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How to Repair/Fix a Seat Belt if it is Cut, Ripped, Not Working, or Locked After an Accident

Written by John Wells | Sep 18, 2018 4:00:00 AM

Common Seat Belt Issues

  • Locked after an accident/collision
  • Ripped, cut, torn
  • Dog has chewed on your seat belt
  • Does not retract or go back in
  • Locked and will not pull out
Seat belts are undoubtedly one of the most important features in a vehicle in regards to your safety. So, what do you do after an accident if your seat belt is not working properly? After an accident, you may find that your seat belt is ripped, cut, or experiencing other malfunctions. One of the most common malfunctions that occur with a seat belt after an accident is that it is locked or retracting slower than normal. How do you determine if your seat belt needs a professional repair or if it is a simple fix that you can accomplish on your own? There are a couple of steps that you can use on your own to fix this problem before bringing your vehicle to a repair shop.

Examine The Seat Belt

First, you should thoroughly examine the seat belt and see if there is perhaps something stuck in the belt or in the buckle. There is a good chance that dirt or grime is stuck on the fabric of the belt, which would cause it to retract slower than normal, or perhaps not at all. In this case, your seat belt malfunction is an easy repair that you can do right at home with a good clean. You will need to use a spray-on cleaner - either fabric or carpet cleaner will do - and a brush, while ensuring that there is no slack in the belt as you thoroughly scrub. If you do not have spray-on cleaner, then hot water and laundry detergent will work perfectly in efficiently cleaning your seat belt. Once the grime is scrubbed off of the belt, check and see if it is now retracting properly. Another cause of your seat belt not retracting could be due to a locked retractor. In this situation, you should pull the seat belt as tight as you can, and then give a final yank to try and undo the locked belt. If this fails, you can use a screwdriver to remove the retractor from your vehicle and manually spin the spool. This will work in slowly retracting the seat belt back into the buckle.

Complete Seat Belt Repair

If all else fails or if you do not feel confident enough in your abilities to repair the belt yourself, then bringing your vehicle in for professional assistance is perhaps your best option. At MyAirbags, you can either drop your repair off or even mail in your parts with the necessary information. We will then repair your seat belt for you within 24 hours and have it shipped back to you as soon as possible. What to do if your seat belt needs a complete replacement or to be rebuilt? MyAirbags offers an alternative to the expensive dealership seat belt replacement, where we will completely rebuild your seat belt with all OEM original parts, as opposed to purchasing entirely new seat belts. Your seat belt will be restored to its original condition within 24 hours, money-back guarantee, and saving you hundreds! With our quick, affordable seat belt repair services, you can rest assured that you will be satisfied with your repair. If you are unhappy with your repair, we offer a full refund of your purchase. We at MyAirbags take your safety extremely seriously, so if you have any doubts about your seat belt functioning properly or would like it to be inspected, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are here to serve you!