Middle rear seatbelt stuck on ford fiesta

Beckyy

Beckyy wrote: »

Can anybody clarify for me if a car can pass it's MOT without a middle rear seatbelt?

I need to get some other things done so went to another garage today to compare my quote and they mentioned that I should have been able to pass my MOT without the belt?

The receptionist at the garage doing my MOT have said absolutely not. Is this because the faulty belt was in the car during the test- If I'd have removed it before the test and had no belt there it wouldn't have failed on it?

My fiesta is in for it's MOT tomorrow, so have just been tidying it up. I never have the backseats up (dog) so I just put them up, went to do the seatbelts up and the middle seat belt is jammed.

I've opened the window on the back of the seat and can see the reel. It will move barely an inch and has locked tighter than it had when I first put the seat up - the belt is almost cutting into the seat now.

I've tried putting the seat down and slamming it back up, as have just been reading this is common when the seats aren't locked in properly - but no luck.

Does anybody have any helpful suggestions please? If not, any idea how much it will cost me tomorrow?

Foxy-Stoat_3

Can you post up a photo, may get some responses as not 100% sure whats what....I didnt think seats had a window fitted.

You could try unbolting the end of the belt and see if that will give enough slack for it to unlock.

forgotmyname

Slam and i mean REALLY slam the backrest into the upright position and it will release the belt.

Common issue on Fords it seems.

Make sure its locked fully into place also. If its not 100% secure it wont release the belt.

Apples2

I had this on my old Mondeo.

Give it a REALLY HARD SLAM

Don't be a girl with it, slam it as hard as you can.

Beckyy

Thanks for the replies. I can't get a close-up enough photo of it I'm afraid.

I tried really slamming it with all my force, but no joy. My OH took the mechanism out of the back the seat to give it a clean incase there was any sand etc. in there but it only made it jam tighter and the seat won't go up now as it's so tight.

I've also tried depressing the spring inside the mechanism where the cable usually goes in the hope it will release it, but no luck there either.

I'm afraid I'm gonna have to hope the garage are kind to me tomorrow. Any idea how much I'll get charged for a replacement+labour... roughly?

Apples2

Pair of Girls, SLAM THE THING

http://www.talkford.com/topic/55755-rear-centre-seat-belt-mk-3-help/

I know it is a Mondeo forum but no doubt the same dynamic design team.

Beckyy

Believe me when I say it was definitely slammed.

I didn't get any more of a chance to try anything else with it last night so I took it into the garage as it was and they said they'd see to it. Fingers crossed that it's not too expensive to sort.

forgotmyname

If he had the back off all he had to do was move the locking catches (both sides) and pull the belt out.

You probably need several pairs of hands for this.

The issue is it wont release if the seat is in the down position. So you need to move the weight that hangs down when the seat is in that position also.

Apples2

Beckyy wrote: »

Believe me when I say it was definitely slammed.

I didn't get any more of a chance to try anything else with it last night so I took it into the garage as it was and they said they'd see to it. Fingers crossed that it's not too expensive to sort.

You do know they are in there right now taking it in turns slamming it?:rotfl:

forgotmyname

Dont tap it whack it.... Or is that an orange chocolate treat?

Beckyy

Apples2 wrote: »

You do know they are in there right now taking it in turns slamming it?:rotfl:

I'd like to have seen them try, when we left it was jammed so far down you could barely get the seat up a few inches. Anyhow, it's getting a new belt in.