Got good anwers on my question about the yellow brake wear indicator light and am going to go the the junk yard and pick up a few in hopes of getting a good one cheap.

After the anwer about the problem being related to the seat belt indicator caused me to start the car without my seat belt connected. I did it, and the red seat belt light no longer stays on or makes a noise so that appears to be a very good lead to the solution. The yellow brake light does still stay on all the time.

The next question is about seat belt retractors. My 1980 300sd driver side seat belt will only pull out a few inches at a time and it takes many pulls and jiggles to get it on.

A while back, I took it apart and sprayed the retractor with carb cleaner and that made it work perfectly for a month or two, then it returned to it's old ways.

I was wondering if I just need to buy a new one or whether there is some way to clean and lube this so that it will continue to work smoothly.

Thanks

I would take it out and clean it the same way again and then oil any moving parts with some sort of light oil like 3-in-1 oil. Sorry I can't be of more help but I've never had that problem or heard of it before. Maybe next time this question pops up you'll have a real answer for someone.

__________________
1985 300D Turbo ~225k
2000 F350 (Powerstroke) 4X4, SWB, CC, SRW, 6spd ~148k
1999 International 4900, DT466e (250hp/660 ft/lbs), Allison MD3060 ~73k

I'll give that a try this weekend. Did not do it first time because I was afraid the oil might get on the seat belt when it retracts but I will just let it dry.

Had it replaced 10+ years ago and supposedly got a new seat belt assembly but the cost was somewhere around $200. Don't want to do that again and the junk yards only want $50 but they are the ones that said to clean it well. When you get them out, it appears to be difficult or impossible to take it apart without damaging the mechanism so that is why I sprayed it.

Will let you know in a week or two just how the oil works. Will try 3 in 1 or WD-40.

Thanks for replying

There is only 2 screws in the lower piece or trim then the big trim strip comes out, exposing the seat belt assembley, easy to do. peek in there and see whats going on.

__________________


1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"