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Thread: Seat Belt questions

  1. #1
    Van Fan Loganator17's Avatar
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    Seat Belt questions

    My drivers side seatbelt won't roll back down. It still springs a little bit, but only pulls back in about 6 inches from fully extended. I took off the panel and can't seem to make it roll back down... Does anyone know how to fix this problem?

    If this isn't fixable, any ideas for a temporary solution?

    Logan

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    Administrator timsrv's Avatar
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    Re: Seat Belt malfunction

    Sounds like it's time for you to replace the seat belt. If new is still available it will likely cost around $100 - $150. Another option (what I do) is to get a used one from a salvage yard. Yards around here charge around $20 for a good one. Tim

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    Re: Seat Belt malfunction

    Unfortunately, you won't find a used seat belt that hasn't yet been smashed by the door.

  4. #4
    Administrator llamavan's Avatar
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    Re: Seat Belt malfunction

    The OEM seat belts are NLA, although there are aftermarket seat belts. I've not tried aftermarket and can't comment on any aspect of them.

    Gwen
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    Administrator timsrv's Avatar
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    Re: Seat Belt malfunction

    I've found "good" ones in salvage yards before. Although "good" used Toyota belt assy's are typically far from perfect, they are still usable. Finding them still good AND the right color can be difficult. Tim

  6. #6
    Van Fan Loganator17's Avatar
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    Re: Seat Belt malfunction

    I went through three salvage yards today before I found the right one. Wrong color, but I always liked brown anyway. I figure I can't be too picky with a van at 200k.
    Thanks

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    Seat belt questions

    Hello,
    I am assembling my seats after a successful re-upholstery project. I am having trouble attaching the seat belt receptacle to the driver side seat. I attached a photo, and circled the hole in red which I am having issues with. The bolt I previously believed would fit, as circled in green is not fitting. The mystery hole must be stripped or has a different sized bolt that I misplaced? I thought the bolt sizes where all the same of these.

    Has anyone undergone this process? The project took months and I can't remember the correct fitting. Next time I will take more pics.

    Thanks!
    Name:  sideviewseat.jpg
Views: 831
Size:  35.7 KB

  8. #8
    Administrator timsrv's Avatar
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    Re: Seat bolts

    I don't have experience with this specific issue, but, typically seat belt bolts are fine thread & most other bolts are course thread. Trying to put the wrong threaded bolt in (depending on how much force you exert) can mess up the threads (so that no bolt will fit correctly). If this has happened, you may need to chase the threads in the hole & on the bolt using a correctly sized tap & die. I hope this helps. Good luck. Tim

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    adding a shoulder belt

    hi all.
    Has anyone added a shoulder belt to their rear seats, or know if one can be added?
    1985 2wd Toyota Van

  10. #10
    Administrator JDM VANMAN's Avatar
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    Re: adding a shoulder belt

    I don't think any of the 80's era mini vans had shoulder belts for the rear passengers cause it wasn't a DOT safety requirement. I think the 91' Previa's were the first to have them.

    This is an assumption based on my 87' van and 89' that both don't have shoulder belts. But I do know that it did become a DOT requirement after a certain year but not sure when.

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    Re: adding a shoulder belt

    Thanks vanman.
    I don't think it's required, but my 10 year old son has already picked out 'his' seat, and it doesn't have a shoulder belt. For safety sake I really need to add one.
    1985 2wd Toyota Van

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    Re: adding a shoulder belt

    I believe '89 was the year for passenger cars but it doesn't appear to apply to vans as many on here have said they have or have seen an '89 without them. I don't know if an '85 will have it but I have seen many vans in the wrecking yard that have the nuts for the upper mount welded into the body. I installed third row shoulder belts in my '88 but had to fabricate reinforcement plates for the lower mount and the retractor mount(Which mounts in the rear speaker hole). Mine had the third row upper nut but not the second row. You would have to find an "89 being parted out and hope it had the belts and trim pieces for a factory look. You could possibly install aftermarket as well. Of course the thing to remember here is the massive safety factor involved. If this is even remotely outside of your skill level than find a professional. I searched "shoulder belt on TVP and came up with a few threads that may be of help: http://www.toyotavanpeople.com/forum...a1bcdbe6d1fdc8
    Good luck.

  13. #13
    Administrator JDM VANMAN's Avatar
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    Re: adding a shoulder belt

    If there's no viable option then you might want to consider getting a 5 point harness booster seat that has a rear seat latch? Depending on yours son's height and weight there's some that go up to 100lbs max and 57" height.

    All my younger kids are pretty thick my 6 and 5 year old daughter are both 75lbs and my 6 year old son is pushing 60lbs all are little juggernauts. They usually roll in the Suburban or the Sequoia and I only take them on short trips in the other 2 vans but they'll roll with the lap belts.

    Here's a link for example of a booster seat-

    http://www.target.com/p/kids-embrace...t/-/A-15007387

  14. #14
    Administrator JDM VANMAN's Avatar
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    Re: adding a shoulder belt

    There you go... Thank you original for adding in the link and your experience.

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    Re: adding a shoulder belt

    thanks y'all.
    It's a little more complicated then I thought. I should have point out that I don't care about it appearing to be original, or how it looks at all, just safety.
    1985 2wd Toyota Van

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    Re: adding a shoulder belt

    1989 EPC

    1988 EPC

  17. #17
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    Re: adding a shoulder belt

    I took some out of a junkyard Toyota Van-must've been an '89. I've only installed one so far but it works great in the back corner. I did have to take out the rear speaker for it.

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    Re: adding a shoulder belt

    thanks, that's interesting. Mine's an '85, so I don't know if they're the same. I guess i need to investigate.
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    Re: adding a shoulder belt

    '89 is the only year that may have rear shoulder belts, have seen 3 '89 vans in various yards.
    Only one van (LE version) had all 4 belts from the factory (but sadly, they had already been removed).
    The other 2 (both DX's) were only equipped with 3 rear shoulder belts, both were missing the middle RS belt, those 2 also had a body brace across said hole where the retractor would have mounted (as does mine).

    On my '88, all the lower anchor and upper pivot points were present and accounted for.
    It was only the rear "speaker" holes that lacked the welded-in nuts for install, I did inspect the mounting points of the donor vans to see if the factory had reinforced the mounting area, but found no difference to my '88.

    I opted to weld nuts to oversize washers, (Gr 8, 1/2" hardware) then used body-panel adhesive to glue the O/S washers to the backside of the panel.
    (the glue is only there to locate the nut, once the bolts are in and torqued, all load is on them, not the glue)

    It is a fairly simple operation, at least for the 3 positions.
    If I ever do find that mysterious 4th belt, I will have to modify the RS body support to accommodate the retractor, but it's not a high priority at this point in time.
    BB

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    Re: adding a shoulder belt

    I have an scion xb that has a center seat with a shoulder belt. I need to investigate the possiblity of fixing a belted center seat in my '85 TV.
    1985 2wd Toyota Van

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