2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Seat belts in the seat back stuck in

[Misenheimer]

My 98. 5 has the seat belts in the seat back, it has been sittinf for several mounts and the belts are stuck in the retracted position. How do I get them back out so I can use them and how do I keep it from happening again?? The drivers side did it several monts ago and I messed with it and it came loose. Now both are stuck. The drum will move just a bit but not let it come out. How do I get to these things towork on them?? Removing the cover seems a bit more than I want to do but whatever.



Thanks

98. 5 2500

 

[HHhuntitall]

Has it been sitting on an incline? Strange that they've frozen up in a straight up position..... Regardless, try snapping the seat back and forth a few times, and see if that helps loosen the brake.

 

[Misenheimer]

I will try that and let you know. It was sitting on flat ground.

 

[Cosmo]

The way the seatbelts work is without voltage they lock. Under the center seat there is a timer module that applies voltage when you wake the truck up (open the door?) and leaves them powered up for about 30 minutes after shutting the truck off. I bought a replacement for my truck, but upon removing the old one I discovered it has an inertia switch built in to it that cuts voltage to the belt actuators when you crash, or go over big bumps, to lock them.

I'm not sure what the issue was, but I disassembled my module then put it back together and it's been working fine for almost a year now. The module is still available from the dealer, and it's not too unreasonable.

Try unbolting the module and give it a shake, then put it back and see if it doesn't help.

 

[Misenheimer]

Is that the box that is under the console??? It has a ball in it and I thought that it was part of the trailer brakes. I will give it a wack and see if it gets a better attitude. I had thought that it was the belt winding up on the upper part of the winder making it not big enough to trip the latch. Thanks for your thoughts.
Robert

 

[Cosmo]

On my 12 valve it's under the center section of the front bench. Give it a try and see if it works. After that, you'll want to get a pin out and check to see if it's sending out voltage and then peel the seat to check for voltage at the reel assembly.

 

[Misenheimer]

I took the module out and put it in another truck and it did not unlock the belts in that truck. I just picked one up from the Dodg dealer for $125. + tax and put it in and NOT Working. Rats!!!! I have a code P1693 that tells me that there is a code in a companion module??? WTf My reader will not o that deep into the other computers. Now what?? I mght try a 3 volt power supply and unlock them. Any suggestions would help.

 

[Cosmo]

Good info in here:

http://dodgeforum.com/forum/dodge-cummins-diesel/127663-seat-belt-solenoids-1999-2500-a.html

 

[Misenheimer]

Thanks for the good info. I wish I could have started with it but I will save it for the next time.
My belts are working now after I cleared the code, I have no idea what the code was but the P side started working right away. The D side was tight and unable to unlock till I released it from the frame. Now both are working. The article Cosmo quoted had a mention of powering the solonids up with 12 volts and I do not think that would be a good idea. 3-4 volts would be more like it.
Thanks to all
Robert

Good info in here:

http://dodgeforum.com/forum/dodge-cummins-diesel/127663-seat-belt-solenoids-1999-2500-a.html