Seatbelt Squeeze

waprius · 10-29-2006, 12:17 PM

On my 2005 Prius, I have a problem with the left rear seatbelt. My wife complains that the seatbelt will get tighter and tighter until she has to release it and re-attach the belt. Then it will do the same thing again. I think I remember people complaining about the right rear seatbelt too.

Does anyone know if there is a tensioner I can adjust? Have instructions?

I would take it to the dealer that normally services the car but they don't do warranty work on the weekends so I would have to take time off of work to get it in there.

Thanks for any help you can give.

**Tideland Prius** · 10-29-2006, 12:20 PM

That would be the automatic locking... something (ALR).

That is a feature on all seatbelts except the driver's one. What you do to repeat what your wife did is just pull any seatbelt to the maximum. When you let go, you'll hear this.. umm "clicking" sound as the seatbelt retracts. Let it retract a bit and then pull. You'll realise it is "locked" and it can only be retracted.

That's the ALR system. Good for baby seats and the like.

waprius · 10-30-2006, 01:03 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Oct 29 2006, 09:20 AM) [snapback]340306[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

That would be the automatic locking... something (ALR).

That is a feature on all seatbelts except the driver's one. What you do to repeat what your wife did is just pull any seatbelt to the maximum. When you let go, you'll hear this.. umm "clicking" sound as the seatbelt retracts. Let it retract a bit and then pull. You'll realise it is "locked" and it can only be retracted.

That's the ALR system. Good for baby seats and the like.
[/b]

Thanks, but I'm saying it keeps on tightening as we ride in the car. Is there an adjustment to lessen the tightening feature beside unlatching and redoing it?

**Tideland Prius** · 10-30-2006, 01:11 AM

ehh... in that case, it shouldn't happen lol.

waprius · 10-30-2006, 03:27 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Oct 29 2006, 10:11 PM) [snapback]340531[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

ehh... in that case, it shouldn't happen lol.
[/b]

OK, maybe there is someone else out there who has some real informative help they can give.
<_<

hobbit · 10-30-2006, 05:39 PM

If you trigger the one-way retractor, then as a body bounces around
and moves in the seat and pulls against the belt a little less, even
just for a moment, the retractor will take up one or two clicks.
This may well give the long-term effect of "it's trying to choke me
to death!" ... but if the belt is getting into this state in the
first place, the occupant is probably pulling it *way* too far out
in the first place. Is your wife large? Would it help if she rides
shotgun, instead of in the back seat? This all sounds an awful lot
like user error, not a retractor problem, unless you really happened
to get a misadjusted one somehow.
.
_H*

**Tideland Prius** · 10-30-2006, 08:32 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(waprius @ Oct 30 2006, 12:27 PM) [snapback]340813[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

OK, maybe there is someone else out there who has some real informative help they can give.
<_<
[/b]

well, sor-ry

Pinto Girl · 10-31-2006, 05:45 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(waprius @ Oct 30 2006, 03:27 PM) [snapback]340813[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

OK, maybe there is someone else out there who has some real informative help they can give.
<_<
[/b]

reeeeeerrrrrrr!

Five posts, and already dissatisfied with the service here at PriusChat?!?

My, my; I'd suggest lowering your standards.
[smile]

waprius · 10-31-2006, 06:37 PM

Hobbit said:
[Would it help if she rides
shotgun, instead of in the back seat? This all sounds an awful lot
like user error, not a retractor problem, unless you really happened
to get a misadjusted one somehow.]
My daughter has to ride shotgun as she has quadraplegia and cannot sit up for very long. She most often has to recline in the seat while I drive. So my wife has to sit in back. I don't know how "User error" would come into play, it's only a seatbelt. Now you mentioned a misadjusted retractor. That sounds like the problem. Guess I will have to find an adjustment procedure somewhere. You think ALLDATAdiy.com would have it?

San_Carlos_Jeff · 10-31-2006, 07:02 PM

My daughter sometimes pulls the belt all the way out with one hand and then buckles it with her other hand. Then when she lets go the same thing happens. Could be your wife is doing something similar. Have you sat in the same seat and had the same problem? That would be a quick test.

I'd be very surprised if thre is an adjustment on a safety item like this. If it is broken the dealer will probably have to replace it.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Look what I was able to squeeze in my Prius	usbseawolf2000	Gen II Prius Main Forum	10	10-22-2007 07:54 PM
Toyota's Suicide Squeeze	Prianista	Prius and Hybrid News	58	10-11-2007 02:56 PM
Squeeze...SQUEEZE it baby!	Mystery Squid	Gen II Prius Fuel Economy	14	06-15-2006 02:47 PM
Nanotubes squeeze salt from water	DaveinOlyWA	Environmental Discussion	3	05-24-2006 10:13 AM
Seatbelt Beep on/off	Tideland Prius	Gen II Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting	7	12-22-2005 04:44 PM

10-29-2006, 12:17 PM	#1
waprius Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 8 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	On my 2005 Prius, I have a problem with the left rear seatbelt. My wife complains that the seatbelt will get tighter and tighter until she has to release it and re-attach the belt. Then it will do the same thing again. I think I remember people complaining about the right rear seatbelt too. Does anyone know if there is a tensioner I can adjust? Have instructions? I would take it to the dealer that normally services the car but they don't do warranty work on the weekends so I would have to take time off of work to get it in there. Thanks for any help you can give.

10-29-2006, 12:20 PM	#2
Tideland Prius Moderator of the North Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 19,633 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: N/A Package: Technology Package (Canada) Thanks: 229 Thanked 346 Times in 245 Posts Friends: 23	That would be the automatic locking... something (ALR). That is a feature on all seatbelts except the driver's one. What you do to repeat what your wife did is just pull any seatbelt to the maximum. When you let go, you'll hear this.. umm "clicking" sound as the seatbelt retracts. Let it retract a bit and then pull. You'll realise it is "locked" and it can only be retracted. That's the ALR system. Good for baby seats and the like.

10-30-2006, 01:11 AM	#4
Tideland Prius Moderator of the North Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 19,633 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: N/A Package: Technology Package (Canada) Thanks: 229 Thanked 346 Times in 245 Posts Friends: 23	ehh... in that case, it shouldn't happen lol.

10-30-2006, 05:39 PM	#6
hobbit Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bahstahn Posts: 3,626 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 216 Times in 118 Posts Friends: 0	If you trigger the one-way retractor, then as a body bounces around and moves in the seat and pulls against the belt a little less, even just for a moment, the retractor will take up one or two clicks. This may well give the long-term effect of "it's trying to choke me to death!" ... but if the belt is getting into this state in the first place, the occupant is probably pulling it way too far out in the first place. Is your wife large? Would it help if she rides shotgun, instead of in the back seat? This all sounds an awful lot like user error, not a retractor problem, unless you really happened to get a misadjusted one somehow. . _H*

10-31-2006, 06:37 PM	#9
waprius Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 8 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Hobbit said: [Would it help if she rides shotgun, instead of in the back seat? This all sounds an awful lot like user error, not a retractor problem, unless you really happened to get a misadjusted one somehow.] My daughter has to ride shotgun as she has quadraplegia and cannot sit up for very long. She most often has to recline in the seat while I drive. So my wife has to sit in back. I don't know how "User error" would come into play, it's only a seatbelt. Now you mentioned a misadjusted retractor. That sounds like the problem. Guess I will have to find an adjustment procedure somewhere. You think ALLDATAdiy.com would have it?

10-31-2006, 07:02 PM	#10
San_Carlos_Jeff Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Northern California Posts: 603 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #3 Thanks: 25 Thanked 5 Times in 4 Posts Friends: 0	My daughter sometimes pulls the belt all the way out with one hand and then buckles it with her other hand. Then when she lets go the same thing happens. Could be your wife is doing something similar. Have you sat in the same seat and had the same problem? That would be a quick test. I'd be very surprised if thre is an adjustment on a safety item like this. If it is broken the dealer will probably have to replace it.