A non-retracting seat belt is a roadworthy failure in the UK ..if its a bit slow they get caught in the door and cut which is another failure.
Youtube says spay with Silicone spray ...very sceptical but tried it on an old Nissan ....PERFECTION.
fully pull out the belt and spray till its a bit wet and retract as you go .. They say the dirt and sweat makes the belt stiff and it won't retract .... you need about 50 ml per belt .
DON'T USE WD40 IT HAS NO SILICONE ITS 90% WHITE SPIRIT AND 10% SAE 30 OIL WHICH WILL ATTRACT DIRT ....

Everybody has an Ikea pull out bed !

 

Not everyone has silicone lubricant next to the IKEA pull out bed!

I was just whinging about my sticky belt yesterday, so I'll give this a try.

 

Love the idea. FWIW I think I recall a TSB about this. They suggested pulling seat belt all the way out, let it retract. Repeat several times.

Certainly not trying to diminish the great ideas in the 2 previous posts, just sharing something that worked for me in case no Silicone spray around.
J

 

For me, retracting and releasing the seat belts very slowly at all times has kept them in good working order in all of my vehicles. The spring mechanism inside them stays in proper working order because it does not get stressed. I believe it also helps by not eating or drinking in the cabin (and therefore not dropping crumbs or spilling liquid onto the seat belt surfaces)....

 

yes john but not all drivers and passengers are gods

 

Pistnbroke, explain your comment. It makes no sense and I'm giving you benefit of doubt here. Why did you mention gods?
John

 

OK a Saint

 

Saints don't eat and drink in their cars. I don't either, but I certainly ain't no saint.

 

Pistnbroke,
Very useful and applicable to many cars, no doubt.

I've had a number of Mercedes in the 10 to 25 year old range and what ho! The belts retract at a decent speed with zero assistance from the driver. I wonder what they know.......

 

Pistnbroke,

Good idea. I'll give it a try. The seat belts in the car are fine but both the ones in my work and personal truck are sticky and slow to retract. I do eat, drink, smoke and even sleep in them..

 

Thank you for this easy fix for my driver's seat belt which was dangling in the doorway when I would try to leave the XKR.

I used Tuff Stuff all purpose cleaner and let it dry, then did the silicone spray on microfiber cloth and the issue is remedied!

 

Simply cleaning your seat belt, without the silicone, can make an amazing difference in its suppleness and retractabiity.

• Youtube:
  • How To Safety Clean Disgusting Seat Belts
  • How to Safely SUPER CLEAN a Disgusting Seat Belt

 

Silicon furniture polish is exactly the same thing as silicon lube spray, and it smells better!

 

The great silicone / god / saint / I eat / don’t eat / in my car / controversy. Will this polarizing tempest in a teapot flare-up destroy the forum ? Or will cooler heads prevail ?

Stay tuned for the exciting conclusion. Even Superman cannot see how this can end.

Z

 

Owning an XK8 does not prevent you being an idiot. When a question is asked and the correct answer given why dont people shut up rather than post contradictory crap....Polish is thick and will attract and retain dirt

 

!Remindme in another four years

 

even I can answer that.

It’s the internet.

Z

 

Inspired by this thread, I just bought a brush for cleaning seat belts.
.

 

Nice one Z Ray.