The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported that over one million people die because of car accidents. Sadly, some of these deaths were preventable. As a responsible adult, you are aware of the importance of seat belts. You would probably look for the nearest seat belt repair shop if you noticed something weird with it.
There are times when such a visit is not needed. You may just need to remove some dirt, grime, or other obstructions lodged in the webbing and buckle. Before you run for the nearest seat belt repair shop, you should do some troubleshooting yourself. Here are a few things that you should know about this safety device:
Careful Inspection
As mentioned earlier, your seat belt may not be properly functioning because of some obstruction. The most logical thing to do is to carefully inspect the seatbelt. Doing this will save you time because you might not even need your tool kit.
Your first step is to carefully examine for damage, such as cuts or wear and tear. You should check if there is something stuck on the webbing or tongue. If you can visibly see the debris, all you need is to wipe it off with a cloth. In this case, there is no need to go to the nearest seat belt repair shop.
Buckle Assessment
You need to carefully assess the buckle’s performance. This segment is essential in the overall performance of the seat belt. As time passes, small objects get stuck in the buckle. Thus, this obstruction lessens the efficacy of the buckle.
This task may be a tad challenging because of the buckle’s design. Its narrow opening makes it difficult to inspect. But you do not need the tools inside a professional seat belt repair shop to get this done. All you need is a butter knife.
You can use the butter knife to get a feel of the inside. If you find something funky, you can drag it outside. But you must carefully do this to avoid compromising the integrity of the internal structure.
Other Buckle Issues
You may need to unscrew the buckle. Mostly, buckles are screwed into the underside of the car. In this case, grab a flathead screwdriver to release the buckle. Then use a flat knife to get a feel of what is inside the buckle.
If you are confident with your DIY skills, you can even open the buckle. Be careful when doing this to avoid losing any vital parts such as small springs and screws. Losing them may compromise the efficacy of the buckle. If such a thing happens, you just need to go to the nearest seat belt repair shop to fix the issue.
Once the buckle is open, you can see the problems causing the locking difficulties. Check if all three components are in working condition. Sometimes, the issue lies with debris in the spring. After checking each part, you can now reassemble the buckle.
Conclusion
Following simple driving rules can save lives. Wearing a seatbelt is one such thing. With that said, we must ensure that this safety device is in perfect working condition. After all, our life depends on it.
If after doing all of the things listed in this article, you still find your seat belt wonky, you should immediately entrust the seat belt repair to Safety Restore. We take great pride in our job because we understand that indirectly, we have saved numerous lives. Contact us today!
