Seatbelt Latch Jammed: How to take apart ??

[Orionsbelt]

Hello,

-25 things break and crack. A piece of the seat belt release button broke off and fell into the latch mechanism [driver side]. Now it's jamming in there and I can't clip the seat belt in.

How do you pull this thing apart? There's no bolt to get it off the floor. The plastic housing "looks" like it can be pried apart with a couple flat heads drivers [?]. From there I'm hoping there's a some screws/whatever to then open it up and clean it out.

Is this correct? Is there an easier way...? Would like to know before I go breaking things...

'90 Pajero so it should be the same as any Delica...

Please and thank you in advance.

Orion

[DelicaMark]

Not sure they are meant to come apart. I took apart one of the rear seat female clasps to make it work better for a car seat. My taking it apart ended up with me smashing it apart with a hammer, which did make sense for what I was looking to do. I did try to pry it apart first with no success.

-Mark

[Orionsbelt]

Specifically on mine - A piece of the red release button broke off and fell in. This makes the buckle inoperable.

I came across this recall for the Montero for the Front Buckle Assembly...go figure the red plastic they put in cracks...

Question: Montero's were US made [or the US model]. Has anyone had any luck getting a recall done for their imported equivalents..?

I did come across this site that does show something similar...they suggest "glueing" the 2 halfs back together.
http://www.bimmernut.com/forum/5-series ... post272695

I'd prefer taking this in for replacement free of charge...

O

[thedjjack]

I swapped mine out with one from the back bench (which I took out of the truck).

I just swapped the female part that bolts in. (worst case this will give you a seat belt until you get a new one).

[Orionsbelt]

I imagine it bolt under the carpet?

Ideally I can pull this thing apart with a screw driver and get to the mechanism and unjam it. I was hoping someone tried this already...offer me the catch as there's always a look out for "x" when it comes to these things...

However that said, again this thing is a recall...
http://www.arfc.org/autos/mitsubishi/mo ... ecall.aspx

There's not supposed to be any date on a recall...

O

[Orionsbelt]

Update on the recall...called the Mitsu dealer here in Calgary...Platinum to be specific. He'll give me an answer tomorrow after I supply him the VIN but his initial opinion was no. Mitsu Canada is considered it's own company and they won't get reimbursed by the Japanese counterpart.

So... Best case scenario I pull this thing apart...I'll take advice on that please.

Worse case scenario I somehow get the how seat belt arm that bolts to the floor [?].

[NoDelie]

Yes you can take it apart but the plastic clips that do hold it together do get broken. When i got my 89 pj the drivers side clip and support that does bolt down on the floor, you just have to look under the carpet, why i asked was it in the box of extra trinkets that came with the new to me ride. Well upon inspection the thingama jig was not locking on the metal whatsumacallit. I look in side and little red plastic was in the way. I pried it apart along the sides where you might think it has a seam.Well it did crack open and i broke the u shaped locking tabs, all 4 tabs. opened it up more and removed the intruder. Put back together with krazy glue and raped it with electrical tape. Bolted it back down and now use it. the red part is still the old one in this unit and it takes a steady hand and be on target to get it to lock but works if you guide it in strait.

This should be done in a warm place to open it . Cold and plastic don't mix. Unbolt it let it warm up in warm place. the bottom bit has the u shape clips. If i do remember i think it is glued shut at the factory as well.

[Orionsbelt]

Thanks NoDelie...no worries I definitely won't be doing this until it gets warmer and there'll be a hairdrier in hand when I do. I hope I can glue it back together solid so I don't have a bunch of black tape all over the thing. The reading I've done is these things aren't supposed to be tampered with and therefore they're "pressed seam with glue".

I may end up taking one of the very back ones out that are for the 2 spare seats as suggested by 'thedjjack'.

I'm still debating to call Mitsu Japan to see if they'll send a new seatbelt buckle system.

The carpet looks like it has to be cut away to even get to it. I could feel anything that resembled a bolt either so I'm hoping it's there.

[NoDelie]

i have a 1989 pj so i did find a 1988 dodge raider in the pick n pull web site. It was up in Edmonton . so i went and striped it of the belts and switches and gizmos. i did go just for the tail and signal lights but were all broken and no good. so if you go to the pick and pull site and look up montero you might find some in the USA . What that means is a road trip and a box of tools . good luck i still search for that one more in Alberta or BC.

[Orionsbelt]

Excellent...thanks for that info regarding the Dodge Raider I'll take a look.

[NoDelie]

You might need montero made buy mitsubishi as well