Standard seat belts in cars have a special "inertial" control in the retractor mechanism that lets the seat belt out at a particular speed but locks it if that speed is exceeded, right? Anyone know how that mechanism works?
Also, I got a second seat belt out of a JY this morning to replace the slightly frayed one in my "new" beater, and the replacement belt retracted all most all the way, and I can't for the life of me figure out how to get it to come back out.
With Toyota's, the control is gravity/inertial based. With the car relatively flat, the belt will play out. If you point the car down, a weight in the mechanism shifts and the belt will lock. Thus, if you centerpunch something, the weight in the mechanism acts like the car is pointing down and locks the belt.
Seat belts should go across your "hip bones" (Anterior Superior Illiac Crests.) The bones of your pelvis will stop you. If you put the lap belt above your "hip bones," across your gut and get in a boo-boo, the belt will kill you.
Is the problem you can't get it to come out of the reel? Is it upright and in the proper position? You've probably tried wiggling the belt, but try pulling it out s-l-o-w-l-y instead.
Yep, I got it now. If I hold it upright, like it would be installed in the car, and pull up on it very slowly, it comes out. But now it's pouring down rain, and I can't R&R the seat belt! 
Whatever. I have an appointment to get a state inspection done on Friday. I'll take the replacement belt with me (if I don't get a chance to install it before then). If the shop wants to charge me any more than $20 to install this belt (which is held on with a total of 5 bolts), I'll tell them to stuff it and do it myself.
Most belts you can't pull fast enough to make the inertia reel engage. There is a weight that shifts a tab over that grabs a wheel that engages two steel locking pins. It needs to be vertical to allow the belt to move- this is what you found out when you were able to move it.
Streetwiseguy wrote: Most belts you can't pull fast enough to make the inertia reel engage.
The driver's belt in my e28 BMW will often jam if I pull on it too fast, so I have to let it retract and then pull it slowly.
I can't think of a single seat belt I couldn't pull fast enough to make lock.
Anyhow, when it comes to fiddling with one not mounted in the car, it seems like I cannot get the darn thing into the right position to release, no matter how carefully I try. So, I just install it, and then magic happens.
stuart in mn wrote:Streetwiseguy wrote: Most belts you can't pull fast enough to make the inertia reel engage.The driver's belt in my e28 BMW will often jam if I pull on it too fast, so I have to let it retract and then pull it slowly.
Ok, if you want to include European cars with their warped plastic disc...
