Xantia VSX Estate middle rear sealt belt nightmare

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Napoleon
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Xantia VSX Estate middle rear sealt belt nightmare

Post by Napoleon »

Well it was a nightmare trying to work out how to access the damned thing!

The Story
I had the seats down to collect a freezer. When I went to put the seat back upright, it moved about five inches then.... nothing. It was jammed. Then I remembered the reason the guy I bought it off had removed the seal belt anchor point on the floor... I didn't want to do that, so eventually I found out all the bolts holding the pivot point of the seat upright. I could then invert the seat back and cut open and rooted around inside the seat back for the tensioner.

Much cursing later, It is clear that the tensioner is jammed. It simply swallows the belt.

Now I'm stuck, as we need the middle belt to carry a third passenger in a week's time, and I am at a loss as to what to do.

Any help most gratefully welcomed, please.

Before I do myself some harm!

Thanks guys.

Tim
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Re: Xantia VSX Estate middle rear sealt belt nightmare

Post by Napoleon »

Better add a couple of photos. (btw, having put the seat back in place (yes, I had to remove the floor bolt), the tensioner has released the belt, so I could just put the bolt back and carry on as normal, but reluctant to ever put the seats down again!

Image
DSC05516 by Tim Redberry, on Flickr

Image
DSC05517 by Tim Redberry, on Flickr
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Re: Xantia VSX Estate middle rear sealt belt nightmare

Post by CitroJim »

Tim, the reason the belt jams in the first place is because it goes too far into the seat back. There's a button on the webbing that should cause the belt retracting as soon as this button hits the plastic slot on the top of the seat. Often the slot becomes displaced or worn and the button can pass by it.

I had it happen when I had an estate. Picking up my girls and a couple of their friends on a cold, wet night 9a bit like it is here now). I had to do a disassembly job like you with four small girls standing in the rain and shivering...

But anyway, that's the reason and the fix is to make sure the plastic slot is 100% in place and narrow enough to prevent the seatbelt button passing through it...
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Re: Xantia VSX Estate middle rear sealt belt nightmare

Post by Napoleon »

Hi Jim

Yes, that slot was out of place ever since I picked the car up.

So the solution is NOT a new tensioner/belt at all, but do as you say and keep that slot in one place - the correct place?

Any tips on keeping it where it should be?
Tim
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Re: Xantia VSX Estate middle rear sealt belt nightmare

Post by CitroJim »

Absolutely yes!
Napoleon wrote: Any tips on keeping it where it should be?
Umm, you may find it has a broken clip on it. One of the ones that hold it into the seat back. You may need to find one or carefully glue it in place...

Not sure if they're available as a spare part. I'll have a look...
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Re: Xantia VSX Estate middle rear sealt belt nightmare

Post by Napoleon »

Any mileage in putting a large (long) pin of some sort through the belt? If that might be dodgy, what about a clip around the belt at that point. But yes, possibly the clip is damaged/missing a clip. I'll go check. (don't envy your situation messing about with this while passnegers await!)
Tim
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Re: Xantia VSX Estate middle rear sealt belt nightmare

Post by CitroJim »

Yes it s Tim :-D

You need one of Item 5 in the picture below (8978 LP)

Image
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Re: Xantia VSX Estate middle rear sealt belt nightmare

Post by CitroJim »

My young passengers weren’t very impressed either Tim :lol:
Napoleon wrote:Any mileage in putting a large (long) pin of some sort through the belt?
Ohh, no, could be a bit dangerous but as a temporary fix perhaps a bulldog clip on the belt but make sure it can't cause any harm to belt or passenger..
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Re: Xantia VSX Estate middle rear sealt belt nightmare

Post by Napoleon »

Yes, I was thinking more of something to replace that plastic button 'thingy' as opposed to something that might cut the belt etc.

Thanks Jim.
Tim
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Re: Xantia VSX Estate middle rear sealt belt nightmare

Post by CitroJim »

Napoleon wrote:Yes, I was thinking more of something to replace that plastic button 'thingy'
No, don't Tim. You could compromise the strength and integrity of the belt and anyway, any 'modifications' to the belt will result in an MOT failure...
Jim

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Re: Xantia VSX Estate middle rear sealt belt nightmare

Post by Napoleon »

On inspection, there is one button that is at the top that is small...


Image
DSC05519 by Tim Redberry, on Flickr


And another, bigger button, that supports the belt bracket bit:

Image
DSC05520 by Tim Redberry, on Flickr

And here the plastic entry/exit part appears to be in serviceable condition:

Image
DSC05521 by Tim Redberry, on Flickr
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Re: Xantia VSX Estate middle rear sealt belt nightmare

Post by andmcit »

On older Cits (GSA and CX) there's a clip that effectively sandwiches around the belt
and locks on the webbing that stops the belt disappearing into the reel drum. There
must be available on other cars too and will be OEM so not dangerous to use.

Something similar:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/370570068448?ru ... _805wt_689" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Re: Xantia VSX Estate middle rear sealt belt nightmare

Post by Chris570 »

Good shout on that clip.

I have the same issue on my estate. not been bothered enough to fix it.

If you're feeling lazy you can put the lap belt from a hatch on.

but for the love of god don't put anything else through it as in an accident think of your passengers being forced onto that object.....
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Re: Xantia VSX Estate middle rear sealt belt nightmare

Post by Napoleon »

I was only thinking of mother-in-law vs giant spike. :twisted:
Tim
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1996 N679 Xantia TD VSX estate - sold August 2012
1995 M289 Xantia TD SX hatch - sold March 2012

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Re: Xantia VSX Estate middle rear sealt belt nightmare

Post by Chris570 »

oh, that's ok then
2006 C5 HDi 170
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1971 D Special
2006 C3 1.6 HDi SX,
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