Golf Mk4 rear seat belt jammed?

[golfsimonw]

Got a Golf Mk 4 (year 2000) and the middle rear seat belt appears to be jammed in a fully retracted position. I can't see the actual mechanism as its embedded into the upholstery of the rear seat. No sign of screws anywhere either??
Anyone have any ideas how I get into the mechanism to have a look at it without taking a stanley knife to the upholstery.

Thanks

[amyl0807]

i know this wont help you much but im having the same problem!! it failed its MOT for this. luckily i know a VW mechanic that also does MOT's. so ive got that covered but all he can suggest is replacing the whole rear seat! ive got the problem of them being the Recaro seats and looking at prices their not exactly cheap.

Best of luck. im kinda hoping someone will put an answer on here that doesnt envolve money!!

[kenney]

To access the belt remove the rear back rest,and remove the back rest cover

[amyl0807]

without sounding too thick....

as in take seats out of car and then do it??

so far ive tried dropping the seat but me nor others can see any way to remove the back rest cover. its glued to the metal then the metal is the whole surround of the seat under the cushion and the fabric on the back.

[tdigolf]

i had this problem on mine and the back seats wernt clicked in right when you have them forward or not clicked in the belt wont come out then once i put mine in properly it was ok.. just an idea

[amyl0807]

thanks tdigolf but its not that. i thought it was at first but tried so many ways its untrue!!

[tdigolf]

ahwell sorry couldnt be of anymore help..

[golfsimonw]

Thanks for all the replies much appreciated. The seats are already out of the vehicle and I've looked all the way around them and it just seems to be metal and farbic with no signs of entry??
I am wondering how these things were ever put together in thr first place?
Looks like the seat belt is screwed onto the metal superstructure and the fabric upholstery built around it....seems incredible but I can't see it another way.

[amyl0807]

still looking into this but when i find out i'll let you know cos its bugging me too!!

[SmokeyUK]

I found a fix for this, for anyone else having this problem!

1. Remove the rear seat by levering the latch open with a flat head screwdriver on the os bottom corner of the seat back, unhook the seatbelt from the bottom of the seat-back then pull the seat back towards you via the osr door.

2. Remove the seat cover by jamming a flat headed screw driver between the seat back and the seat trim, lever the trim up, (dont worry about bending the metal edges on the seat back), do this to both sides of the seat and the bottom..but not the top. Pull the trim back, to reveal the yellow seat cushion, and the seat belt mechanism.

3. The seat belt mech is held into place by a single nut, use a 11/16 socket to remove it. Once you have removed the belt mech, remove the larger black plastic cover, not the side the spring is held in!!

4. You should now see the seat belt mech and a ball bearing in a small tan coloured housing, this ball bearing is the counter-weight that stops the seat belt from being extended when the seats are folded down!

5. Remove the ball bearing and housing.

6. Now if you look closely you will be able to see a small white hook that hooks onto a red spindle when the belt is tugged hard, the white hook should drop releasing itself from the red spindle, however, there is a small brown plastic hook that can be switched from left to right, if that brown hook is in the right hand position, it will prevent the white hook from releasing and cause the belt to jam, move the brown hook into the left hand position, this will give enough room for the white hook to drop and release the belt. Refit the ball bearing and housing, and refit the black plastic cover.

7. Refit the seat belt, and then refit seat cover by hooking it back into place hammering the edge of the seat with a rubber mallet to re-secure the seat cover.

8. Refit seat and job done!!