Seat belt retractor locked 2006 2500

[SpeedBeef]

My driver's side seat belt retractor will not release the belt so that it can be buckled. I don't want to drive without the safety belt, and the alarm chime and flashing light in the dash are no picnic either. Any guidance for me? The passenger side is working as normal.

 

[goodguys75]

just mess with it... .

 

[jhenderson]

I had the pass side give me trouble a few years ago. When I disassembled the retractor it freed up. Never had another problem.

 

[SpeedBeef]

Apparently there is some sort of electric interlock between the restraint system and the airbag system. The problem is intermittent and getting to be a real headache. Best part is that nobody, including the local Dodge garage, seems to have a clue as to how to correct it.

 

[crabman]

Fix for the audio alarm
Look at female side of the belt, at the bottom of the plastic is the electrical connector. Unplug it and jumper it using a few strands of copper wire & plug it back together. No more audio alarm>ever.

 

[Wygate]

My driver's side seat belt retractor will not release the belt so that it can be buckled. I don't want to drive without the safety belt, and the alarm chime and flashing light in the dash are no picnic either. Any guidance for me? The passenger side is working as normal.

My back center belt locked, had it replaced.

 

[seafish]

Generally what happens when a seat belt won't extend is that dirt and crud get into the seat belt locking mechanism case and prevent the locking pendulum that engages the ratchet wheel on the seatbelt coil from swinging FREELY. Anyone with basic mechanics skill can use WD-40 and compressed air to clean the crud out once you have access to the actual mechanism casing which is just inside the vinyl/plastic housing that you actually see the seatbelt retract into.
Sometimes it is necessary to drill a small (1/8") hole or two in the top and bottom of the housing of the pendulum mechanism to allow the WD40 and compressed air an easier time to "wash" through and around the pendulum mechainsm.

 

[sag2]

Generally what happens when a seat belt won't extend is that dirt and crud get into the seat belt locking mechanism case and prevent the locking pendulum that engages the ratchet wheel on the seatbelt coil from swinging FREELY. Anyone with basic mechanics skill can use WD-40 and compressed air to clean the crud out once you have access to the actual mechanism casing which is just inside the vinyl/plastic housing that you actually see the seatbelt retract into.
Sometimes it is necessary to drill a small (1/8") hole or two in the top and bottom of the housing of the pendulum mechanism to allow the WD40 and compressed air an easier time to "wash" through and around the pendulum mechainsm.

Probably an OK idea on a vehicle that a belt is no longer available for, but something my life depends on I would say have it replaced. Call the Chrysler customer call center and ask them if they might help pay for the belt. They are usually pretty good about belts that are out of warranty for just my reason above. The call is free so you have nothing to loose, except maybe your life.

 

[seafish]

Probably an OK idea on a vehicle that a belt is no longer available for, but something my life depends on I would say have it replaced. Call the Chrysler customer call center and ask them if they might help pay for the belt. They are usually pretty good about belts that are out of warranty for just my reason above. The call is free so you have nothing to loose, except maybe your life.

Sag2, that's also more good advice, but cleaning the seatbelt is NOT a rookie fix... I have fixed a dozen or more of these on different vehicles, and it is always dirt and or crud that keeps the pendulum from moving freely. Once the pendulum is swinging freely, the mechanism works like new. The small holes, if needed and carefully drilled, do nothing to ruin the integrity of the mechanism or case, and the WD40 only helps lube and clean, not destroy, the samll metal pendulum, that our lives rely on. Also, for the non-inclined mechanically, this should NOT be attempted. Also, if Chrysler is passing out new ones at a decent price, that IS a better idea.

 

[SpeedBeef]

I cleaned and lubricated mine. Working fine now.