Uber Subar Man Posted February 1, 2006 Share Posted February 1, 2006 Hey hows it goin, im new here and im really hoping I can get some help from you guys. A few days ago, I got in a minor accident. short story, deer in the middle of the road, missed deer, lost control on wet road and slid sideways into a guardrail. I wrecked the door behind the drivers side door pretty bad. Now the problem, Its the only car I have for the time being, and where the car isnt really worth fixing at this time its not like I can go buy another car either so Im just trying to get this thing legal. The drivers side door does not close all the way correctly, however it does latch. My problem is I have the extra fancy and extra annoying automatic seatbelts that come back to you when you close the door. Currently, the seatbelt wont come back when the door closes and I cant find the switch to either turn it off so it doesnt move and somehow get it back into belted position, or figure out how to trick it into thinking the doors closed. Any help? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a97obw Posted February 1, 2006 Share Posted February 1, 2006 My 92 Legacy wagon had the "mouse trap" seat belts, the drivers side quit working and I wound up with a greasy shirt when the cable finally fell out of overhead pillar. Replaced the mechanism with one from a salvage yard, and if I remember correctly, the owners manual mentioned a way of manually retracting the seat belt by using a hex tool from the tool kit----ok, I remember now---it was an allen key type of deal found on the underside of the center console lid, and where the belts meet the floor is where you "crank" it back until you can have the dealer check it out for you for safety's sake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
91LegLS Posted February 1, 2006 Share Posted February 1, 2006 Hey hows it goin, im new here and im really hoping I can get some help from you guys. A few days ago, I got in a minor accident. short story, deer in the middle of the road, missed deer, lost control on wet road and slid sideways into a guardrail. I wrecked the door behind the drivers side door pretty bad. Now the problem, Its the only car I have for the time being, and where the car isnt really worth fixing at this time its not like I can go buy another car either so Im just trying to get this thing legal. The drivers side door does not close all the way correctly, however it does latch. My problem is I have the extra fancy and extra annoying automatic seatbelts that come back to you when you close the door. Currently, the seatbelt wont come back when the door closes and I cant find the switch to either turn it off so it doesnt move and somehow get it back into belted position, or figure out how to trick it into thinking the doors closed. Any help? If you don't have any frame damage just to the doors, go to a junkyard and replace the doors after you crank back the seatbelt as described earlier. Might even get lucky and find the same color as your car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tunered Posted February 1, 2006 Share Posted February 1, 2006 the same button that activates the overhead light also works the seatbelt,its in the door jam. you might tape it,or if the door is coming close you might tape a coin to the door to make it contact the switch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sasquatch Posted February 1, 2006 Share Posted February 1, 2006 I'm still baffled about the "losing control on a wet road and sliding sideways"..you were in a Subaru? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chef Posted February 1, 2006 Share Posted February 1, 2006 Ahem. http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=51746 I'm still baffled about the "losing control on a wet road and sliding sideways"..you were in a Subaru? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legacy777 Posted February 1, 2006 Share Posted February 1, 2006 There is an allen key in the center console. Remove it, remove the little plastic tab at the bottom of the B pillar, and manually crank the seat belt back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uber Subar Man Posted February 3, 2006 Author Share Posted February 3, 2006 Thank you very much for the posts, Ill be sure to check that out in the morning. Unfortunately, it damaged the frame. The front of the guardrail actually hit the wheel well along with the door, I was surprised I didnt get a flat. Oh and also, I had already tried just taping a bolt to the inside of the door to hit that switch on the doorjam, it only turns off the light. For those of you who may be curious on how I got into sliding sideways, I was doing about 60-70 in a 35 on a windy road. Normally, I can navigate that road perfectly, but a deer in the middle of the road was a little unexpected. Thanks for your help guys. Now all I can do is cry over my poor little subaru and hope I can scrape some cash for another. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
93SubaruLegacy Posted August 14, 2006 Share Posted August 14, 2006 My 92 Legacy wagon had the "mouse trap" seat belts, the drivers side quit working and I wound up with a greasy shirt when the cable finally fell out of overhead pillar. Replaced the mechanism with one from a salvage yard, and if I remember correctly, the owners manual mentioned a way of manually retracting the seat belt by using a hex tool from the tool kit----ok, I remember now---it was an allen key type of deal found on the underside of the center console lid, and where the belts meet the floor is where you "crank" it back until you can have the dealer check it out for you for safety's sake. I have a 93 Legacy that this just happened too. I tried cranking the cable back but it doesn't move more than an inch. Any idea why this might be happening? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legacy777 Posted August 15, 2006 Share Posted August 15, 2006 The mechanism may be jammed. It wouldn't move at all with the allen key? I'd suggest taking the trim pieces off and trying to diagnose it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ericem Posted August 15, 2006 Share Posted August 15, 2006 Just wondering , can we see pics of the damage, im just curious to see how only 1 door got hit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
93SubaruLegacy Posted August 19, 2006 Share Posted August 19, 2006 The mechanism may be jammed. It wouldn't move at all with the allen key? I'd suggest taking the trim pieces off and trying to diagnose it. It moved very little and then the allen key wouldn't turn anymore. I just bought a salvaged one and am going to put it in today. The cable seems to be jammed up somewhere and I took all the panels off around it and can't figure out what's wrong. I found one for $125 and the guy said it was super easy to put in. Which is better than the $725 the Subaru specialist wanted to charge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gnuman Posted August 19, 2006 Share Posted August 19, 2006 It moved very little and then the allen key wouldn't turn anymore. I just bought a salvaged one and am going to put it in today. The cable seems to be jammed up somewhere and I took all the panels off around it and can't figure out what's wrong. I found one for $125 and the guy said it was super easy to put in. Which is better than the $725 the Subaru specialist wanted to charge. $725? Damn! that would pay for the part, and my gas to come up from California to do it as well. . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
93SubaruLegacy Posted August 20, 2006 Share Posted August 20, 2006 $725? Damn! that would pay for the part, and my gas to come up from California to do it as well. . . This install all went pretty well. I am new to fixing my own stuff but we were able to get the new one in. There were a few tricky bolts to get to though. They were up under the head liner and it was a little difficult without removing it completely. There is probably a trick to this, but oh well it's done and I now have my seatbelt back. What a pain! I don't think these type of safety belt mechanisms are the smartest invention. You still have to make a conscious effort to put the lap belt on, so what's the point.....to remind you to do that?? oh and BTW.....Thanks to everyone who posts to this board.....I have learned so much already. Thanks for all your help and suggestions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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