Estate rear centre seat belt MOT failure

[berserkerboy]

A couple of weeks ago my car failed on some wheel arch corrosion and the above which was jammed and wouldn't allow any belt out. Just want to say how good the maintenance guide regarding this issue is. I think the main reason that the belt was jamming was the incline ball bearing mechanism. I couldn't get this to work properly by trying to bend the small plastic clip that actuates the lock up. So I just removed it completely along with the cable lock. Couldn't see what real function these two devices serve other than to jam up eventually. Hoping the old girl will go through the retest tomorrow

[Tick Tock]

Fingers crossed  assuming it's legal and safe

[05omegav6]

Fingers crossed  assuming it's legal and safe

It exists simply to prevent the belt from pulling out if the seat isn't in the latched position, and is an entirely separate mechanism from the inertia lock

[terry paget]

I had exactly the same problem in March.
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?board=10.250.
The fault is probably the seat back release button not springing fully up. As you will read in my thread, the back rest interlock device can be disabled or repaired. It's quite a job though, so try thumping or lubricating release button first.

[05omegav6]

From Terrys thread for reference/clarity...

The dead bolt locks the seat backs together, there's also cable controlled locking quadrants at the centre hinge, plus the tilt lock on the centre belt. Righthand button has one cable attached to it, lefthand one has two, one for the lock and one for the centre belt.

Without the tilt lock, the centre belt functions as designed regardless of seat back position.

If the buttons are up, the the hinge quadrants are locked and vice versa... Note the quadrant spring gets weak over time and isn't a servicable part.

The upper deadbolt should always be used as it reduces the chances of boot loads punching through the seat back in a frontal prang.

Incidentally the lock quadrants and dead bolt aren't present on PFL cars.

In summary, the estate rear seat is perfectly safe to use provided the following criteria are met...

1. The side latches are secure, ie latched.
2. All 3 belts pull out/retract as expected and that the inertia mechanisms lock up when the belts are jerked out.
3. The top deadbolt (when fitted) is used (unless one half of the backrest is folded).

[berserkerboy]

MOT passed. Hurrah!

[Toledodude1973]

Good one ,another year for the Mig