I have had many Fieros and had many problems but never had this problem. One of the seat belt retractor pendulum weights has come apart and fallen off so the belt will not sense decelleration and catch. Has anyone had this mechanism apart and changed a pendulum? I have plenty another belt I could use for parts.

Safe fix is get another belt setup.
GM didn't make them to be fix by anyone.

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Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
(Jurassic Park)

The Ogre's Fiero Cave (It's also at the top and bottom of every forum page...)

i would not fix them i have torn the belt assembly apart and done changes like belts but that pendulum thingy is a safety thing i will not mess with. and dont ask me how to change the belts because i will not be responsible if you are injured in a crash and the belt does not work correctly. that is your only real safety in any car.

I am going to ask you how to change the belts my current belts are cut 3/4 of the way through and will definately fail if I crash. I bought a set from a member but the weight things are broken but the belts themselves are in ok shape. Help me figure out how to change them please. I will asume all responsibility for my safety.

quote Originally posted by mmeyer86gt/gtp: i would not fix them i have torn the belt assembly apart and done changes like belts but that pendulum thingy is a safety thing i will not mess with. and dont ask me how to change the belts because i will not be responsible if you are injured in a crash and the belt does not work correctly. that is your only real safety in any car.

Are the Fiero seat belts supposed to "lock" when you pull them fast?

Mine don´t, and i wonder if this pendulum thing is what is wrong with my seat belts to.
I would greatly appreciate if someone can confirm that they lock like any other cars seatbelt, so i know if they need to be replaced.
(I´m sorry if this is a stupid question, but because the seatbelt act the same on both sides it might be how they are supposed to work..)

quote Originally posted by Player1: Are the Fiero seat belts supposed to "lock" when you pull them fast?

No. They lock when you hit the brake or driving on a hill when the weight above moves.

I thought they were referred to as "inertia reel lock" type seat belts. They lock after a certain amount of G force.
I replaced the seat belts in my 85 GT but only because they tend to get weak springs. They wouldn't really retract/reel back in all the way. I had to help them.
Kit

quote Originally posted by Kitskaboodle: I thought they were referred to as "inertia reel lock" type seat belts. They lock after a certain amount of G force. I replaced the seat belts in my 85 GT but only because they tend to get weak springs. They wouldn't really retract/reel back in all the way. I had to help them.

sort of how they lock...

In Fiero setup... Locking parts have nothing to do w/ "weak" retraction. Locking have the weight and the "arm" the weight moves to lock.

Most times retract problem are:
Dirty and stiff web
dirt and crap in the retractor

If you parked on a hill... the lock weight can stay locked until you get to near level ground.

I know the weak springs have nothing to do with the locking mechanism. I was only pointing out/implying that most of the belt failures I see are mostly because of weak retractor springs. Kit

I know the weak springs have nothing to do with the locking mechanism. I was only pointing out/implying that most of the belt failures I see are mostly because of weak retractor springs. Kit

Out of general interest, does anyone have pictures of one taken apart?

I have only this from another thread...
I thing retract springs are under white and yellow caps.
Lock arm hits "teeth" both side of the web.
Not much else there.


Many new car can work the same but have "Pretension" mechanisms... Can be part of retractors, the buckle or maybe both sides.
Many units use explosives to pretension the belt in a wreck. You have to be careful working new cars because of this and many airbags.

------------------
Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
(Jurassic Park)

The Ogre's Fiero Cave (It's also at the top and bottom of every forum page...)

[This message has been edited by theogre (edited 10-14-2015).]

Since the weight moving is how the belts get locked up how do you test that they are working correctly? Hit the brakes hard and pull on the seat belt? If working it should lock at that point?

quote Originally posted by mr_corean: Since the weight moving is how the belts get locked up how do you test that they are working correctly? Hit the brakes hard and pull on the seat belt? If working it should lock at that point?

Yes but only when you're stopping. They should unlock instantly car at rest and no load on the belts.
or as I said above will lock when tipped or jack the car. I forget # of Degrees etc. Will stay locked until you lower the jack.

If your worried then eyeball the retractor. Look for crap or corrosion that could bind the weight or lock arm.
you might be able to use a "bore scope" w/o removing seat and trim.

Fiero is good at staying clean because is mounted high.
Other cars have belt retractor mounted low and could pulls in crap, hair, dirt, etc. I had old GM car w/ this setup... needed cleaning every few years because of this or driver's belt would have problem.

Thank you Ogre.
I've only driven cars with seatbelts that engange when you yank them before, and was afraid i had to replace the seatbelts before i could use the fiero again.