Hello all, my friend has a '90 camry with automatic seat belts. The retractor motor works fine but the belts don't trip when you brake or at all actually. They're not safe. Is this a mechanical piece on the belts or electric? Should he get new belts or can it be fixed...also if someone could give a link with a part number it would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

Try pulling the belt out rapidly and determine if it locks.

 

No, it doesn't. I think there is some electric sensor on these types of belts that controls the locking mechanism correct? I've always worked on older GM cars so I don't know much about these ones. He doesn't want to spend 200$+ for new belts on either side so I'm considering a swap from a salvage yard or at least lap belts from another car.

 

Have never worked with automatic belts.

Did not think these early Toyota's had any type of electric belt lockup on the seat belt

The belt should be bolted to the frame at lower outside center chassis column. Typically you can remove the column trim piece to access the belt reel and locking mechanisum.

The belt system may use a stationary weighted pendulum or ball that moves foward when the car brakes rapidly or stops moving forward. The weight moves forward, the arm it is attached to locks the belt.

This locking system may be differant from the ones where pulling out the belt too fast activates the locking device.

In this case the locking device is attached to the reel the seat belt winds up on. If the reel rotates to fast, the weighted arm of the locking device is thrown outward and locks the reel.

 

Yes, I understand how seat belts work thank you. I am asking how this particular belt works and I do believe it has an electric switch on the retractor as almost all foreign cars do. The mechanical parts rarely, if ever, wear out from use (for example - this is why American seat belts from the 50's still work). It's usually the switch which goes, does this car have an electric switch on the retractor? If it does, there is no point in swapping for another old one from a junkyard because that one could be broken also. I'm considering just swapping for a free pair 3-point mechanical belts from an old G body for him, at least it'll be free that way.

 

Yes, a spool release switch.