Rear Seatbelt locked with seat folded flat

[WonderMur]

Hi I'm a new user to this board.
Have a red 2002 Limited edition.
I recently folded the rear passenger carseat flat and cannot get it upright again as the middle seatbelt has locked and needs to pull out a bit to get the seat upright. I know that there is a safety mechanism that locks this belt if the seat is not locked in place...I have tried locking the mechanism on the seat manually but that makes no difference. I have also tried removing the seat to bring the rear of the seat back to its upright position in case gravity would unlock the belt.

I don't know hwy this has happened noe as I have put the seat down many other times with no problem.

I had been using a child seat prior to this propblem...perhaps this has contributed to the problem.

If anyone can help me that would be much appreciated.

Cheers

[ijoe]

I've had this happen to me as well, it took me almost 30 minutes to work it free. I was able to keep working it back and forth to release the clutch and finally got enough slack to let it all the way out... all this while trying to leave for a vacation!

maybe somebody has a better solution... good luck

[WonderMur]

Thanks ijoe for the suggestion...but i couldn't get the belt out at all working it from side to side. I pulled out the seat altogether and tiped the seat up so the back of it was in the normal reclined position and then the belt freed itself. But as soon as the seat is folded down it locks again...and the seat really needs to be folded to get it back in...I guess I will take it to the dealer, perhaps warranty will cover getting it fixed.

[gonzomania]

Welcome wondermur,
I think you can disengage the ratch mechanism with a flat head screw driver. This might help until you can get it to the dealer. I wouln't mess around with it it maybe covered. This link might help from OEM chrysler parts https://www.1stchryslerparts.com/oe_parts_catalog.html

[R.E.]

Hi WonderMur,
There's a little molded rubber/plastic button on the seat belt that keeps the belt from retracting too far into the back of the seat. If it's broken off, the belt retracts too far and locks. If you can work the belt out again, you'll probably notice it's missing. At least that's what caused mine to lock up like that. I replaced the button with a chrome one that had teeth on the bottom that I could push through the belt and mash them down. Haven't had the problem since then. (I don't know where that chrome button came from, found it laying around my garage)

[Hooligan]

quote:Originally posted by R.E.

Hi WonderMur,
Haven't had the problem since then. (I don't know where that chrome button came from, found it laying around my garage)

...and that is why you NEVER throw anything away!!!!

[gonzomania]

Wondermur,
If you go to ptdiy. I think there is a search #947 that explains this problem. After the seatbelt was able to be retracted the dealer did the button trick.http://www.ptdoityourself.net/index.html

[R.E.]

That's true Hooligan. Thinking back I seem to remember where that button might have came from. But I haven't been able to find the goat to verify it.