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How do I fix a car seat belt retractor?
My driver’s-seat seat belt won’t retract anymore. While it may seem like a minor issue, it’s getting caught in the door whenever I try to slam my car door shut. How do I fix a car seat belt retractor?
Rachel Rigolino · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
How annoying! Seat belts are such an important part of our driving, but we rarely give them much thought. Luckily, you can fix your car’s seat belt retractor by doing some at-home troubleshooting before taking the car to a shop.
If you haven’t done so already, run your fingers along the seat belt to see whether a small object (like a piece of gravel) is keeping the seat belt from retracting.
Next, make sure the seat belt strap has not twisted itself. Run your fingers along the strap, straightening it out as best you can.
If what you can see of the strap looks fine, you’ll then want to inspect the section you can’t see. Using a screwdriver, gently pop off the plastic covers (near where the seat belt retracts) to see whether the belt has become twisted inside.
If these steps don’t resolve the issue, you may have a problem with the retractor mechanism.
Fixing a broken or clogged mechanism can be done at home, but it requires you to take off the inside door panel to get at it. If you feel up to the task, there are online videos that will walk you through the process. If not, a skilled mechanic is more than willing to help.
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
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