2002 Volvo S40 seat belt

CLARETHOMAS

MEMBER
2002 VOLVO S40
4 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
114,000 MILES

Front, passenger side seat belt. Seat belt mechanism won't "spring" back to it's original position. It's seems to be locked with about 1/3 of the belt exposed. I can lock in my 9 year-old (skinny) daughter in the front seat, but an adult, no. Is is possible to remove the plastic cover and "unspring" it (taking a chance with side-impact airbags) or do I need to take it in to a Volve repair shop.

Thanks.

1 Reply

RACEFAN966

MECHANIC
5,029 POSTS

Ok I looks like there is a seat belt pretensioner divice on this car. If the vehicle senses a fast deceleration rate that the control module picked up. At this time it sends a signal to the belt and releases nitrogen gas which displaces a plunger mounted in the tube and tightens the seat belt keeping the occupant tight to the seat. This usually only happens during a crash but can happen with a very hard panic stop. If this was activated then the seat belt system must be replaced. I would take it to Dealer and have it check to see if this has happened. Thanks and let me know how it goes.