XK seatbelt twisted

[OddCat]

Bought a beautiful 2012 XK yesterday. What a machine !

Anyway, noticed today that the seatbelt is twisted. Not a situation where you can reverse the buckle - but a proper twist. Am assuming it must be twisted in the reel housing (unless Jaguar bolted it the wrong way round at the bottom when building it !).

Has anyone else had this ? If so, what's the best fix ?

Thanks chaps

[Phil Dicky]

Assure you've pulled the belt all the way out to locate the twist ?

[Orcadian]

Not familiar with the XK setup but is the mounting on the B Pillar on a swivel? If so, then has it just been rotated by someone - our last Peugeot was like that, presumably done by the PO.

Ian

[OddCat]

CoolHands said:

You can sort this problem. Hard to describe in words. You need to 'fold' the belt at 45 degrees, kind of like when you make a paper plane, near to the buckle, you can then feed this fold through the buckle. It's tight as you are trying to get the folded portion through narrow the buckle slot. But it can be done, and it untwists the belt.

No, that won't work. It'll just move the twist to the other part of the belt. It us the actual belt that is twisted....

[OddCat]

Phil Dicky said:

Assure you've pulled the belt all the way out to locate the twist ?

No, haven't done that. Can you explain please what you mean ? If I pull the belt out fully will I see the twist at the very end where it enters the reel housing ?

Thanks

[mr.man]

I had the dealer un- twist my XKR drivers belt under the warranty.

[OddCat]

mr.man said:

I had the dealer un- twist my XKR drivers belt under the warranty.

Was it twisted from new then (factory error) ? Do you know what they did to fix it ?

Unfortunately, mine is out of warranty (2012 car).....

[Dempsey1971]

OddCat said:

CoolHands said:

You can sort this problem. Hard to describe in words. You need to 'fold' the belt at 45 degrees, kind of like when you make a paper plane, near to the buckle, you can then feed this fold through the buckle. It's tight as you are trying to get the folded portion through narrow the buckle slot. But it can be done, and it untwists the belt.

No, that won't work. It'll just move the twist to the other part of the belt. It us the actual belt that is twisted....

No, give it a go, this does work, I did it on mine. When the belt retracted, it was 'kinked' and the fold caught in the buckle. When I pulled the buckle, the fold went all the way through, and the belt was 'twisted'. You need to reverse this to untwist it. Needs a damn good tug.

[OddCat]

Dempsey1971 said:

OddCat said:

CoolHands said:

You can sort this problem. Hard to describe in words. You need to 'fold' the belt at 45 degrees, kind of like when you make a paper plane, near to the buckle, you can then feed this fold through the buckle. It's tight as you are trying to get the folded portion through narrow the buckle slot. But it can be done, and it untwists the belt.

No, that won't work. It'll just move the twist to the other part of the belt. It us the actual belt that is twisted....

No, give it a go, this does work, I did it on mine. When the belt retracted, it was 'kinked' and the fold caught in the buckle. When I pulled the buckle, the fold went all the way through, and the belt was 'twisted'. You need to reverse this to untwist it. Needs a damn good tug.

But if I simply reverse the buckle the twist will be across my waist and not behind my shoulder ?

Basically, between the reel holder and the floor bolt the belt should be flat (aside from the 90 degree inward twist where it bolts at the bottom). But mine has a full twist that won't be resolved by making the buckle face the other way. The twist will still be present. What I need to do is take the twist out of the belt itself and then the buckle will be fine where it is.....???

I think your problem and my problem and not the same problem !

[TooMany2cvs]

If it really is a half-twist in the ENTIRE belt, rather than simply it having gone through the hanger or buckle twisted, then the only way you're going to sort that is to unbolt the sill end or the reel.

[Decky_Q]

Super simple fix. Either follow the instruction above and pull a twist in the opposite direction through the buckle to even it out or else undo the bottom mount bolt, turn it around and bolt it back down to undo the twist.

Not seeing why this is so difficult tbh.

[OddCat]

TooMany2cvs said:

If it really is a half-twist in the ENTIRE belt, rather than simply it having gone through the hanger or buckle twisted, then the only way you're going to sort that is to unbolt the sill end or the reel.

Yes, it is this. I think the belt is twisted in the reel housing so is coming out of there upside down (so to speak). If the buckle was simply facing the wrong way, when I lock it into the holder I’d still have a twist but at the bottom not the top.

Yes, unbolting at the sill end turning through 180 degrees would fix it in the sense that the twist on the reel would be compensated for. But, technically it would be a wrong to correct a wrong (two wrongs actually making a right). Assuming that had no safety ramifications in respect of not having fixed the twist in the reel. Oh, and the buckle really would then be facing the wrong way !

Am wondering how complicated it might be to dismantle the trim to get to the reel. Unless there is some trick I can do feeding the belt into the reel holder (but I would need to know whish way the twist was or I will end up 'correcting' it but then with a with a full 360 degree twist in the reel

Decky_Q said:

Super simple fix. Either follow the instruction above and pull a twist in the opposite direction through the buckle to even it out or else undo the bottom mount bolt, turn it around and bolt it back down to undo the twist

.....but it isn’t either / or. That’s the whole point !

Decky_Q said:

Not seeing why this is so difficult tbh.

No, I can see that. But thanks anyway.

Edited by OddCat on Tuesday 8th August 13:17

Edited by OddCat on Tuesday 8th August 13:18

[TooMany2cvs]

OddCat said:

TooMany2cvs said:

If it really is a half-twist in the ENTIRE belt, rather than simply it having gone through the hanger or buckle twisted, then the only way you're going to sort that is to unbolt the sill end or the reel.

Yes, it is this. I think the belt is twisted in the reel housing so is coming out of there upside down (so to speak). If the buckle was simply facing the wrong way, when I lock it into the holder I’d still have a twist but at the bottom not the top.

Yes, unbolting at the sill end turning through 180 degrees would fix it in the sense that the twist on the reel would be compensated for. But, technically it would be a wrong to correct a wrong (two wrongs actually making a right). Assuming that had no safety ramifications in respect of not having fixed the twist in the reel. Oh, and the buckle really would then be facing the wrong way !

The reel itself is the least likely place. But check - pull the belt ALL of the way out of the reel. Does it wedge or half-turn somewhere?

If so, then get the half-turn the other side of the shoulder hanger. Then the other side of the buckle. Then unbolt at the sill, half-turn, rebolt.

[OddCat]

TooMany2cvs said:

The reel itself is the least likely place. But check - pull the belt ALL of the way out of the reel. Does it wedge or half-turn somewhere?

Okay, thanks. Will give that a try.

TooMany2cvs said:

If so, then get the half-turn the other side of the shoulder hanger. Then the other side of the buckle. Then unbolt at the sill, half-turn, rebolt.

That will mean the buckle is then the wrong way around so I'd need to reverse that too.

I'll also try to post pics later of passenger side (which is perfect) and drivers side (which isn't).

Thanks again

Edited by OddCat on Tuesday 8th August 15:05

[Dempsey1971]

OddCat said:

TooMany2cvs said:

The reel itself is the least likely place. But check - pull the belt ALL of the way out of the reel. Does it wedge or half-turn somewhere?

If so, then get the half-turn the other side of the shoulder hanger. Then the other side of the buckle. Then unbolt at the sill, half-turn, rebolt.

Okay, thanks. Will give that a try.

I'll also try to post pics later of passenger side (which is perfect) and drivers side (which isn't).

Thanks again

I think you are thinking it's a full twist because the fold has been pulled through the buckle and unfurled.
Re-fold the buckle (at 10-15 deg to the length of the belt) and pull that back through the buckle. Unfurl and voila!!
Make sure you fold the right way or you'll have a double twist (which is what I did first time..doh!!)

[OddCat]

Dempsey1971 said:

I think you are thinking it's a full twist because the fold has been pulled through the buckle and unfurled.
Re-fold the buckle (at 10-15 deg to the length of the belt) and pull that back through the buckle. Unfurl and voila!!
Make sure you fold the right way or you'll have a double twist (which is what I did first time..doh!!)

I don't think a belt fold has ever been pulled through the buckle and the buckle reversed. It is so tight I doubt it is possible. Certainly not by accident. The whole thing is perfect (lap belt part, buckle into anchor etc) until the very last part where the belt flips over as it enters the reel. Essentially there is a 180 degree twist between my shoulder and the reel.

Will have another look tonight and post pics if I can get some that show the issue properly.

Thanks all

[OddCat]

Okay, here goes.. .

Both drivers side and passengers side belts are 'label out' where they bolt into the floor. Both belts gen cross the lap correctly with the male buckle on the outside to properly slot into the female buckle. The little 'stopper' button on he belt is then the same way around for both. So the female buckle is the right (same) way around on both belts. All good so far. The belt then goes upwards and in the case of the passenger side nicely (flat) into the reel holder. But oon the drivers side there is then a twist. See photos below....

Passenger side:

Passenger side :


Passenger side:


Drivers side:

Drivers side:

Drivers side:

[TooMany2cvs]

It certainly appears to be a half-twist where the reel goes into the trim.

But what's this?

OddCat said:

Passenger side:

[OddCat]

TooMany2cvs said:

But what's this?

Is just a wobble in the belt where it normally sits unused. It isn't a twist. Have taken a further pic from a different angle:

Passenger side:

[mr.man]

Right. Here goes. Yes I had the dreaded twist in the belt.
It's nothing to do with sliding the belt on the twist trough the buckle.
Neither is it how it retracts.
I could see what needed doing but didn't have the correct torx bits both male and female.
There is a straight knurled shoulder screw securing the end of the belt to the sill which needs
undoing and the belt turning through 180 degrees.
Access is impeded by the end of the seat runner being in the way. This is secured by two
male torx headed screws .
I considered the pros and cons and what could get out of alignment with the seat rails and
decided as I still had warranty I would hand this one over to the dealer at the next service.
The belt no longer is twisted.