1989 Jaguar XJS Automatic Seat Belts

Chrysler gives a lifetime warranty on safety-related repairs but only if they were the subject of a recall. I think most other manufacturers have similar procedures. The only other government requirement I'm aware of is the emissions system has to be covered for at least five years or 50,000 miles. Beyond that, the automotive industry is so bogged down already with ridiculous rules and regulations, you have to wonder how repair shops manage to stay in business when ONLY charging $100.00 per hour.

No manufacturer of any product is obligated to support it forever. You won't find a guard for a table saw that's 25 years old. We had seat belts in the '60s, and five-mile-per-hour bumpers in the '70s. No one is going to have parts for those systems. Ford is especially bad at making parts available for their cars that are as little as four or five years old. To further complicate the issue, your car is 25 years old, (one year less than my daily driver Grand Caravan). You aren't going to find any mechanics at any dealerships who are familiar with your seat belt system, and they tossed out the diagnostic equipment for it a long time ago. Dealers specialize in, and the mechanics get factory training in one to three-year-old vehicles. You're better off inquiring at a few independent repair shops. Those mechanics have to be familiar with every brand and every model for many years. The dealers won't save test equipment for a car they might see once in ten years. Independent shops DO have that stuff because they have more need for it.

I forgot to mention, you didn't say what kind of problem you're having. Ford used a lot of motorized seat belts in the late '80s to mid '90s, and they were a disaster. Chrysler had a few too and they weren't any better. If a belt doesn't move at all, suspect an electrical problem. The system is rather basic so any shop should have someone qualified to diagnose it. If the carriage sticks or is sluggish, the track likely just needs to be greased. Chrysler dealer's parts department will give you a small tube of grease for free that is designed for the tracks and all kinds of weather. Ford had a lot of trouble with the cables fraying or binding. For that you'll likely be stuck with finding a good part in a salvage yard. You can also try an internet search for a business that rebuilds the assemblies. Those shops are becoming real common for the newer window regulators that use cheap plastic pulleys and light cables.