Here's an interesting one. On my 85 300td wagon, the seat belt mechanism locks up about halfway when I pull it from the door frame. It locks up and I cannot pull it further and it will not retract. Stops when its about at mid chest length. I usually remember to put my seat belt on after about a block from home (I know, bad habit) and the only way to get it to work properly (rarely) is pull over and jiggle the heck out of it to allow it to retract and then retry or.... towards the end of my commute I go over a pretty steep bridge and the seat belt releases its lock by itself on the downward slope of the bridge. Strange but true

I have yet to go into the mechanism to search for clues. Any first hand experience with this type of issue?

With a recent change in Florida law, where LEO's can pull you over for just not having a seatbelt on, I find it troubling to have an "sometimes" inoperable seat belt assembly

I'd get it replaced ASAP.

LEO will not care if it's working or not. You get the ticket.

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'85 300TD "Puff The Magic Wagon" - Rolling Resto
'19 Mazda CX-9 Signature - Wife's sled
'21 Morgan 3-Wheeler P101 Edition
'95 E300d - SOLD
'84 300TD "Brown Betty" - Miss this one
'81 240D "China Baby" - Farm grocery getter

Thanks Any insight on what might be the issue?

If it makes you feel any better, my driver's side does the same thing. Noticed that if I just leave it alone for a while, it will self-heal. Otherwise, I have to pull the cover off and fiddle with the mechanism.
This is one of those things I've just put off, but I really need/want to replace it.

Seems like I've heard though that these seat belt mechanisms have pyro devices built into them to pull very quick tension on the belt in the event of a crash. Thinking this is gonna mean $$ to replace. Can anyone confirm this?

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Chris
1985 300SD - 'Grace' (198K mi.)
2018 Honda Civic Sport
2018 Honda CRV LX
2010 Honda Fit Sport (RIP)
2013 Honda Accord Sport (Sold)
1996 Lexus LS400 (Retired)
1995 Ford Contour SE (Retired)
1976 Porsche 914 (Sold)
1972 Datsun 240Z (RIP)

I would just open the pillar cover and with a pen/ scewdriver push the belt back from the roll, it does usually do the trick as it will roll back itself once started

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E300TD year 2000. RUSTY SOLD
cost a fortune to maintain on the road
but run well on WVO
Second Merc died due to corrosion ( NOT rust) How can mercedes get away with that for so long?
Third lasted a month then went away...
Fourth now... Corroded too...

My w123 does this when it is really cold outside. If I leave it alone the belt will eventually come back in on itself.

I could have sworn I saw a thread on this site detailing how to fix it. Maybe by lubricating the gear mechanisms in the pillar.

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-Typos courtesy of my mobile phone.

My TD used to do it and like you I'd have to jiggle it. Problem went away and hasn't come back in about 3 years.

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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

WD-40 on the mechanism. Be careful not to get it on the belt itself.

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1985 300 TD 448K
1984 300 TD 278K

1983 240D euro 240k
1994 f-250 idi turbo 330K
1986 f-350 IDI
1987 F-350 IDI

1985 JD 1050 4wd
1965 IH 3660

The seat best is a safety device, I don`t think it is something to take lightly. the drivers side gets the most use, and after 2 - 300,000 miles they do wear out.

I think it was the 85 yr model that the pyro devise was used. do not try to take the unit apart. for safety reasons.

our 85 had this problem about 10 yrs ago. couldn`t get it out, or to retract. since I did want it to do it`s job if the situation came up. so I sucked it up and bought a new belt. been working just fine since.

Your life, do what you want.

Charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

Out of curiosity, approx how many arms/legs are they getting for one of the pyro equipped seat belts?

I've never had the belts on a Benz apart so this may not appy at all... Some other makes have a little counterweight that runs the ratchet on the belt to stop the belt during hard decelleration, like in a crash. If the Benz has something similar that could be the thing that is giving the trouble. Your description of the belt freeing up on a bridge may point to something like that...

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1985 300D
The rest:
1957 MGA (comatose)
1965 Falcon (sleeping)
1966 E-100 (rust test in progress)
1976 Ford 3400 D Tractor (workhorse)
1978 Mercury Zephyer (5L playtoy)
1995 Isuzu NPR D (fetcher)
1998 Subaru Legacy (Spare)
2000 Toyota Sienna (School bus)
2008 Toyota Prius (Commuter)