Why are my passenger and driver seat belt buckles different?

Is there a way to remove/install the black triangle over the bulkier (passenger side buckle) without breaking it? The drivers side just slides right over but not the passenger?

This is what I am referring to as the difference in buckles????



thanks
Rob

 

Just guessing, but big one is 93 and small one is 94+ ? My car is the same way and I think it happened when the previous owner swapped from tan to black interior.

 

mine is an early 93 model with original interior and I'm pretty sure mine has the two different sized buckles as well....not sure why though

 

The one on the right is what I am used to seeing in all the cars I've ever seen before.

That fat one on the right I have never seen... Is that like a USA-only belt??

 

The 93 cars all had the larger buckle pictured on the left on the passenger side. 94+ all had the smaller buckle on the right on both sides. I believe it was something to do with the addition of the passenger side airbag.

 

ah that makes sense

thanks for clearing that up

 

Yep, I've only seen '93s with the two different buckles. That makes sense on the airbag thing. Regardless, that passenger buckle on the '93's is huge and stupid looking.

Weird thing is the FC had a nice, small buckle and no airbags. Who knows.

Dale

 

The difference is this, the passenger side with no airbag has a "lock" at the buckle that keeps the belt from tightening to much in an accident. The driver side has the airbag and a different type of mechanism in the retractor to be compatible with the airbag.

To clarify further:
With no airbag, they want to arrest the motion almost completely so you don't hit the dash.

With an airbag, they allow some movement to decel you before hitting the airbag. That's why the buckle is smooth, it allows you to move slightly away from the seat (belt allowed to move thru buckle).

Vince

 

I guess the real question is now how to remove the plastic triangle over the bulky seat belt buckle?

 

Either bend that triangle enough to pull it through or cut a slit on that triangle at the point where it has the least material (lower right corner in that pic) and get it through.

Dale

 

You can install the 94 belts on the 93. Thats what I did.