280zx 1983. i cant get my seatbelt to lock by yanking on it slamming the brakes and yanking or any other thing i try. i need to know if all 280's are like this.
not that im planning on wrecking but i want it to work if i do. does the 280 use some other safety devise? i just figured i would ask before i tore into it

 

Yeah, they're supposed to lock.

 

well has anyone had this problem? any one know what to fix? if not ill just try to fix it myself? oh yeah thanks barbie

 

Yeah mine does that too, i think the spring or something needs to be lubed. I'll look at fixing it after school, Oh and its only on the driver side, huh. Maybe there tring to kill off the ZX drivers.

 

yeah the tension reel is supposed to lock on ya. if lubing the spring does not work you can swap it out with the passengers one if that one locks. They are interchangable.

 

Yeah i think i'm going to swap them, better the passenger than me, right? JK

 

Bad seatbelts are not only a VERY common problem on the S130, but I am pretty sure it had a recall on them as well. I have been through 3 drivers side seatbelts since I have owned this one.

This makes me think that one of the mods should add "Check seatbelt function" in the S130 buying tips and common problems thread...

Rod.

 

No, the seatbelts weren't recalled. They were listed in the TBS as a potential problem, but have now been removed because the replacement period expired years ago with the "new car warranty".

 

TSB:
Technical
Service
Bulletin



But yeah, I knew they were a problem... just not sure how BIG.

Rod.

 

LOL! Thanks for catching my typo.

 

mine didnt work either. my black spare set does, but i just put in 5 point harness' anyway! they are much safer

 

What'd ya mount it to behind the seat, Shady? Got pix? I wanna see.

 

My shoulder harnesses are mounted to the top of the rear shock towers and the lap belts are bolted to steel plates welded to the floor boards.

I kept my stock seat belts intact and in place to retain DOT approval. Even though a properly installed harness far exceeds a stock 3 point seat belt, most are NOT DOT approved and will result in a ticket if you're using the harness exclusively.

 

I have a simmilar problem, they wont lock when i tug on them, however if im cornering they lock up and hold. im not sure what causes this but i doubt its proper operation.

 

my Z does the same thing, if you want to be sure just unbolt the seat belt, hang it by the seat belt so the retractor is dangling in air, then try to pull the retractor to the ground, if it locks then you know your seatbelt works, if it doesn't then your retractor is probably broken.