Seatbelt questions

[-=Jeff=-]

So I know how the 'cinch' button works.. I also know under harder acceleration the seatbelts lock.

What I am curious on is if after a hard acceleration is the belt lock suppose to release to become loose like newer cars? or is it suppose to stay locked..

[LGAFF]

I think it will remain tensed until pressure/load is released from the belt

[-=Jeff=-]

I think it will remain tensed until pressure/load is released from the belt

Right I think it should as well.. but it does not release when pressure/load is released..

if it should operate the way we think then I need to figure out the issue

so I need to somehow confirm operation of the belts

[secondchance]

Right I think it should as well.. but it does not release when pressure/load is released..

if it should operate the way we think then I need to figure out the issue

so I need to somehow confirm operation of the belts

Jeff,

Based on my experience with C4s since 1984 (including 91 and 94 Z) is that once locked (or cinched) only way to unlock is unbuckle and retract all the way back then pull and re-buckle.

[PhillipsLT5]

mine acts like secondchance

[Franke]

Jeff,

The FSM states: "When the vehicle decelerates rapidly the belts are locked in position by a pendulem that causes locking bars to engage sprockets on both spools of the retractor. The shoulder portion of the belt has a comfort feature that allows the occupant to adjust the shoulder belt portion for proper fit and comfort. The lap portion has a cinch feature that allows the person to lock the lap belt into position. The cinch feature does not interfere with the operation of the shoulder belt and retractor. Once the cinch feature is activated it can only be released when the belt is fully retracted. This is also important for a child seat restraint system". Second chance is right about this.
Also, the chevy dealer told me 2 months ago that my 1990 ZR-1 had a seat belt service bulletin but they couldn't perform it because the car was too old. :) They asked if my seat belts were working properly and I said yes. Section 10-11-1 has the belt info in the FSM.

[-=Jeff=-]

Cool I will check it out thanks

[Mystic ZR-1]

Your dealer lied to you. A safety recall never goes away.
Last year GM went thru hoops to do the recall on my 90.
However I didn't let them do it, they could only find blue seatbelts in their system. My car is red. I found NOS red seatbelts at a dealer in MO but they wouldn't use them due to liability even though they were in GM custody all those years. I have to give them credit for trying. The recall is still open on my car. I ended up using used belts to replace the ones that seized up. Used seatbelts are readily available. Only catch is the recall may not have been done on them.

[Franke]

Thank you Mystic. I didn't know that about safety recalls.
This isn't the first time a dealer lied to me about my car. :) The people on this forum know more about these cars than the dealers do. The last service person I talked to didn't know the difference between a regular 1990 corvette and the corvette ZR-1.

[Mystic ZR-1]

Here's the safety recall numbers, have the dealer look up your VIN and see if they've been done.

GM addressed this problem with Product Safety Recall N910059 & 058 (ex 91059 - 058) in October of '91.

[Franke]

Thanks Mystic. So far my seat belts are working fine at 56,000 mi. I don't see any campaign stickers on the radiator support. As the recall letter states Chevy will not replace the retractors unless they fail.

[-=Jeff=-]

Sounds like mine work as designed.. Now to figure out how to clean the belts themselves

[gbmidyear66]

Jeff. I have the same issue with mine. Every time I get on the throttle the lap belt cinches uncomfortably around my waist (I hate this right after lunch....). I bought a used set - and its a bit less quick to cinch, but it is still a PITA.

When I took mine a part - I found all sorts of goodies in the mechanism - cleaning them out of 20+ years of lint and spare change can only help - but I still do not like how mine operate. Particularly annoying when say you go over a speedbump.

Would love to find a way to make them a little less quick to cinch - if there is a way to adjust - do tell.

[-=Jeff=-]

Jeff. I have the same issue with mine. Every time I get on the throttle the lap belt cinches uncomfortably around my waist (I hate this right after lunch....). I bought a used set - and its a bit less quick to cinch, but it is still a PITA.

When I took mine a part - I found all sorts of goodies in the mechanism - cleaning them out of 20+ years of lint and spare change can only help - but I still do not like how mine operate. Particularly annoying when say you go over a speedbump.

Would love to find a way to make them a little less quick to cinch - if there is a way to adjust - do tell.

Well I have a set of extra belts.. I need to get them out and check out the mechanism in them