Rear seart belts. AM i missing something?

[snoggin]

This could just be a matter of digging deeper into the manual but the rear drivers side seat belt is boggling me. I jus tgot the car two days aago and tonite was the first time anyone had ridden in the rear seats. both sides of the belt come out of the slot at the upper end . hence the belt does not go acroos the lap of the occupant. I tried sitting back there and could not get the belt to extend far enough to click in for me. I am not oversized. So my question is , WTF? I tried to fidlle with it but didnt get it sorted in the short time I allowed but I have never seen a seatbelt arranged like this. My experience is somewhat limited I guess . Are they all like this and how is it used?

[auricchio]

I've had three people in back without that problem.

There is one unusual situation, however. The clip-in "receiver" end for the drivers side and center actually cross over each other. They're installed this way for some odd reason. Same on a friend's 2005.

[benighted]

Both of my rear seatbelts have been shut in the rear seat latches so there is some fraying. I took it to the dealer but they told me they can't fix it since it wasn't a manufacturer defect, wich is what I was expecting but it never hurts to try...

[qbee42]

No, that's not right. The lap part of the belt comes out low and goes across the passenger's lap. Did it get clipped into top seat belt clip by mistake?

Tom

[TonyPSchaefer]

Alright. I'm going to need some pictures of this to get my head around it.

But here's my initial thoughts: There are two ways I can think this would happen. (we all know that it's a single belt with a loop and not in "sections". We can think of it as a quantum loop string unless you don't understand quanta in which case we'll think of it as two sections of the same belt)

First, both belt sections come out of the car's interior from the same molding slot. That would mean that the "lap section" runs up behind the interior molding to come out of the same molding slot as the "shoulder section". If this is the case, the mistake was clearly made at the factory or by someone who once had the ability to remove or attach the interior section of the car. Someone who's owned the car for only two days woud hopefully not be removing interior panels.

Secondly, both belt sections come out of their respective interior molding slots. The lap section runs up the side of the seat (exposed to view) and then routes through the loop on the corner of the seat by the headrest. This could have been done by anyone since there is nothing required other than slipping the belt through the passage in the loop by the headrest.

Without pictures we will never know for sure. But if it is the latter rather than the sooner, then you can simply remidy the situation by pulling it out of the loop by the headrest. Either way, it is neither normal nor safe and should be corrected as quickly as possible.

[tcooper185]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rick Auricchio @ May 14 2006, 01:00 AM) [snapback]255055[/snapback]</div>

There is one unusual situation, however. The clip-in "receiver" end for the drivers side and center actually cross over each other. They're installed this way for some odd reason. Same on a friend's 2005.
[/b]

I wonder if this is a standard thing on Toyotas...my '96 Camry is this way too.

[tmorrowus]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tcooper185 @ May 14 2006, 01:31 PM) [snapback]255265[/snapback]</div>

I wonder if this is a standard thing on Toyotas...my '96 Camry is this way too.
[/b]

I'm assuming this is to accomodate larger people when there are only two in the backseat. If the anchors were placed on the "correct" side then that would make the anchor a couple of inches further under the butt of the big American sitting in the back.

[TonyPSchaefer]

Actaully, the crossover of the receivers allow for more seating room. If they did not cross, the belts' pattern would be more like a V whereas this way they make more of an X with the hips of the occupants in the crossing part of the X. The V would serve to push them apart.

[snoggin]

wELL IT IS REALLY STRANGE oops. I looked for another loop or clip down under the side panel etc and cannot see or feel anything also there is not enough length available for me to clip it in even just running it over my shoulder let alone over my lap as well. I'm going to run it by and give Toyota Marin the big?????. LUckily it is only five minutes away

[TonyPSchaefer]

Tim. Can you take pictures?

It's supposed to look like this: