Rear seat belt ratchet

[MBDevotee]

Hi there.

Normally, when a car seatbelt is pulled out slowly it comes out all the way, but if you pull it fast the inertial reel locks and you have to back it off a bit to free it.

In my 2002 ML the belts also have a silly system where if you pull them out to around 80% of maximum extension, some sort of ratchet seems to kick in, and once you let the belt go, it won't pull back out until it's gone back to the resting position.

This is a really really STUPID idea.....

I have a car seat in the ML which I need to pull the belt to about 90% to fit, the ratchet activates, and I can't pull the belt back out to undo the car seat.

Normally I can force it off the clips, but I've had it in there for a month or two now, and going over the bumps with the kids in it has meant the belt has slowly tightened and tightened....

To get the car seat out now I think I am going to have to cut the webbing as the belt has got so tight it's pulling hard enough on the buckle I can't release it!

What a bl**dy silly idea! - Is there any way to

a) release this ratchet once activated
b) Stop it activating in the future?

Ta

 

[MBDevotee]

Can anyone help with this??

Ta

 

[television]

Never heard of this one, al of the seat belts in the ones that I have driven have all been very soft

 

[star]

We have problems with ml rear belts where it will not release/extend and the seat back is then locked by the belt. We have then had to remove seat cushion and gradually release belt bit by bit.

 

[MBDevotee]

but is there a solution! ? !

If not, I think this one child seat is in for life!