Andrade

iTrader: (3)

So today, I was checking a problem with the wiring done by a audio shop running into my amp, I had the rear passenger door panel apart (not all the way) and the door wiring harness disconnected. It started raining pretty hard and wile reaching inside, I hear what to me was a gun shot! it even smelled like gun powder, when I turned around to see what happened, I saw smoke coming out of my rear door, I thought that maybe water got into my amp and fried my speaker. I didn't pay much attention to the speaker because the seatbelt caught my eye, It was under tension which pulled my panel tight against the door. I now have a airbag deployment symbol on the dash.

I'm sure most of you don't know this but, before impact during a accident, the seatbelt will tighten seconds before the airbag deploys to keep your back on the seat.

My question is for those that might have experienced this, I'm sure my warranty might not cover this, what can I do? Will I be able to buy a new belt mechanism from online dealers and can I somehow release the tension on the belt to be able to remove that damn door panel out of the way??

By the way, that was a loud sound!!

ji603

You don't need a new belt, but you will need a new pretensioner. The belt comes out of the old one by pushing up the clamp in the motor to get some slack, then pushing a pin out, threading out the belt from the motor, then rethreading a the belt into a new motor.

Earlsays

iTrader: (1)

Jeez I wonder what caused that to happen?

Manuellabour247

If water shorted the plug it could read as a sensor trip. This is what they were designed to do and why emergency crews (EMT's) have seat belt cutters on them when they arrive to a crash. You can buy a used seat belt from a salvage yard if you decide to replace the whole unit. Just be warned that the seat belt studs are a PITA to remove. When you reinstall them (if going that route), make sure to put high grade locktite on the threads as you damn sure don't want them backing out.

Andrade

iTrader: (3)

human error on my part unfortunately. Sensitive sensors tho!

Andrade

iTrader: (3)

I actually found a company based out of Allen texas that sells rebuilt kits for a few bucks, dealers and body shops use them instead of buying $300 units from ford, I'll update on how that goes incase this happens too someone else.