Has anyone used a "seatbelt repair" service?
 

I'm writing this post to help deal with an ongoing problem. Crappy seatbelt mechanism/action in my '93 4runner. I have done the following:

- tightened the spring inside the tensioner (I got a few more winds into the driver side spring the first time I tried this, however on the second time (on the passenger tensioner), the spring actually broke right at the spindle. I bent a new tab and rewound as tight as could be, considering it was now shorter...) :(
- cleaned the belt itself, in a detergent and rinse/dry.
- while cleaning the belt, I scraped clean the plastic guide (bolts to the pillar next to the driver seat (B pillar?)) that the belt goes through. It had some gunk on it. After cleaning and drying, I even applied a thin plastic film that yielded a slightly more slippery action when the belt ran through it.
- tried a set of junkyard tensioners that "seemed" better than mine. They weren't

Long story short. I'm sick of crappy seatbelts.

So my long awaited question: Has anyone used the services (found on craigslist, eBay, Amazon, and randomly online) where you mail them your tensioner/seatbelt assembly, and they remedy its' various issues and mail it back? Many of those companies specialize in multistage tensioners, but there are some who work on just the single stage kind (spring with detent)

Their costs tend to hover around the $50-$60 range.

I have yet to inquire at a dealer to get a OE replacement, if they even exist. Not that I could afford one if they did.

If you have used a service like this, I'd love to hear your thoughts and/or feelings (about the service and end result, not about your life... unless it's really exciting.)

Thanks!

Chris "babyfood1217" Gerber

I've never heard of such a service. (I'm sure they exist, but I'm not up to looking for one for you.)

I assume by "crappy" you mean that the belt doesn't retract easily. I had that problem on my driver's side belt, and I replaced just the belt part. The belt is easy to get, but sewing is involved to assemble it, so if you're not confident of your sewing machine that might not be the way to go.

Of course, that won't help if you've broken a spring.

The seat belt unit is sewn together, so you can't (for instance) buy just the retractor. The entire unit (belt, retractor, loops, anchors) goes for $100-$150, depending (!) on color. http://www.toyotapartsoverstock.com/...rimLevel=18292 You might consider that before you drop $60. Availability is always an issue.

Yeah, it's less an issue with the belt as it is with the retractor. I shouldn't use the word tensioner, as I that may be reserved for multistage seat belt systems. I'd be open to buying a new setup, but I'll have to shop around a bit. I think I cam across that site once, but forgot about it completely. Thanks for the reminder.

[QUOTE=scope103;52311165]I've never heard of such a service. (I'm sure they exist, but I'm not up to looking for one for you.
\QUOTE]



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