MR2 seat belt problems

[grahambell]

Don't know if anybody else has had this problem, but my newly acquired Mk2 MR2 has just failed the MOT because the inertia reels don't lock when you pull the belts. Never had this problem with any other car I've had so never even thought to check.

Been doing my head in with this because when I unbolt the reels I can get them to work fine. Soon as I remount them they refuse to lock.

So, anybody else had this problem or have any ideas for a solution? Replacement belts seems best bet at moment...

[Steve_evil]

Mine never seemed to work on mine either.

[tuttle]

AFAIK inertia reels do not contain any user serviceable parts. But you didn't want to muck about with them did you?

[GravelBen]

they work using a little ball bearing which rolls around in a holder to lock them, so sometimes if the bracket is on the wrong angle the bearing will roll to the side and lock it (same situation as when they lock because you're parked on a slope in some cars.)

could be something similiar happening here, have you tried holding it on different angles to see when it locks and when it doesn't?

Edited by GravelBen on Wednesday 7th June 03:34

[grahambell]

Thanks for the replies guys. To answer GravelBen, yes they do seem to need to be at a slight angle to work, and they are mounted at a slight angle in the car - but they still don't work in that. Can't really change the mounting angle either.

[Embrolium]

Not actually had cause to try mine yet but will do after work now that you've mentioned this

[GravelBen]

grahambell said:

Thanks for the replies guys. To answer GravelBen, yes they do seem to need to be at a slight angle to work, and they are mounted at a slight angle in the car - but they still don't work in that. Can't really change the mounting angle either.

hmm, weird. could just be some small plastic piece inside the mechanism is worn down or broken. stupid question but theres no bolt or anything putting pressure on the casing is there? ie from having a washer on the wrong side or something? unlikely but vaguely possible.

[Andyb_WRX]

I heard of this before on imports, the door needs to be shut when testing the seat belts. Its to do with the seat belt retraction system when the door opens.

This might help a bit more MR2OC Link

[_Al_]

I was told these are £38 from Toyota... Maybe wrong but worth asking surely?

[grahambell]

Andyb_WRX said:

I heard of this before on imports, the door needs to be shut when testing the seat belts. Its to do with the seat belt retraction system when the door opens.

This might help a bit more MR2OC Link

Thanks for that Andy. Mine's an import and there's a lever arrangement connected to the reel behind the B pillar. Wasn't sure what it was for, though pushing the lever up didn't make any difference. Hadn't even seen anything about this in any forum before, but from that link you've given it looks like car has to be moving for the belts to lock.

Right, just off to put the bits back together and give it a try...

[grahambell]

Aha! Quick blat up road, hit the brakes, pull the belt and - solid. So they do work, they just do it in a strange Japanese way. Obviously going to have to be a rolling test for the MOT, which other newbie MR2 owners might like to bear in mind.

[aldi]

grahambell said:

Aha! Quick blat up road, hit the brakes, pull the belt and - solid. So they do work, they just do it in a strange Japanese way. Obviously going to have to be a rolling test for the MOT, which other newbie MR2 owners might like to bear in mind.

Mine worked like that, never had a problem at MOT time - tell the MOT man he's wroooooong. Put the emphasis on the 'oooo' and draw it out for several seconds in a sarcastic manner, right in his face - they really like that, and will usually pass a car straight away with that trick.

[speedtwelve]

This bothered me a bit when I got my MRT as well, but just to confirm, the seat belt mechanism itself requires forward deceleration in order to lock; simply pulling the belt quickly doesn't do anything. I've heard of MoT testers having to take the car for a drive with an emergency stop in order to test the belts.