Front Seat Shoulder Strap - Locks Up In Retractor
91ford16
Article No.
91-8-2
04/17/91
PASSIVE RESTRAINT - FRONT SEAT SHOULDER STRAP LOCKS UP IN RETRACTOR - UNLOCKING PROCEDURE
FORD: 1991 ESCORT
LINCOLN-MERCURY: 1991 TRACER
ISSUE: The front seat shoulder strap may lock up in the retractor and cannot be extracted after the shoulder strap tongue is released from the emergency release buckle. This usually occurs because the shoulder strap retracts too quickly and traps air between the layers of webbing. This causes the locking bar to engage prematurely.
ACTION: Use the following procedure to unlock the front seat shoulder strap retractor.
NOTE: MAKE SURE YOUR HANDS ARE CLEAN BEFORE HANDLING THE SAFETY BELT WEBBING.
Figure 1:
1. Grasp the shoulder strap webbing near the opening in the floor console and try to feed some of it back into the retractor, Figure 1. Sometimes this unlocks the retractor.
2. If the shoulder strap retractor is still locked up, unbuckle the opposite side shoulder strap and allow the webbing to SLOWLY retract to prevent the retractor from locking up.
3. Remove the rear portion of the floor console as follows:
a. Pull the parking brake handle up.
b. Remove the four (4) screws retaining the rear portion of the floor console to the floor.
NOTE: IT IS NECESSARY TO MOVE THE SEATS FULL REARWARD TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE FRONT RETAINING SCREWS AND MOVE THEM FULL FORWARD TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE REAR RETAINING SCREWS.
c. Pull the tongue ends of both shoulder straps through their openings in the console panel and lay the panel aside.
NOTE: IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO REMOVE THE ENTIRE FLOOR CONSOLE.
Figure 2:
4. Grasp the strap webbing near the retractor spool and again try to feed some of it back into the retractor, Figure 2.
5. If the retractor unlocks, proceed as follows:
a. Extract the webbing and, while holding the webbing in the extended position, insert the shoulder strap tongue through the opening in the rear portion of the floor console.
b. Install the shoulder strap tongue into the emergency release buckle. Repeat the above steps for the opposite side shoulder strap.
c. Position the console panel over the parking brake handle and install it to the floor using the four (4) retaining screws.
Figure 3:
6. If the retractor still does not unlock, position finger tips and both thumbs on the retractor spool as shown in Figure 3. Forcibly rotate the spool downward, forcing more webbing onto the retractor spool, which will unlock the retractor.
CAUTION: DO NOT USE ANY TOOLS OR OBJECTS TO PERFORM THIS ACTION BECAUSE THEY MAY DAMAGE THE RETRACTOR AND/OR WEBBING.
7. Operate the shoulder strap several times in and out. If the retractor performs properly, install the console panel. Refer to Step # 5a.
8. Cycle the shoulder strap to the "B" pillar.
9. Make sure that the shoulder strap lays flat across the seat back, with no twist. If the strap is twisted, proceed as follows:
a. Unbuckle the strap.
b. Remove the twist.
c. Insert the tongue into the emergency release buckle.
NOTE: WHEN THE SHOULDER STRAP RETURNS TO THE "A" PILLAR, THERE SHOULD BE A HALF-TWIST IN THE STRAP.
10. Repeat Step # 9 for the opposite side shoulder strap.
11. Cycle the shoulder straps from the "A" pillar to the "B" pillar a few times to make sure they function properly.
OTHER APPLICABLE ARTICLES: NONE
WARRANTY STATUS: Eligible Under Safety Restraint, Basic Warranty Coverage
OPERATION DESCRIPTION TIME
910802A Unlock Front Seat Shoulder 0.4 Hr.
Strap Retractor
DEALER CODING
BASIC PART NO. CONDITION CODE
70611A48 41
OASIS CODES: 104000