Safety Belt Retractor Unjamming Procedure

After the front seat shoulder belt tongue has been released from the emergency release buckle, the webbing will retract onto the retractor spool, located inside the floor console. Occasionally the retractor may lock up and prevent the webbing from being extracted. This lockup may be caused by either or both of the following conditions:
1. Excessive amount of webbing being stowed on the retractor spool.
2. Coins or other small foreign objects lodged within the retractor spool.

These conditions can be corrected by performing the following procedure:

NOTE: Make sure hands are clean before handling the safety belt webbing.

1. Grasp the shoulder strap webbing near the opening in the floor console and try to feed some of it back onto the retractor, then slowly try to extract the webbing.
2. If the shoulder strap retractor is still locked up, unbuckle the opposite shoulder strap and allow the webbing to slowly retract to prevent the retractor from locking up.
3. Remove the parking brake console.
4. Grasp the strap webbing near the retractor spool and again try to feed some of it back into the retractor. Then slowly try to extract the webbing.
5. If the retractor unlocks, proceed as follows:






a. Grasp the safety belt webbing near the retractor spool and fully extract the webbing until the bare spool is seen.
b. Remove any lodged coin(s) or other foreign objects that may be trapped in the webbing. If damage to the webbing or the retractor is apparent, replace the retractor assembly. Otherwise, proceed to the next step.
c. Make sure the retractor assembly is operating properly. If the retractor is operating properly, install the parking brake console.






6. If the retractor still does not unlock, position finger tips and both thumbs on the retractor spool and force the spool to rotate downward.

CAUTION: Do not use any tools or objects to perform this action or damage to the retractor and/or webbing may result.

7. If the retractor unlocks, proceed as follows:
a. Extract the webbing and, while holding the webbing in the extended position, insert the shoulder belt tongue through the opening in the rear portion of the floor console.
b. Install the shoulder belt tongue into the emergency release buckle.
c. Position the console panel over the parking brake handle and install to the floor using the four retaining screws.
8. Cycle the shoulder strap to the B-pillar.
9. Make sure the shoulder strap lays flat across the seat back, with no twist. If the strap is twisted, unbuckle the strap, remove the twist and 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. Cycle the shoulder straps from the A-pillar to the B-pillar a few times to check for proper operation.