C5 - seatbelts not recoiling properly - MOT fail?

oxtailsoup · Post by **oxtailsoup** » 09 May 2010, 18:48

Just prepping my C5 2002 model for an MOT later this month.

My seatbelts feel a bit baggy - they don't seem to want to recoil like they should do. Sometimes they do recoil slightly better but I'm wondering if this would be an MOT fail?

I suppose next question is is this an easy fix? Do the mouldings come away easily enough to gain access to the mechanism?

Thanks!

JohnD · Post by **JohnD** » 09 May 2010, 18:53

It seems to be a common failing on C5s. My seatbelts are the same. I was also worried that it might get a fail because of it, but it didn't. Maybe MOT testers know about them

Post by **CitroJim** » 09 May 2010, 19:16

Something else the C5 has inherited from the Xantia

Xantia rear belts are shockers for this and there's no real cure...

cachaciero · Post by **cachaciero** » 09 May 2010, 19:35

Hmm.... Seat belts and MOT's led me down a somewhat murky thought trail.

I quote:-

"Pyrotechnic systems must be replaced after operating or after ten years from the date of first registration. This must be performed exclusively by the network.
Due to current safety regulations, all operations and checks must be
performed exclusively by the network. All operations which are not carried out in strict compliance with the provisions may lead to the systems malfunctioning or to accidental triggering which may lead to bodily injuries."

Pyrotechnics are used in the seat belt pre-tensioner, question is how long before the MOT tester demands proof that the pyrotechnics have been changed on a +10 year old car.

cachaciero

Post by **myglaren** » 09 May 2010, 19:44

oxtailsoup wrote:Just prepping my C5 2002 model for an MOT later this month.

My seatbelts feel a bit baggy - they don't seem to want to recoil like they should do. Sometimes they do recoil slightly better but I'm wondering if this would be an MOT fail?

I suppose next question is is this an easy fix? Do the mouldings come away easily enough to gain access to the mechanism?

Thanks!

I sprayed mine with a silicon cabin cleaner - pull out as much as possible and spray the bit that is normally enclosed. Works for about six months. Best to clean them first so you don't just creat a load of siliconised gunk.

wheeler · Post by **wheeler** » 09 May 2010, 23:26

cachaciero wrote: Pyrotechnics are used in the seat belt pre-tensioner, question is how long before the MOT tester demands proof that the pyrotechnics have been changed on a +10 year old car.

Airbags & the pyrotechnic part of the seatbels are not part of an MOT so there would be no need to see this proof. You cant even fail a pre tensioner if its been deployed as long as the mechanical part of the seatbelt operates properly & the webbing is ok.

Post by **CitroJim** » 10 May 2010, 08:09

wheeler wrote:Airbags & the pyrotechnic part of the seatbels are not part of an MOT so there would be no need to see this proof.

At the moment that is

I think what you're getting at here Cachaciero is when it is made part of the MOT as a further "incentive" to get cars over ten years old off the roads.

I'd not be surprised if it were introduced, along with a whole raft of other "enticements" in the not too distant...

Citroenmad · Post by **Citroenmad** » 10 May 2010, 09:02

Yep ive had this with my C5, (infact in running out of things which have not yet gone wrong, fell off or broken) i just cleaned mine and they seemed to work much better.

Julz · Post by **Julz** » 10 May 2010, 09:09

I had a similar problem on my old Passat on the rear belts. The plastic housing where they emerged has become distorted and cased them not to run freely, might be worth checking it's not something similar.

On a similar note, the little plastic buttons that stop the buckle falling to the floor. I've lost a couple of mine, is it possible to get replacements anywhere?

cachaciero · Post by **cachaciero** » 10 May 2010, 09:30

Have to say I have wondered about acquiring a set of front belts from an XM including the Buckles the wire mounting on the C5 being to short.

Release the XM belt and it was retracted even before you got the door open I'm fed up up with tripping over the C5 belt or getting it trapped in the door.

Any known "gotchers" doing this?

cachaciero

den169 · Post by **den169** » 10 May 2010, 10:27

I sprayed polish on mine when fully pulled out helped a little.

cachaciero · Post by **cachaciero** » 10 May 2010, 15:23

CitroJim wrote:
wheeler wrote:Airbags & the pyrotechnic part of the seatbels are not part of an MOT so there would be no need to see this proof.
At the moment that is I think what you're getting at here Cachaciero is when it is made part of the MOT as a further "incentive" to get cars over ten years old off the roads.

I'd not be surprised if it were introduced, along with a whole raft of other "enticements" in the not too distant...

Jim
Absolutely right on. I mean imagine pyrotechnic devices ,explosives, are they even obtainable from the dealer network by mere mortals? and I bet Citroen would charge mega bucks for changing them on all the airbags seat belts etc. The pressures for doing something like that must be extremely high. Better shut up before the idea gets out

cachaciero

Julz · Post by **Julz** » 10 May 2010, 16:18

cachaciero wrote:Better shut up before the idea gets out
cachaciero

Too late, your comments are already floating around the ether, waiting to be picked up by some herbert at the DfT looking to safeguard his job

jimleshed · Post by **jimleshed** » 10 May 2010, 16:55

When my C5 was first MOT'd when I got it, the only thing that was iffy was the seatbelts - but the friendly MOT man (who I always go to) kindly sprayed them with silicone spray stuff, that seemed to work.

Note to me - Remember to charge battery, bike going for MOT Saturday!

oxtailsoup · Post by **oxtailsoup** » 10 May 2010, 16:56

Thanks for all the replies. I'll give the cleaning method a go but does any one know if it is an MOT fail?

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C5 - seatbelts not recoiling properly - MOT fail?

C5 - seatbelts not recoiling properly - MOT fail?

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