Is your 1996 Mercedes-Benz S320’s driver-side seatbelt struggling to retract? A common annoyance for owners of this classic vehicle is a seatbelt that only retracts partially, leading to a dangling buckle that can scratch and scuff your driver side door panel. Before considering more complex and costly repairs like removing pillar panels or even a full seatbelt replacement, a simple DIY solution might just do the trick.
Like many, I initially faced this frustrating issue. My seatbelt fit well when worn and retracted smoothly while driving, but upon removal, it would only retract halfway, leaving the buckle to swing and potentially damage the door panel. To avoid further scratches and explore an easy fix, I started with cleaning. Using hot soapy water and a scrub brush, I thoroughly cleaned the entire length of the seatbelt. While some dirt was removed and a slight improvement was noticeable after drying, the seatbelt remained sluggish, retracting fully only about 50% of the time.
Seeking a better solution, I turned to silicone spray. I liberally sprayed the section of the seatbelt that retracts into the pillar on both sides. Then, I extended and retracted the belt repeatedly, around 30 times, to work the silicone spray in. The result was remarkable. The seatbelt retraction became lightning fast and fully retracted 100% of the time! There was a slight silicone spray odor for about a week, but it dissipated completely by week three. Even after several weeks, the seatbelt continues to retract quickly and fully.
This simple silicone spray application could be a regular maintenance step to prevent seatbelt retraction issues. It’s definitely worth trying before embarking on more involved repairs or worrying about a costly 1996 Mercedes-benz S320 Driver Side Door Panel Replacement due to buckle damage. This quick fix might save you time, money, and keep your Mercedes-Benz S320 in top condition.
