Arrgh. Seatbelt retractor stuck!

My Speedster had seatbelts without retractors. I adjusted them to size when I put them on and would lay them next to the seat on both sides of the bolsters when I took them off. One less to worry about breaking.

I, too, run with non-retractable lap belts.  I can cinch them down as tight as desired with the draw straps after coupling them.  Trust me when I tell you it makes a difference if you find yourself on a curvy road.  The quick release (similar to an aircraft or race car) is secure and very simple to get out of.  Of course there is no three (or five) point harness, but I don’t think I’d like them.

When adjusted properly and fitting well they really keep me firmly in the seat…and they look cool to boot!

I'm running the 3 point harness in probably an overly optimistic effort to keep my face out of the steering wheel.

I'm hoping time will NOT tell whether my optimism is misplaced.

I had race belts on the old DKW and liked them fine, but the grab bar mistress said that I wouldn't need them because I wouldn't be driving that fast. 😄

Were you parked on a hill?

I have whatever retractors Chrysler was using in 1992.  The retractor lock is engaged by a small weight hung on a stem.  When the weight is moved by enough force forward or back, it causes a small metal bar to move to engage with teeth on the retractor drum, preventing it from moving to either extend or rewind the belt.  It’s a very simple mechanism and very foolproof.  Parking on a steep incline may cause the weight to engage the bar and lock the belt.  Once a car that’s parked on an angle is moved to a level it usually disengages that mechanism (if the belt has no tension on it).

Sometimes the belt can get folded over on itself through one of the narrow belt guides and prevent the belt from moving, too.

You could try popping the cover off to see what’s binding things up under there.  There really isn’t much in there to cause a failure.    Good hunting!

Mystery solved. The retractor was getting slightly deformed by the carpet and curve of the front of the package tray. It only caused the lockup when fully tightened (yes, it only took me 4 times to figure it out).

The solution was to put 3 thick washers between the retractor and the face of the package tray (right behind the seat). Works like a charm.

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