MOT Fail - Rear middle seatbelt mechanism

Hi,

Just had my car in for an MOT (Failed!)

They said the rear middle mechanism isn't retracting - they are right! It looks like it's jammed (locked) tightly squashing into the rear seat. I think it looks like it has happened when I've had the rear seats pushed forward.

Is there any way to release this? They want £181 for a new one - if there's an easy fix I'd like to try it lol!


Thanks!
 

vroomtshh

Full Member
Sep 11, 2005
4,222
3
Dreghorn, Scotland
Mine did the same. There's a button on the strapping that's meant to keep the belt out and mine had retracted past the button.
Flick of the plastic cover with a screwdriver and it should pull out really easy
 

m0rk

sarcasm comes free
Staff member
May 19, 2001
27,787
33
Clanfield, UK
Fold the seats down, or pop them out & return for MOT.

Can't fail on the belt when there is no seat.
 
Mine did the same. There's a button on the strapping that's meant to keep the belt out and mine had retracted past the button.
Flick of the plastic cover with a screwdriver and it should pull out really easy

This didn't quite work - Popped the cap off but it never moved any further! I did fix it though!

Solution: (for any further searches)

  • pull the rear bench out
  • un-do the 17mm bolt holding the belt - This lets you retract the belt enough to release the lock
  • bolt it back up!

jobs a good'un!

Now I just have the problem that the discs ECP gave me are the wrong size!!! Gave me the 288mm rather than the 256mm!
 

Oldskoolfool

Guest
My Toledo failed the mot on this yesterday, the mot guy and I tried in vain to release it with all of the above solultions. Went home and what actually worked for me was to pull the seatbelt with both hands towards the front of the car. It only moved a bit, so let it back and kept doing this for a few times and it released!

I know it sounds the opposite of what you should do i.e. leaving slack, but this is what worked for mine and you need to pull quite hard.
 

Fl@pper

Back older greyer and less oilier but always hope
Jun 19, 2001
12,368
25
Gloucester
always just given em a fecking tight/hard pull - usually makes enough slack to release em off
 
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