"Lazy" seatbelt retractor

[georgie]

I have a 97' Taco Extended Cab.
The seatbelt retractor on the drivers side has become very difficult to get to retract the belt. When I unbuckle the belt it won't retract. It just kind of lays in a pile on the rear floor unless I manually feed it back into the retractor.
Is there and way of "rewinding" the retracting spring mechanism to increase the retracting spring tension?
I have taken the truck to my local Toyota dealer but they claim they cant do any adjusting except to replace the whole seat belt mechanism. ($150.00 for the part not including labor to install)
I seem to remember taking my previous Taco to a dealer in another state where I was living at the time and they were able to "rewind" the retracting spring without having to replace the seatbelt.
Any input from Forum members would be much appreciated.

[timmartin]

No idea how to fix it but it's a very common problem

[reader094]

my 97 does the same thing, wish I could put the passenger side on the driver side.

[The Raisin]

I have that problem as well in my 97. Not quit as bad as yours but it is getting there.

Mark

[woodsailor]

It wouldn't be a Toyota without the lazy seat belt retractor!

My 97 does the same thing. Last year the drivers side retractor broke totally just before a long weekend trip so I swapped over the passenger side temporarily. Then paid the dealer about $150 for a new drivers side one, which I installed. The bolts through the floor were pretty rusty and a pain to get out. I recall there didn't seem to be any easy way to take apart the retractor and repair it. A year later the new one is lazy too now.

[HOGWILD]

My 92 Camry had this issue and my 93 PU also has it! would not know what to do without it!

[zlathim]

There has been much discussion on this issue, you can find a bunch of stuff by using the search function. I think the only thing that truly helps is removing some of the material in the opening of the upper seatbelt guide. I think the routine is to pass a piece of sand paper between the guide and the belt making sure the sandy side is toward the plastic and not the belt. Pull back and forth until the sandpaper rips apart, then repeat until there is some slop between the belt and the guide.

[georgie]

zlathim,
You know...
I'll bet you're right.
I am going to try the sandpaper fix at my first opportunity.
It does seem that the seatbelt guide is where the belt hangs up the most.
Because the retractor does seem to have enough retract power. It just cant overcome the friction in the guide.
Thanks for the tip.

[georgie]

zlathim,
You know.....I think you're right.
The seatbelt guide does seem to be where the seatbelt hangs up the most.
I am going to try the sandpaper fix at my first opportunity.
The retractor seems to have the retract power, it just cant overcome the friction in the seatbelt guide.
Thanks for the tip.

[zlathim]

No problem georgie- I hope it helps.

[georgie]

I tried the sandpaper routine and it seemed to free up the seatbelt guide so the belt would pull through it easier.
The fix has helped with the retract. Probably as good as it's going to get outside of a new belt /retractor.
Again thanks for the tip......

[BamZipPow]

Yer looking fer this seatbelt fix...

You could even handwash yer seatbelt and see if it makes a diff...

Just undo the pillar pivot bolt and git yer bucket of sudsy water and wash the belt. Rinse. Blot dry as possible. Rebolt the pillar pivot back in place...yer good to go! Just make sure you don't drip water down inside the retractor...