Seat Belt Fix

Author
Discussion

Nigel lewis

Original Poster:

1,585 posts

272 months

Tuesday 17th September 2002
quotequote all
I know a few of you were in contact with the factory about the seat belt fix.
Has there been any progress yet?
I went to Rockingham on Saturday, and went with the roof fully down. Had my son in the car who came along for the ride.
I had to stop and put the back part of the hood up in the end, so that the belts would actually work properly.
It brought it home to me, just how dangerous this is,and potentially a death trap. After all, an accident dosen't necessarily have to be your fault. If someone runs into you and the seat belt is twice the length it should be, well. say no more.
What is the point of having an open top car, if you cannot take the roof down, without placing you at a high (and unacceptable) risk.

frostie

428 posts

282 months

Tuesday 17th September 2002
quotequote all
quote:
I know a few of you were in contact with the factory about the seat belt fix.
Has there been any progress yet?
I went to Rockingham on Saturday, and went with the roof fully down. Had my son in the car who came along for the ride.
I had to stop and put the back part of the hood up in the end, so that the belts would actually work properly.
It brought it home to me, just how dangerous this is,and potentially a death trap. After all, an accident dosen't necessarily have to be your fault. If someone runs into you and the seat belt is twice the length it should be, well. say no more.
What is the point of having an open top car, if you cannot take the roof down, without placing you at a high (and unacceptable) risk.


Fix is very close and should be with us in the coming weeks. My car is currently at dealers having the engine rebuilt, head gasket gone, full extent of damage still being assessed which is why I hadn't posted 'til now. They indicated that the seatbelt fix may be ready to be installed at the same time. Will keep you posted.

Frostie


>> Edited by frostie on Tuesday 17th September 18:24

nubbin

6,809 posts

285 months

Wednesday 18th September 2002
quotequote all
Good lad, frostie - do you know if it will be a self-applicable fix, rathr than having to trail back to the dealer? Is there going to be a recall for it anyway?

Lance

567 posts

270 months

Wednesday 18th September 2002
quotequote all
Nigel...glad you agree with us!

frostie

428 posts

282 months

Wednesday 18th September 2002
quotequote all
quote:

Good lad, frostie - do you know if it will be a self-applicable fix, rathr than having to trail back to the dealer? Is there going to be a recall for it anyway?


I would imagine it will be self applicable but don't know for sure. As far as a recall they weren't sure when I last spoke to them, but I indicated that I felt it should be due to the potential consequences. In fact they should really issue a safety warning to all owners while they are working on it IMHO. I certainly wouldn't drive mine with the hood down until this is fixed.

robertm

253 posts

270 months

Thursday 19th September 2002
quotequote all
I was recently talking with James Baggott, Consumer Reporter with Auto Express Magazine.

He was quite interested in the problem with the seatbelts and has been in touch with TVR to confirm the current situation.

They have advised him that a new seat belt guide should be available in the very near future, and will be fitted by local TVR dealers.

Auto Express are now going to run a brief story on this problem, so hopefully the added publicity will encourage TVR to release the new seatbelt guides sooner rather than later!

Needless to say, James has asked me to let him know if the problem is not resolved promptly, or if there are any difficulties arranging for the modification to be carried out.

Gaffer

7,156 posts

284 months

Thursday 19th September 2002
quotequote all
Well done.

The fix is being applied but it will take some time to get all the cars done.



>> Edited by Gaffer on Thursday 19th September 15:35

Lance

567 posts

270 months

Thursday 19th September 2002
quotequote all
top contact rob, nice one!

alt

1,879 posts

289 months

Thursday 19th September 2002
quotequote all
Yep, good one Rob!
Don't know why it will take the dealers long to update all cars? How many Tamoras has each dealer sold? I doubt if any are in double figures?

RichB

52,751 posts

291 months

Thursday 19th September 2002
quotequote all
Not got a Tamora but have been following this thread with interest, seems to me a little alloy bridge creating clearence under which the belt could run would solve the problem quite simply? How much design does that take? Rich...

PetrolTed

34,443 posts

310 months

Thursday 19th September 2002
quotequote all
quote:

I was recently talking with James Baggott, Consumer Reporter with Auto Express Magazine.


...talking to him in passing or talking to him as in ringing him up to bring the issue to his attention?

robertm

253 posts

270 months

Thursday 19th September 2002
quotequote all
I wasn't trying to offend anyone or undermine previous attempts at resolving what is potentially a lethal problem, (Claire, I'm going to e-mail you directly).

Various people have been in touch with dealers and the factory regarding a solution and yes, one has been promised. The modification will hopefully be fitted to all new cars and those already on the road before someone is killed or injured.

Personally, I see no problem in making more people aware of this hazard, as not everyone who owns a Tamora, will be a regular reader of threads on PH, so to answer Teds question, yes, I brought it to his attention.

I love my Tamora, as I think most owners do, but the seatbelt problem needs attention urgently, and the only way to achieve this seems to be with persistent pressure on the factory.

Gaffer

7,156 posts

284 months

Thursday 19th September 2002
quotequote all
How can I put this politely…?

Its all well and good letting people know about this problem but the way you have gone about it has seriously upset me. And far from doing good this has probably done a lot more harm than you could imagine.

There was and is no need to apply "persistant pressure on the factory". The factory knows about this issue and is in the process of sorting it out for the current cars in build. Once this has been done the dealers would be notified and then the rest of the cars would be fixed.

Frostie – the factory were in contact with you every day that week. Admittedly it wasn’t BS but it was the Customer Services Department.

Perhaps I am overreacting but I feel like I, as well as my Dad, have been slapped in the face for helping people and I am not prepared to take it.

Game over.

Claire

>> Edited by Gaffer on Thursday 19th September 21:19

PetrolTed

34,443 posts

310 months

Thursday 19th September 2002
quotequote all
quote:

The factory knows about this issue and is in the process of sorting it out for the current cars in build. Once this has been done the dealers would be notified and then the rest of the cars would be fixed.


Not wishing to pour fuel on the fire - but I'm sure I won't be the first to point this out - why are the in-build cars being seen to first when no one is out there driving them?

Gaffer

7,156 posts

284 months

Thursday 19th September 2002
quotequote all
I dunno - ask the factory. I presume it so they wont be on the recall list or however they are going to manage it.

PetrolTed

34,443 posts

310 months

Thursday 19th September 2002
quotequote all
What a messy situation.

Might I suggest everyone has several now.

pwig

11,956 posts

277 months

Thursday 19th September 2002
quotequote all
how about some pies ted?

PetrolTed

34,443 posts

310 months

Thursday 19th September 2002
quotequote all
Time for coffee... had my pie for this evening.

pwig

11,956 posts

277 months

Thursday 19th September 2002
quotequote all
Pipe? Slippers?

frostie

428 posts

282 months

Friday 20th September 2002
quotequote all
Claire,

I have sent you an email regarding the exact facts of my correspondance with the factory on this issue.

Frostie

>> Edited by frostie on Friday 20th September 07:57