seat belts

[redline]

recntly the front seat belts of my car have been jamming when pulling on them to put them on and not rewinding onto the drum when taking them off , had a look todat and noticed both outer edges of the belt were quite badly frayed, luckily I still had the ones from the other redline so replaced them , has anyone else had this problem and any idea what causes the fraying or is it just age ?

[petefarrell360]

I seem to have missed this thread before mate! I know my parents Mk2 GLT had to have the drivers belt replaced, as it was jamming badly, but more importantly it had to be replaced for the MOT due to the fraying. I'd imagine the fraying is from a great deal of use (your car may not be high milage, but many uses from short journeys possibly?). The top plastic cover part up the door pillar where the belt emerges would cause rubbing, then anywhere where it didn't go on the drum properly. I can't remember exactly which parts were worn, i.e. where it would line up with when worn, but it was enough to become an issue for the MOT. I've not seen it as badly on any Mk3's though, whether there's any difference though or not I don't know. Any idea where abouts it had worn on your belt and was it both passenger and drivers, as you said it was the front.

I know a lot of people seem to be able to twist and tangle the seat belts in a 300 very easily, never had a problem myself, but my mates used to manage to twist them up all the time. This probably doesn't help, so that might have happened earlier in it's life.

Pete

[redline]

funnily enough it was from above where the seat belt plug would natruall sit when you are not wearing it which would suggest it was rubbing against plastic ( as you said where it appears from inside the pillar cover )I do have klunk klips fitted ( 80's toy to stop seat belts pulling to tightly on you that automatically release when belt pulled ) but they wouldnt cause it

[classicswede]

The early 240 used to suffer badly from the seat belts fraying but the late model ones don't have a problem (about 81-)
It must be due to the type of material used.

Dai

[Vart]

my DL belts twist like snakes and is frayed(?) ragged but as neither door opens anymore its probably better to die in the crash than burn to death inside............

[redline]

Vart , always the optomist , non opening doors arent a problem ( says he who has just watched the new dukes of hazzard film )

[Ronnie]

I have this problem on my mk2 too - no fraying, but doesn't want to recoil, which means I try to slam the door on the buckle all the time.

My 2 previous mk3's had the same problem - but I just got used to it.

I guess I need a whole new seat belt assembly