Expert: Mike Evans - 9/18/2009

Question
Hello.

One of my passenger seat belts in my year 2000 Golf has locked into place while nobody was sitting in the seat, and it will not unlock. I tried pushing some more of the belt into the storage spool, but all that that did was tighten the belt even more. Is there some way to release the belt without cutting up the interior of my car?

Thanks
Peter

Answer
    You'll have to take apart the inertia reel assembly.  It's not hard to do once you remove the assembly from the car.  For that you'll need a big T-50 Torx socket.  There is a little thingie inside that swings forward on impact and locks the belt against your chest.  It is probably all jammed up with crud and can't move.   It'll need to be cleaned and oiled before reassembly.