You are here: Forums Sedans Lexus LS 400/LS 430 Lexus LS Seat Belts

Lexus LS Seat Belts

3 messages,  Last post on Mar 04, 2008 at 11:21 AM

You are in the Lexus LS 400/LS 430 Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens

What is this discussion about? Lexus LS 400, Lexus LS 430, Sedan

Messages Page 1 of 1 All Messages Displayed

Go To Msg # Search This Discussion

#1 of 3 Poorly or non-retracting seat belts. by wwest Feb 26, 2008 (2:01 pm)
The seat belts in my '95 would not readily retract so bought new ones and just completed the installation.   I completely disassembled one of the old ones and now I maybe know the cause.   The front seat belts in the 95 LS have a dual-speed gearbox within the retractor/tensioner assembly.   It has two clock springs that are used to retract the seat belt, a light duty low tension spring and a heavier duty high tension spring.   The retractor uses a solenoid actuated escapment to shift between the two tension springs.   The idea seems to be to use the STRONG spring until the belt is buckled and then lock the strong spring in place and only rely on the light duty spring.   The problem is, apparently, the escapment gets stuck in the low tension position, maybe due to the solenoid armnature becoming permanently magentized.   If you have this problem my suggestion would be to remove the "electric tension reducer" connections to each front seat belt that enables the retractors to "shift" into the low tension mode. Then pull the belt out to the fully extended position 3 or 4 times to be sure the escapment unlocks. With the connection open you will always be using the high tension spring but that's better than paying $300 for a new set of seat belt retractors as I just did.   PIC is of a fully disassembled driver's side front seat belt retractor from a 1995 LS400. Replies to this message: pension (Mar 01, 2008 5:18 pm) wwest (Mar 04, 2008 11:21 am)
#2 of 3 Re: Poorly or non-retracting seat belts. [wwest] by pension Mar 01, 2008 (5:18 pm)
Replying to: wwest (Feb 26, 2008 2:01 pm) Just bought a 95 - same problem. I Googled it and found that Lexus have done this for free for some people. I intend to pursue that with them - this is a safety issue and should be subject to a recall. Replies to this message: wwest (Mar 04, 2008 11:21 am)
#3 of 3 Re: Poorly or non-retracting seat belts. [pension] by wwest Mar 04, 2008 (11:21 am)
Replying to: pension (Mar 01, 2008 5:18 pm) If you don't have a long service history with a Lexus "store" it is unlikely they will do this for free.   If not one of the things that will help would be to disconnect the electric connection to the retractor that "shifts" the retractor into low tension mode once the belt is buckled.   It appeared to me that the electric solenoid used to "shift" the retractor had become permanently magnetized and so the retractor often remained "suck" in the low tension mode even with the belt unbuckled.   Simply remove the lower/bottom cover on the inside of the "B" pillar and unplug the connection. Pry up the front and rear door sill covers first. After disconnecting, a few full extentions/release of the belt will generally result in the escapement releasing into high tension mode.

Messages Page 1 of 1 All Messages Displayed

Go To Msg # Search This Discussion

You are here: Forums Sedans Lexus LS 400/LS 430 Lexus LS Seat Belts