Any ideas for this annoying problem?

[Bunchgrass]

Damn seat belt retainer (or whatever the piece that BRILLIANTLY guides it through the seat is called) has broken loose and is an incredible PITA everytime you go to buckle up. I can't see a way to fix it short of finding another seatback w/ belt attached. Tell me there's some simple fix I'm overlooking because otherwise, there's a Dodge engineer I'm wanting to punch in the face.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

That sounds pretty annoying Bunchgrass. 2nd Gen parts are becoming harder to find. The wrecking yards around here say whenever they get a 2nd Gen Ram in the parts go fast, they are in high demand. You might find a wrecking yard through car-parts.com that may have what you need.

 

[BigPapa]

That would be car-part.com, no "S".

 

[Bunchgrass]

Thanks! I'm not even sure what sequence they used to assemble this thing. I was looking at a few 2nd gen rigs on some junkyard sites near me and saw a pretty nice tailgate and even an 8' bed. Called. The guy says those parts are already spoken for before they ever arrive on site. Oh brother.

 

[Joe Mc]

I'm guessing the backrest cover needs to come off to re-snap the inside piece to the one that's visible on the outside. Not sure if there's a zipper at the bottom of the seat back or possibly velcro. Tilt setback all the way forward and take a look. You might have to remove bolts that hold setback base to bum (where your butt goes) to access.

Won't look pretty but you could cut the blasted thing off. Think I'd take the more subtle approach, at least at first...

 

[Bunchgrass]

I'm guessing the backrest cover needs to come off to re-snap the inside piece to the one that's visible on the outside. Not sure if there's a zipper at the bottom of the seat back or possibly velcro. Tilt setback all the way forward and take a look. You might have to remove bolts that hold setback base to bum (where your butt goes) to access.

Won't look pretty but you could cut the blasted thing off. Think I'd take the more subtle approach, at least at first...

Yeah --- It looks like that plastic trim piece has pronged feet that grab onto something when you pop it back in place. At least one of them appears to have broken off. Youtube has some good videos of people taking the seatbelts apart as they seem to get jammed up in these Gen2s. There's some weird solenoid thing up in the seatback that supposedly locked the belts if the wheels began to slip (that's the story). Solenoid goes bad and your seatbelt won't pull out. Anyway -- showed how to get it apart except not much on popping that plastic thing off. Wonder if I get the plastic piece if I buy the seat belt from the scrap yard.

 

[BigPapa]

Can you feel or see a “frame” that it would snap into? It’s possible there’s just a similar piece on the other side of the cover that it snaps into that retains the cover between them to hold it in place.

 

[DavidC]

SEATBELT CONTROL TIMER MODULE
DESCRIPTION
The Seatbelt Control Timer Module (SCTM) is
secured to a bracket underneath the front edge of the
front seat center cushion. The SCTM mounting
bracket also serves as the support for the slide-out
rear seat cup holder unit. The SCTM contains an
electromechanical Gravity (G)-sensor and an electronic
timer circuit. The SCTM receives hard wired
external inputs from the ignition switch and both
door jamb switches. The SCTM monitors the external
inputs, as well as the inputs from its internal timer
and G-sensor. In response to those inputs, the SCTM
controls hard wired battery voltage outputs to both
electric front seat belt retractor latch solenoids. The
SCTM also sends diagnostic outputs to the Airbag
Control Module (ACM) over a hard wired fault circuit.
For diagnosis of the CCD data bus, the ACM or the
fault circuit input to the ACM from the SCTM, the
use of a DRB scan tool and the proper Diagnostic
Procedures manual are recommended. The SCTM
cannot be adjusted or repaired and, if faulty or damaged,
must be replaced.
ELECTRIC SEAT BELT RETRACTOR LATCH
SOLENOID
DESCRIPTION
Vehicles equipped with the structural seat system
have an electric seat belt retractor latch solenoid that
is integral to each of the two outboard front seat belt
retractors. These solenoids are grounded at all times
through their wire harness connector and circuit.
These solenoids receive battery current that is
switched by the Seatbelt Control Timer Module
(SCTM), through a fuse in the junction block.
The electric seat belt retractor latch solenoids cannot
be adjusted or repaired. If the solenoid is faulty
or damaged, the entire driver side or passenger side
seat belt retractor unit must be replaced. Refer to
Front Seat Belt Retractor - Club/Quad Cab in
the Removal and Installation section of Group 23 -
Body for the seat belt retractor service procedures.

 

[DavidC]

FRONT SEAT BACK COVER—QUAD CAB
REMOVAL
(1) Remove recliner handle.
(2) Remove dump handle, if equipped.
(3) Remove side shield.
(4) Clamp belt to prevent from retracting.
(5) Remove the bolt attaching the seat belt anchor
to the seat track adjuster.
(6) Remove the assist handle on the backside of
the seat, if equipped.
(7) Disengage the J-strap at the base of the seat
back (Fig. 22).
(8) Roll cover upward.
(9) Disengage hog rings attaching the cover to the
seat back frame (Fig. 23).
(10) Using a trim stick, carefully pry shoulder belt
guide bezel from seat back.
(11) Route the shoulder belt and guide bezel
through the seat back cover.
(12) Roll the cover upward and separate from the
seat back.

 

[Bunchgrass]

FRONT SEAT BACK COVER—QUAD CAB
REMOVAL
(1) Remove recliner handle.
(2) Remove dump handle, if equipped.
(3) Remove side shield.
(4) Clamp belt to prevent from retracting.
(5) Remove the bolt attaching the seat belt anchor
to the seat track adjuster.
(6) Remove the assist handle on the backside of
the seat, if equipped.
(7) Disengage the J-strap at the base of the seat
back (Fig. 22).
(8) Roll cover upward.
(9) Disengage hog rings attaching the cover to the
seat back frame (Fig. 23).
(10) Using a trim stick, carefully pry shoulder belt
guide bezel from seat back.
(11) Route the shoulder belt and guide bezel
through the seat back cover.
(12) Roll the cover upward and separate from the
seat back.

Is that manual available online?

 

[DavidC]

No, personal FSM for my 99. I always get the FSM for what I have as it is the handiest tool in the set.

 

[DavidC]

If your interested
https://www.genosgarage.com/category/dodgeram-factory-service-manuals

 

[Joe Mc]

The "first" item I purchased after I got my truck (05/01) and after becoming a TDR Member was the FSM from Geno's. Membership and FSM have been "priceless".

Highly recommend that "anyone" with one of these trucks get TDR membership and the FSM. Otherwise you're just shooting in the dark and guessing/hoping you'll hit something...

 

[mwilson]

I "Think" it comes as part of a new seatbelt assembly....they look to be still available..

That's why there is no part number given for just the little plastic part....if you think a bit it does make sense it would have to go on the belt along with the tang before the end is threaded through the anchor and then sewn closed...

Needs to be looked up by VIN so you get the correct color...

#ad

 

[JMcCoy]

My driver seat looks the same. I hate these stupid seats. I had better seats on my '78 K5 Blazer.

Lots of good information here.

 

[VFabricius]

Damn seat belt retainer (or whatever the piece that BRILLIANTLY guides it through the seat is called) has broken loose and is an incredible PITA everytime you go to buckle up. I can't see a way to fix it short of finding another seatback w/ belt attached. Tell me there's some simple fix I'm overlooking because otherwise, there's a Dodge engineer I'm wanting to punch in the face.

View attachment 127170

I just pre drilled that plastic guide on each side of the face flange and drove 2 small panhead screws 3/4" long into the face flange on right and left side into the plastic seat frame underneath the seat cover to hold it in place. Problem solved. You can pull the fabric back to see what your screwing into. I hate plastic cheap plastic crap like this that Dodge uses, like the dashboards that disentigrate. There should be a class action suit for that except its only the lawyers who get anything in the end there.

 

[2Farr]

I had the same problem on both the front seats when i got my 99 tuck. This is what you need. The trim snaps into it. If yours is broken like mine was. If the tabs on the trim ring are ok. You can just pull the seat back cover off and replace this. It takes as little time to do this.