Seat Belt Lockout on 300E

Car: 1987 300E with SRS.

I had a driveshaft coupling disintegrate last week. For some unknown reason, the airbag deployed when the joint broke. Anyway, on receiving the repaired car back from the shop with a new coupling and airbag in place, the driver's side seat belt is tensioned tight and locked up and the SRS warning light is illuminated. How do I re-set it? I'm told that I have to replace the seat belt retractor, surely not? How did a drive shaft joint failure pop the airbag and lock up the seat belt? The incident occurred at low speed without a rapid stop or collision. Anybody help?

Mike B

The airbag sensors are actually located in the transmission tunnel. If the front flex disc breaks apart, the spinning driveshaft could impact one of those sensors, which is what sounds like happened. Another forum member (Mike Tangas?) had this happen to him last year, I think.

-anthony

I had that happen too! It's no fun when the airbag deploys when you are standing still!

You will need to replace the seat belt. There are small explosive charges that during an accident, will explode and sharply retract the seat belts. The only way to fix this (by my understanding) is to replace the seat belt/charge.

__________________
Allen Kroliczek
Oak Grove Autosport | Oak Grove Autosport
01 G500, 82 300TD, quite a few more.....

I am actually in the middle of trying to remove a seatbelt from my recently purchased '88 300E. I did it in my '87, but I cannot remember what you have to take off. Any help would be appreciated!!!

Roy

Your understanding is correct. The seat belt retractor is a one-time-use mechanism, just like an air bag. Also, the tension put on the belt by the pyrotechnic retractor means that the belt strength is compromised, so just a new retraction mechanism is not enough.