My drivers side seat belt will lock up sometimes for no good reason and it is a pain to get it to release. Take off the trim etc. Anyone have the same problem? If so did you repair or replace the belt? Where would you look for a replacement belt. Dealer is out of the question and I have no salvage yards anywhere close by.

I had to buy a replacement belt assembly from the dealer. Was expensive.

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David McDonald
1981 240D
1985 300D (wrecked)
1985 300TD 365,000 miles
1969 Mustang Fastback

Try Potomac German Auto for a used belt ass'y, located in Frederick, MD.
I have some experience with this. There is a steel ball about 5/8" diameter that runs inside a track, and this is inside the retractor mechanism. There may be some gunkage in that track causing the condition you describe. Or, concurrently, the seatbelt ass'y may not be mounted correctly inside the pillar or may be loosely mounted. This ass'y must be perfectly vertical or it will bind up. Do not pry off the circular cover on the side, if you do a spring will jump out and hit you in the face and you will have to buy the seatbelt ass'y wherever you can find it, if you can find it.

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'02 BMW 325i
'85 300D 450k
'93 190E 2.6 170k(killed by tree)
'08 Ducati Hypermotard 1100S 6k
'06 Ducati S2R800 14k(sold)

I also have this problem occasionally, including just tonight. I'm getting pretty good at taking the trim panel off but it's not a skill I really want to have. Since the last post in this thread was a while ago, I'm posting this to ask if someone has come up with a DIY cleaning or overhaul procedure?

Jeremy

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"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

I have the same problem. At one time I actually thought it may have been vacuum related or something quirky like that because of the MB's creative use of the vacuum system. I suppose it's just mechanical failure, though. Mine isn't occuring so often that it's a huge problem, but I would be interested in a quick fix if there is one.

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1998 E300D, 287k, barely broken in.

I had that same problem pretty consistently for a while. Then it stopped happening. I can't remember if I did something to it or whether the repair was spontaneous. I have a vague recollection of doing something to stop it.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Need new (used) belts? check out dr_bones in the parts section of the forum. He's parting out a 300. I just bought some parts, great deal and heck of a nice guy.

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'83 240D 264k on 100% biodiesel/ 31mpg
83 300D 217K the $800 gem
'82 300D 267K the new WVO project car finished and driving for free
International tractor B275 on B100
Ford 555 backhoe on B100
Sargent 25 ton Rough Terrain crane on B50

I can get good used ones for $50

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a few mb diesels

How do you get the thing to release once you have the trim off? My passneger side is stuck now and hasn't let go for five days. Usually the driver's side lets go after about an hour when it gets stuck.

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1998 E300D, 287k, barely broken in.

It depends on the year but I know the 1985's have a charge like what is in a air bag. When the car hits something the sensors blow the charge and tighten the seat belts. So 85's have a more complex mechanism. Maybe after you pull the trim you could tap on the housing ? If you have an older W123 the mechanism is different.

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David McDonald
1981 240D
1985 300D (wrecked)
1985 300TD 365,000 miles
1969 Mustang Fastback

I've heard about these air bag doodads. But don't they actually tighten the belt in a crash? Mine are just stuck from someone getting in the seat and pulling on them a little too quick where the latch won't go any further. But like on my 99 Camry, they don't release right away. It's been four days on the passenger side this time. So where's the dude who's experienced in removing the trim and resetting the mechanism? It sounds like there's an easy fix.

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1998 E300D, 287k, barely broken in.

Bump.

My '85s belt has bound up twice now on the drivers side. Any tricks to unstick it?

I can pull a belt from my parts car, but for now I am seatbeltless (parts car is not at my apartment) :-(

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'85 300D, 'Lance',250k, ... winter beater (100k on franken-Frybrid 3 Valve Kit)
'82 300D, 'Tex', 228k body / 170k engine ... summer car
'83 300TD Cali Wagon 210k, wife's car

To me, this is one of those things that you don't DIY / open up to mess with.

If you look for replacements for an '85, be careful; they are different from other years.

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I have an 84 in my yard I was hoping to take the seat belt from. will that work?


I have been through the seat belt area on the '85 and i dont see anything unique. what is different?

there is talk earlier in the thread about some sort of accident-lock mechanism? I have seen nothing like that.

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'85 300D, 'Lance',250k, ... winter beater (100k on franken-Frybrid 3 Valve Kit)
'82 300D, 'Tex', 228k body / 170k engine ... summer car
'83 300TD Cali Wagon 210k, wife's car

I've found it best to replace the whole assembly at once, with any car. I've pulled belts, installed them, and had to go back to the yard and beg for the latch.

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CC: NSA

All things are burning, know this and be released.

82 Benz 240 D, Kuan Yin
12 Ford Escape 4wd

You're four times

It's hard to

more likely to

concentrate on

have an accident

two things

when you're on

at the same time.

a cell phone.

www.kiva.org It's not like there's anything wrong with feeling good, is there?