seatbelt integrity question
#1
coolant leak that kills
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seatbelt integrity question
i accidentally shut the seatbelt in my door a couple of days ago, and there is a crack on the plastic part that it joins the metal (part that clips in) to the actual belt. i can post a pic of it if that would help (i can't get to my car right now), but i wondered if the integrity of the seatbelt would be compromised by this? if this "drawing" is too bad to make sense of, i apologize, and i'll get a real picture as soon as i can. i just thought i'd ask so i don't go out on any faster roads with a seatbelt that might as well not be fastened. thanks.
/---------\ <--------------plastic
| | | |
| | | |-----------------\
| | | |----------------- | <---------------metal
| | | | |
| | | |<--------------- |------------- crack (about 2mm, running horizontally)
| | | |-----------------/
| |____| |
\---------/
/---------\ <--------------plastic
| | | |
| | | |-----------------\
| | | |----------------- | <---------------metal
| | | | |
| | | |<--------------- |------------- crack (about 2mm, running horizontally)
| | | |-----------------/
| |____| |
\---------/
#3
coolant leak that kills
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heh, yeah, i noticed that. i tried to preview it, but it was too late...the one time my post goes up instantaneously. check the new one. sorry about the duplicate.
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the thread with the revised drawing is gone, so here it is in the remaining thread...
/---------\ <--------------plastic
| | ......| |
| | ......| |-----------------\
| | ......| |----------------- | <---------------metal
| | ......| |
| | ......| |<--------------- |------------- crack (about 2mm, running horizontally)
| | ......| |-----------------/
| |____| |
\---------/
/---------\ <--------------plastic
| | ......| |
| | ......| |-----------------\
| | ......| |----------------- | <---------------metal
| | ......| |
| | ......| |<--------------- |------------- crack (about 2mm, running horizontally)
| | ......| |-----------------/
| |____| |
\---------/
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#8
coolant leak that kills
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well, it was my fault...but that happens all the time- the plastic shouldn't fracture under such little strain. it's a very little crack, i barely noticed it. people might want to check theirs out to see if it happened to either of their belt buckles because it doesn't look entirely safe. i'd hate to have someone's seatbelt not hold properly if it ever needs to...
#9
Former Moderator. RIP Icemark.
Although it shouldn't probably be an issue, I would probably replace the belt, as the whole point of seat belts is too hold you in place in the event of an accident, and any damage could make it so the belt fails to do that.
#11
Former Moderator. RIP Icemark.
Originally Posted by Gene
Is the plastic structural, or is it just a cover over a metal piece? I don't think the engineers would have used a plastic thing that can get cracked in the door to hold the 4000 pound crash load of an adult body.
#12
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i'll really try to get a picture of it tonight...
the crack is on the opposite side of the plastic from the belt. it's hard to tell if the plastic is structural or not, it appears to be, but the metal could run inside it throughout and it wouldn't be visible. hopefully a picture will help.
any suggestions on reducing the file size of the picture for posting? i've never tried it on this forum, however another forum where i have had a max size of 150k, and most of my pictures are in the 700k-1.5m range.
i've decided to replace the belt (most likely), as it seems that climbing gear saftey rules could be pretty applicable to a seatbelt system.
the crack is on the opposite side of the plastic from the belt. it's hard to tell if the plastic is structural or not, it appears to be, but the metal could run inside it throughout and it wouldn't be visible. hopefully a picture will help.
any suggestions on reducing the file size of the picture for posting? i've never tried it on this forum, however another forum where i have had a max size of 150k, and most of my pictures are in the 700k-1.5m range.
i've decided to replace the belt (most likely), as it seems that climbing gear saftey rules could be pretty applicable to a seatbelt system.
#14
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is that the recall that i remember hearing about?
oh yeah, i couldn't exactly get pictures today. i went out to my car and found out that it had been towed illegally!
oh yeah, i couldn't exactly get pictures today. i went out to my car and found out that it had been towed illegally!
#15
Sharp Claws
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Originally Posted by jhammons01
The factories put new belts and mechanisms in for free to avoid lawsuits
mazda must be a bit different than GM and Chrysler corp., in the decade i have been working for both we do not replace belts, buckles or mechanisms unless there is a recall stating it is a covered part, rarely are whole restraint systems completely covered by a recall.
i have done a few seatbelt recalls due to a flaw in engineering though but i think this whole thing is a misconception that the dealer will replace anything that is a safety issue, mainly because you are in a rolling 2 ton death machine, everything is a safety issue....
but to save your time, call the dealer before going in and wasting the gas, money and time.
as for the crack, it is a judgement call. like Mark said, it could be an issue when you really need the seatbelt in an accident or it may just be a superficial crack that will never do any actual harm. the plastic is just a form around the metal mainly for aesthetics.
Last edited by RotaryEvolution; 05-03-05 at 11:58 PM.
#17
Rabbit hole specialist
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Originally Posted by Karack
mazda must be a bit different than GM and Chrysler corp., in the decade i have been working for both we do not replace belts, buckles or mechanisms unless there is a recall stating it is a covered part
For any other RX-7 with traditional three point belts, there is no recall.
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