The seat belts in my 2004 X are a little dirty and the fabric is stiff with age...

Looks like they've had a rough life. Anyone have suggestions for "refreshing" them?

I'd like to get their original flexibility back and obviously clean them up.

 

I use my Rug Doctor hand wand and go over and over them until they are clean.

 

I did something similar. Removed them, stretched them out, and sprayed carpet shampoo on them and scrubbed. Flip and repeat. Air dry. Reinstall. Inexpensive fix and they look great.

 

I cleaned mine with Blue Coral carpet dry cleaning fluid about 3 years ago. I have not seen this stuff offered for sale lately. But if you can find dry cleaning fluid it also works well.

 

Dry cleaning Fluid, sounds like an oxymoron to me... I need to do this as well. Hopefully I can find time. Too many projects not enough hours in the week.

 

Rinse off whatever chemicals you use to clean them well. Residue left behind combined with high summer temps can break down the fibers and weaken the belt (causing more fraying). I haven't heard of any failing, but the fraying can make the belt look just as old as dirt.

 

I use to use a bucket of rug shampoo (mixed according to instructions) and a scrub brush, then used a wet vac and sucked the dirty fluid back out of them. They always came out nice!

 

I just wish the #$@% retractors worked worth a crap. Constantly end up with the belt closed in the door because it doesn't retract. Must be a Ford thing because my 2000 Sable does exactly the same thing.

 

I wonder if there is a way to adjust the retractor??? Anyone ever take these apart?

 

For real man ! My retractors do that also. Sometimes when I get out the buckle will swing around and hit the back door before it retracts. I was going to look into mine this summer and maybe lubercate it but forgot all about it until you mentioned it.

 

I'm interested in what people find works best for this. Mine are fine except the driver's belt, which is very hard and stiff for the main part of it that gets touched. I've tried cleaning it with the carpet cleaner and the detergent for that, and I tried the scrubbing bubbles recently. Both didn't really do a thing.

Mine doesn't retract that well, but the majority of the time it's due to the belt folding over at the shoulder loop and since it's so stiff, it won't straighten back out to retract. I straighten it, and it goes back in fine.

 

I have never tried this but I have been told:
Scrub well with Simple Green and rinse well.
Take some fabric softner and scrub it in well, rinse well again.
Towel dry and let the seat belt air dry naturaly.

 

I think they are really designed not to be taken apart easily...if someone took them apart to "fix" and didn't put it back together right, you know one or two would try to go after the manufacturers.

I'd be curious to know if anyone was able to fix them (new retractor spring, etc.) and how they did it. Maybe there is a way to get the spring replaced without taking apart the main spindle and carrier?

 

I personally would never try to mess with a retractor. If your car has a pretensioner (I don't think Excursions do but I'm not sure), you could seriously hurt yourself (pretensioners are pyrotechnic devices), and failure to reassemble the retractor correctly can lead to seat belt failure during an accident.

Maybe it's just me, but other than cleaning the belt (Simple Green, etc. - NO AMMONIA BASED PRODUCTS) with a mild cleaner, I wouldn't risk it.

 

how about gatorade?

lol

You may just want to consider replacing the belts if they have already degraded to the point they are 'stiff with age.'

Webbing does wear out.