Seat belt: how it works, how to change it and how much it costs

The seat belt is an important piece of protection for your vehicle. This is mandatory in France under the threat of a fine and 3 points deduction from your license. The driver also runs the risk of a fine if a lone minor is on board.

🚗 Why wear a seat belt?

The seat belt is mandatory in France. If you are tested without a seat belt, you can violation 4 class, namely the deduction of 3 points from your driving license and a fine of 135 €.

The seat belt is designed to limit the impact of shocks duringaccidents roads and thus protect motorists. This helps keep passengers in place so they are not pushed forward in the event of a collision.

Thus, without a seat belt, an impact at a speed of 50 km / h can lead to death, whereas with a seat belt fastened, the same impact at a speed of 50 km / h can cause only minor injuries. Therefore, it is important to wear your seat belt every time you get into the car.

🔎 How does the seat belt mechanism work?

The seat belt consists of several elements:

• Cloth belt : this is the part that restrains the passenger in the event of an impact;
• Retractor box : this is the part where the belt is held when not stretched, and where the coil and spring systems are located;
• Metal tongue ;
• Retaining loop.

The seat belt is based on three anchorage points that help to hold the passenger in the event of a collision. Thus, his ribcage is supported and his abdomen is compressed. The harness supports these two body parts because they are the strongest.

There are currently two types of seat belts:

• Seat belt with retractable belt : This is a mechanical system that operates with a spring. The system provides constant voltage and is automatically locked, for example if the car rolls over.
• Seat belt pretensioner : This is an electronic system that creates a tension effect during impact so that the passenger is glued to their seat. For operation, the sensors are adapted to register speed and impacts in real time.

While this second system is more efficient and safer, it also has its drawbacks: incidents of burns, fractures and cervical problems have been reported following road traffic accidents in vehicles equipped with pretensioners.

👨‍🔧 Seat belt that no longer snaps: what to do?

It is not uncommon for your seat belt to fail to buckle properly. In this case, your safety is at risk. Here are some guidelines to apply when the seat belt no longer clicks:

1. Always check first if a foreign object has fallen into the belt cover.
2. Then clean the inside of the case, for example with a vacuum cleaner and a needle. In most cases, this cleaning will be enough to fix your problem.
3. If your belt still doesn't snap into place after that, you will have no choice but to disassemble the cover or head to the garage to check the entire mechanism.

🔧 How do I change my seat belt?

To replace the seat belt, you will need to dismantle the old seat belt and remove its retractor. Having disassembled the upper part of the belt, you can proceed to assembling a new one. You can buy a new seat belt at a car dealership or online.

Required material:

• Toolbox
• New seat belt

Step 1. Buy a new seat belt

Before proceeding with a seat belt replacement, first go to a specialist store to purchase a new seat belt. Make sure the model is compatible with your car to avoid unpleasant surprises when assembling.

Step 2: remove the old belt

Start by removing the screw cover that is on the right side of your seat. Then remove the screw and remember the order of the washers to put them back in the correct order when reassembling.

Step 3: remove the coil

Then remove the plastic piece located to the right of your seat to access the seat belt retractor. Unscrew the screw holding the coil, then disconnect the connection with a screwdriver to remove the coil completely.

Step 4: Remove the top of the strap.

Now remove the top of the strap by pulling firmly on it. Then unscrew the screw holding the part.

Step 5: Install the new belt

To install a new belt, follow all the steps just done, but in reverse order.

Thus, install the retractor and then the locking screw of the upper part of the seat belt. Assemble the coil and tighten all screws securely. Rearrange the plastic parts you disassembled. Assemble the first part you removed, observing the order of the washers before screwing it back on.

Step 6. Make sure your belt is working.

Always check that the seat belt is correctly retracted and deployed before returning to the road. If so, your seat belt has now been replaced and you are ready to ride!

?? How much does it cost to replace a seat belt?

If you want to change the seat belt yourself, please note that the price of one seat belt is about one hundred euros.

If you walk through the garage to make changes, you will have to add labor cost to that price. The total amount will depend on your car model and the time taken. Generally, it costs you on average to replace a seat belt. 200€.

It is clear: you cannot do without a seat belt in the car! Not only is this necessary, but it can also save your life. If you have a problem with your seat belt, feel free to ask our garage comparator to have it replaced.