Sticking centre seatbelt MOT fail

[sierraman]

Mondeo has test Weds, through checking it myself the centre seatbelt is locking - that's to say it won't come out of the reel. This is a fail obviously, is there an easy way to unjam it other than a trip to the breakers for a replacement back seat?

[twosmoke300]

Does the seat clip back into place 100% ? Some of the reels in rear seats can be super critical on position before they will let the belt out

[Sealtainn]

I had the same on a rear belt in my old Transit Minibus, it would unreel about 1/4 of an inch and lock. If I tried it really slowly, it would unreel possibly 8-9 inches before locking again. Turns out it was to do with the angle of the belt reel - I repositioned it and it worked perfectly. Possibly worth a try

[SiC]

Won't it pass if you remove it along with the back seats? Of course won't help the rear centre passenger in an accident if you do ever make use of all the seats.

[hennabm]

So long as it has two other inertia reel belts across the back seat, you can remove the one that isn't working and it will pass. No need to remove the seat.

[Albert Ross]

Little known fact: Only 2 belts are required in the back. http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_510.htm  Section J shows the relevant point. Cut/unbolt the belt, and take a copy of this printout.

[Albert Ross]

hennabm..... I can't take my testing hat off!

[AlabamaShrimp]

Frontera passed last year with the middle belt broken in fact I don't think I've ever had a car fail for it.

 

Easiest option is just out a child seat in it place, they never move them.

[sierraman]

I'm going to look like a right mug here but I've just gone out and given the back seat a proper slam back into the catch and it's worked. Thank fuck for that... Last time I had this I had to make one good seat up out of two which basically involved stripping the covers back and refitting them. I was spitting feathers by the end. Thanks for replying!

[PiperCub]

Little known fact: Only 2 belts are required in the back. http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_510.htm  Section J shows the relevant point. Cut/unbolt the belt, and take a copy of this printout.

 

My 406 estate I had some years ago had a knackered centre belt too, apparently wasn't testable according to my usual test station (don't know why), only the outer ones are testable for some reason.