[Powerbuilt]

I have ran across a few guys in here and friends having seat belt retractor issues over the past few months and now I'm having a problem also. Lowest price I could find them for is $130 online. After 4 hours of searching the internet, calling Salvage Yards and dealerships, I found them on teamfordparts.com for $54.45. I figure this was important enough to put up cause two of my friends have 96-04 Stangs and paid $360+ to replace their seat belt assembly ($300 FOR THE PARTS + $60 LABOR) and I know a few of you have replaced them as well.

*Note* When it comes to safety equipment, replace it. I'm more then sure you guys are gurus but as for me, it's the passenger side of the car. I could try and fix the assembly but my baby sits in that seat and couldn’t live with myself if it failed because I messed with the assembly to save $60 instead of replacing it.

-=LINK TO PART ON TEAMFORDPARTS.COM=-
I called them to make sure for my 2001 Mustang GT, the part is listed as: W/o cobra Right - Coupe - Coupe

If you guys are a bit nervouse about replacing them, its not that hard. Bare with me guys, I'm a shade tree machanic and just trying to help.

You'll need:
Needle knose pliers - To remove all the plastic push pins
3/8 Ratchet w/Torx Bit (T45) - To remove the seat belt assembly (Same one I used to replace the brakes on my F-150 so you may already have it cause I belive the Mustang brake assembly uses the same Torx Bit,
Philips screw Driver - This is for the Coat Hanger Hook
1/4 inch socket (Going off of memory on this socket size) - To remove the three screws you see when you pull down the back seats exposing the trunk.

Instructions:
I pulled the below from what my buddy sent me and I think he got it on the internet. I modified it a little.

1. Pull down the back seats and remove the 3 screws holding in the panel above the back seats.
2. Remove coat hook.
3. Remove front door scuff plate (pull up, don't lose your clips).
4. Remove front seat belt bezel and remove safety belt guide bolt from the B-pillar.
5. Remove the front safety belt retaining bolt from the front floor pan.
6. Remove the upper quarter trim panel by carefully prying off the front edge of the lower quarter trim panel and the rear edge.
7. Remove the rear safety belt from slot in the quarter trim panel.
8. To remove the lower quarter trim panel, remove 3 pupshpins at rear, one at bottom and one at top of quarter trim panel. Pull rear of quarter trim panel out and forward.
9. Route front safety belt retractor and tonue through opening in quarter panel.
10. Remove quarter trim panel from vehicle.
11. Remove quarter trim panel shield, if necessary.

*Note* When prying up the push pins with your needle knose pliers, do not pry up using your panel as the leverage, your scratch the piss out of it. Grab the pin with the pliers and put a small rolled up rag under the pliers and pry up using the rag as leverage

Re-install following the reverse procedure. Bolts are tightened to 25 to 33 lb-ft.

From opening the car door to having the assembly completly out was maybe 10 minutes. I heard it was complicated but it's far from it.

[ZenMGT]

Same problem here - great find! I might be ordering these soon for both sides for my '02.

[3sportbob]

There is a how to post on the forum here that tells you how to tighten up the return spring. Works great and doesn't cost anything except a little time and maybe a couple of the plastic panel pins that are prone to breaking.

[Powerbuilt]

Originally Posted by 3sportbob There is a how to post on the forum here that tells you how to tighten up the return spring. Works great and doesn't cost anything except a little time and maybe a couple of the plastic panel pins that are prone to breaking.

I read that one. My problem as the locking mechanism would not let the seat belt out. I have always had problems with the belt not properly being guided in causing the belt to "fold" making it jam up, but this time it is just locked up totally. The belt folded near the bar it wraps around and when I try to pull it out, it just locks. From here I tried to fix it by manually rolling the seat belt up but the fold in the seat belt on the spool makes the belt to wide to be rolled up any further. I took the plastic pieces apart and released the little brass lock, but after putting it all back together, it won’t seem to lock in place anymore, even when I pull fast and hard. Safest bet was to just replace it. My buddies went through the same thing but had the dealer replace it and that cost them a lot.

[3sportbob]

yeah the whole mechanism on these cars is a little lame

[mtw002]

same problem in the rear seat

[2001gt]

i got my seatbelt system for sale!!! pm me if interested!!!

[Powerbuilt]

Originally Posted by 2001gt i got my seatbelt system for sale!!! pm me if interested!!!

I would but I already bought mine. lol TX though.

[Powerbuilt]

As an FYI: The total cost was sending it USPS 2-3 Day Priority (It was only 1$ more then Fed-Ex Ground)

1 Collision Catalog - 2001 - Ford - Mustang
Restraint systems, Front seat belts, Retractor assy, W/o cobra, W/o cobra Right - Coupe - Coupe $54.60
Sub Total: $54.60
Tax $0.00
Shipping $15.50
Total: $70.10

[andrewskaggs]

Originally Posted by Powerbuilt From opening the car door to having the assembly completly out was maybe 10 minutes. I heard it was complicated but it's far from it.

I just got done replacing mine as well. I wouldn't say the process was complicated, just time consuming since you have to take the whole flipping car apart to get to the seat belt. You must be Speedy Gonzalez, because it took me close to an hour to get the whole thing out.

As an aside, I found my seat belt at a junk yard for $30. It was going to cost $152 from the local dealership.

[Powerbuilt]

Originally Posted by andrewskaggs I just got done replacing mine as well. I wouldn't say the process was complicated, just time consuming since you have to take the whole flipping car apart to get to the seat belt. You must be Speedy Gonzalez, because it took me close to an hour to get the whole thing out. As an aside, I found my seat belt at a junk yard for $30. It was going to cost $152 from the local dealership.

My DeWalt cordless wrench makes it real fast. I look like a seasoned pit crew guy with that thing.

I must have called all the salvage yards within 50 miles and no one had a 96-04 Mustang.