Retractor Tests

Safety Belt Webbing Sensor Test
With the vehicle stationary and on level ground take firm hold of the safety belt webbing (on the tongue side of the upper safety belt anchor) and pull out quickly. The retractor should lock within 0.25 metre (10 inches), preventing further webbing payout. Any safety belt retractor from which it is possible to extract further webbing must not be used. A new safety belt must be installed.

Service Installation of Safety Belts
It is possible that the safety belt assemblies installed in service may have been damaged during handling or installation to the vehicle. The damage is contained within the inner workings of retractor and is therefore, not visible. However, the damage usually causes the retractor to stick or jam. The damage can only occur before installation is completed and is usually in one of the following ways:
^ The safety belt webbing is allowed to retract onto the spindle until it jams the locking mechanism in a way that cannot occur when the safety belt is installed in the car. The safety belt webbing prevents the correct locking action and if the safety belt webbing is snatched or jerked out of the retractor, the loads are not taken on this high strength locking mechanism.
^ The webbing is snatch loaded by attempted fast extraction or manual testing with the safety belt held in the hand. This can result in deceleration which are much higher than those occurring in accident situations and there is a risk of damage to the mechanism.

When handling safety belt assemblies, adopt the following procedures:

WARNING: IF THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURES ARE NOT SUCCESSFUL, REJECT THE SAFETY BELT ASSEMBLY. DO NOT TRY TO JERK OR SNATCH THE WEBBING OUT OF THE RETRACTOR AS THIS MAY CAUSE DAMAGE. FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE PROCEDURES COULD AND MAY CAUSE DAMAGE OR PERSONAL INJURY.

^ If the safety belt webbing retracts and will not extract under low webbing tension, install the retractor onto its mounting in the car, which will set it at its correct angle, and the safety belt webbing should extract easily.
^ If it does not, feed 5-10 mm (3/16 - 3/8 inch) more safety belt webbing onto the spindle (rotate the spindle using finger pressure if necessary) and the safety belt webbing should then extract.