Make Seat Belts Retract

Seat belts are an essential piece of safety gear designed by car manufacturers to prevent possible injury or death in the event of a vehicle accident. Seat belt retraction is the process by which the seat belt is pulled back into the reel, tightening it, and better securing the driver or rider to the seat. Knowing how to make seat belts retract properly can help with individual safety when riding in an automobile.

Steps

  1. Take off the seat belt.
    • One of the most important steps when it comes to retracting a seat belt is unlatching the belt from its clip. To do this, press on the release button of the seat belt buckle. This should allow you to remove your seat belt.
    • Before taking off the seat belt, make sure that the car has been parked in a safe area, or at least moved off to the side of the road. Removing your seat belt when the car is still in a location where it can be hit or side-swiped can be dangerous.
  2. Tug on the seat belt.
    • In most cases, gently tugging on the seat belt should be enough to make it retract on its own. If the seat belt is of the type that simply crosses your lap, tug it towards the left or right. In contrast, if the seat belt is of the type which crosses over your shoulder and across your chest and lap, tug down on the seat belt to encourage it to retract properly.
  3. Visit a local auto body shop.
    • If you have tugged on the seat belt on several occasions and can still not get it to retract properly, chances are that you will need to have it fixed by a professional as the locking mechanism could be jammed. Your local auto mechanic should be able to repair this relatively easily.
    • Cars manufactured after 1984 are required by law to have properly functioning seat belts. If your car was made after this date, you may be able to get the manufacturing company to pay for the repair to your seat belt retractor. Consult with the dealership through which you purchased the car to find out what steps you need to take to obtain compensation for the repair.
    • If the dealership through which you purchased the vehicle is no longer in operation, or if you bought the car from an individual seller, you may have to do a little more of the legwork yourself. Start with the mechanic who repaired your seat belt retractor when trying to obtain manufacturer compensation. He or she may be able to provide phone numbers and contact information of various local car manufacturing companies.

Warnings

  • Never ride in a car whose seat belt retractor is not functioning properly. This can lead to severe injury or even death in the event of a vehicle accident.

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References

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