Checking seat belts — VW

Important!
The seat belt system must be checked systematically each time an accident occurs! If damage is determined with the inspection points, the customer must be informed of the need to renew one or more belts.
Inspection points:

Checking belt webbing
Checking inertia reel (locking action)
Conducting visual check of belt buckle
Checking function of belt buckle
Checking relay fittings and latch plates
Checking mounting parts and mounting points
Checking lap belt inertia reel

Note:

If the customer rejects the renewal of a damaged seat belt, a memo to this effect must be written.

Checking belt webbing

Pull belt webbing completely out of inertia reel or lap belt adjustment plate.
Check belt webbing for dirt and wash with a mild soap solution if necessary=> also instruction manual.

If damage shown in Point 1 and 2 below is determined on an accident vehicle, renew entire seat belt with belt buckle.
If damage shown in Point 1, 2 or 3 below is determined on a vehicle without an accident, it is sufficient to renew only the damaged seat belt.

1 -
Belt webbing cut, torn or chafed.

2 -
Webbing loops at belt edge torn through.

3 -
Burn marks from cigarettes etc..

Checking inertia reel (locking action)

The inertia reel has two locking functions.

The first locking functions is activated by suddenly pulling the belt out of the inertia reel (belt pull-out acceleration).

Checking

Pull belt webbing out of inertia reel with a firm jerk.

No locking action - renew entire seat belt with belt buckle.
In case of malfunctions in the belt extension or retraction, check whether the position of the inertia reel has changed.

The second locking function is activated by a change in the course of vehicle movement (vehicle-dependent locking functions).

Checking

Put on seat belt.
Accelerate vehicle to 20 km/h and then carry out drastic braking with footbrake.

If the belt is not locked by the locking device during braking, the entire seat belt with the belt buckle must be renewed.

Important!
For safety reasons, the driving test must be carried out on a stretch of road without traffic to prevent other traffic participants from being endangered.
Conducting visual check of belt buckle

Inspect belt buckle for cracking and chipping.

If damage is found, renew the entire seat belt with the belt buckle.

Checking function of belt buckle

Check belt buckle:

Push latch plate into belt buckle until it is heard to engage. Check whether locking mechanism is engaged by pulling firmly on belt webbing.

If the latch plate in the belt buckle is not locked even once when tested at least 5 times, the entire seat belt with the belt buckle must be renewed.

Check unlocking:

Release seat belt by applying finger pressure to button on belt buckle.

With belt webbing relaxed, the latch plate must jump out of the belt buckle by itself.

Carry out at least 5 tests. If the belt plate fails to jump out even once, renew the entire seat belt with the belt buckle.

Important!
Never use lubricants to eliminate noises or stickiness of the buttons on belt buckles.
Checking relay fittings and latch plate

Plastic-coated fittings show fine, parallel grooves after the belt system is loaded (when seat belt is worn during an accident). (On the other hand, wear resulting from frequent use can be recognised from the groove-free, smooth wear.)

Inspect fittings for deformation, chipping and cracking on plastic.

In the case of grooving and/or damage, renew the entire seat belt with the belt buckle.

Checking mounting parts and mounting points

Latch plate deformed (stretched)
Height adjuster does not function
Mounting points (seat, pillar, vehicle floor) deformed or thread damaged

If damage is determined on the parts, renew the entire seat belt with the belt buckle.
Renew mounting points.

Note:

In case of damage which has not occurred as the result of an accident, only the respective damaged part must be renewed.