Seatbelt lock-up...can't free up

[westwind77]

So my wife has really been complaining lately about the seat belt in the 4R locking her in. Once it is in place and I drive for a short bit if she tries to lean forward or move around it will not let her. It does not matter how slowly you try to pull it to prevent the lock up, still does it. I can move/pull my belt without an issue, of course if you try to move it fast it locks up. The only way for her to get free is to un-click it. I am starting to wonder if I just have an issue with mine or if anyone else has had this issue (and no I don't have the 3rd row seat so wrapping it around the headrest does not help)

 

[eddiebx]

When your wife experiences this lock up, can she retract the seat belt back in a bit and then try to see if it is free again? Or does she need to let it retract all the way back in for it to be free again.

I noticed on mine, if you let it retract in a bit it should release the locking thing...but I also haven't tried it in any of the passenger seats either. Perhaps you could try the back seat belts and see how sensitive they are? Might be a problem with the passenger seat belt if that's the only one doing it...good luck!

 

[hamburglar210]

Is your foot on the brake?

 

[westwind77]

When your wife experiences this lock up, can she retract the seat belt back in a bit and then try to see if it is free again? Or does she need to let it retract all the way back in for it to be free again.

It has to be fully retracted before it will free up again. She can give it slack but all it does it lock tighter and tighter, that is the somewhat scary part. They are suppose to lock up given certain conditions but not cruising down the road at 40mph.

Is your foot on the brake?

Nope

 

[Ducmonsta]

I would recommend that you sit in the seat and see if the seat belt locks up on you. You need to determine if your wife is pulling the seat belt all the way out and setting the safety lock feature. The same way you would set it up if you were going to install a child seat without a factory tie down system.

 

[simonj]

When she is putting her seatbelt on, she's probably pulling the belt out too far.

Those of us with children and carseats know about this feature.

If you pull the belt out to a certain point, it engages the lock so that when it starts retracting, you can't pull it back out, no matter what. This feature is for when you are strapping in a car seat into the car using the seatbelt (instead of the LATCH system).

To disengage the lock, you have to let the belt retract fully.

Perfectly normal and most, if not all modern cars do this.

 

[Glenn_Law]

When she is putting her seatbelt on, she's probably pulling the belt out too far.

Those of us with children and carseats know about this feature.

If you pull the belt out to a certain point, it engages the lock so that when it starts retracting, you can't pull it back out, no matter what. This feature is for when you are strapping in a car seat into the car using the seatbelt (instead of the LATCH system).

To disengage the lock, you have to let the belt retract fully.

Perfectly normal and most, if not all modern cars do this.

I am so glad you posted this. We constantly have trouble with the seatbelt locking up when my daughter is in her booster seat. It never occurred to me that it was because she was pulling it out too far when she fastened the seatbelt.

Thanks!

Glenn

 

[Brian757]

You can certainly tell old 4Runners from the naw and vice versa.
The old 4Runners complain about how their seatbelts don't retract,
and new 4Runner complain about how their seatbelts don't come out.

Sorry I couldn't help you, but I noticed a funny.

 

[westwind77]

When she is putting her seatbelt on, she's probably pulling the belt out too far.

Those of us with children and carseats know about this feature.

We have a car seat and I know all about it. We carry a different car seat with us on the plane (in a huge bag) which I strap in with the belt and it clicks about an inch from the max so I know what you are talking about.....however.... my wife is only 5'1 and 98 pounds! I watch her get in and put the belt on....I pull the belt out 6 times are far as she does. It was a good though, but not the issue in this case.

 

[RS89]

Curious if you ever resolved this issue. I'm troubleshooting the same problem right now. Thanks.