. What does the other rear belt look like?

If you are in any doubt replace the lot, what price safety?

 

[thomp1983]

Cable tie is holding the cable for the pretensioner in place.

There looks enough space in the picture to pull the belt out then fold the slack back on itself and around to the right and slip it around the end of the pretensioner and back into it's correct position

 

[Avocet]

Personally, if the belt has been cut and sewn back together, I wouldn't risk it. Obviously, if you're never going to carry anyone in that seating position, it's not going to be a problem, but in any other circumstances, I just wouldn't.

Just be careful, if you do replace it, some cars get really finnicky about pretensioners. Sometimes you can disconnect the battery for 20 minutes before swapping the component. On others, you sometimes need to go to a dealer to put the "airbag" or "SRS" light out.

 

[chssvl]

Cable tie is holding the cable for the pretensioner in place.

There looks enough space in the picture to pull the belt out then fold the slack back on itself and around to the right and slip it around the end of the pretensioner and back into it's correct position

The white cable tie looks as if its holding the plate in place. Perhaps if that was removed the belt may be manouvered back into the correct position. What does the other rear belt look like?

I could try. I guess the only thing is that I would need to remove the plate altogether as I don't see how else I could feed the strap through the slot without cutting it again. Other belt is normal (see picture below)

Personally, if the belt has been cut and sewn back together, I wouldn't risk it. Obviously, if you're never going to carry anyone in that seating position, it's not going to be a problem, but in any other circumstances, I just wouldn't.

Just be careful, if you do replace it, some cars get really finnicky about pretensioners. Sometimes you can disconnect the battery for 20 minutes before swapping the component. On others, you sometimes need to go to a dealer to put the "airbag" or "SRS" light out.

I'm starting to think about maybe checking with the breakers, see if I get something that is reasonably priced. However, was wondering if maybe these seatbelts are also "paired" in some way to the car. Would it normally just be a matter of unplugging the battery for a while, replacing it and plugging it back again?

 

[robinbanks]

Or am I better off just replacing the whole thing.

Yes

Looking at your pictures, the slot that the belt should pass through appears whole and undamaged so for the belt to now be passing through it points to the belt being cut to get it out. You also note that it seems to be joined (but you don't provide a pic of that)

Given that it's quite likely the same muppet that failed to reassemble the mechanism correctly also did the join, I'd write the whole thing off and get another.

Looks like a MK4? They're in short supply on eBay (the only one I found was an MOT fail because the belt was damaged), you may have better luck at a breakers yard or from someone breaking a car but it may be a bit of a pinch in the wallet - MK3 are available at 30 quid, MK4 in the hundreds (but you've already achieved a discount on the car for this, right?)

There looks enough space in the picture to pull the belt out then fold the slack back on itself and around to the right and slip it around the end of the pretensioner and back into it's correct position

That wouldn't see it routed through the slot though. You'd have to remove the slot, cut it, feed the belt through the cut and still have the problem that the belt has been cut and rejoined

However, was wondering if maybe these seatbelts are also "paired" in some way to the car.

I think it unlikely, judging by the number of wires

 

[chssvl]

Looks like a MK4? They're in short supply on eBay (the only one I found was an MOT fail because the belt was damaged), you may have better luck at a breakers yard or from someone breaking a car but it may be a bit of a pinch in the wallet - MK3 are available at 30 quid, MK4 in the hundreds (but you've already achieved a discount on the car for this, right?)

It is an MK3 actually - post-face lift (2018), although I assume that in this respect all MK3s are the same.

 

[robinbanks]

I stand corrected; I don't know the jazz mark numbers, I was just going by what things were being listed as on eBay but I can see from Wikipedia that there was an overlap in production of the MK3 and 4. None of the ones I saw listed as MK3 looked like yours, but if it's the case you might be able to resolve the problem quite const effectively with a replacement unit

 

[thomp1983]

I'd look very carefully at that small plastic bit I'd suspect it's either got a split in it or has been glued back together to allow the belt out of it, it's pretty much inconceivable that someone has cut the belt and rejoined it somehow and it still functions.

It has been dismantled somehow.

 

[Avocet]

Deleted

 

[Avocet]

... However, was wondering if maybe these seatbelts are also "paired" in some way to the car. Would it normally just be a matter of unplugging the battery for a while, replacing it and plugging it back again?

I honestly don't know. We modify cars at work for wheelchair access, and some you can get away with it just by disconnecting the battery. Others (like Mercedes) can be incredibly difficult. You have to go to a dealer and even the dealer then has to get a special "one-time" code from the factory to reset the warning light - valid for about half an hour!

If you're going to get one from a scrapper, try and get as close to the year of manufacture of your car as possible and check part numbers on both belts. Fortunately (due to the expense of type approving them!) belts tend not to change often in the course of a model's life.

If it was my car, I'd probably try the battery thing first. I think I'd have little to lose. If the light comes on, you're only back to having to go to the stealer anyway.

 

[chssvl]

So, I've reached out to a couple of scrappers on ebay who both have told me that they've already sold the airbag kit, which makes me wonder that maybe these replacements are being done without much hassle? (Also starting to wonder if they will sell me only a single seatbelt...)

Also, here's the pic of the cut. I wonder why was it modified in this way...