One of the easiest ways to safeguard yourself from injury in a car is to always use your seat belt. Wearing a seat belt when driving is legally required. So how can you fix a car seat belt buckle? Well, read more to know. The part of the seat belt that releases and fastens the tongue is the buckle.
At the end of the belt’s webbing, there is a tongue that fits neatly inside the buckle. The tongue is firmly held in place when the buckle works as it should. The seat belt should only need to be fastened or unfastened with a little effort.
However, buying a brand new seat belt buckle can be expensive, so it would be much better to fix it. Well, in this article, you’ll be provided with six well-detailed steps on how to fix a broken car seat belt buckle.
Read more: How to fix a broken seat belt buckle in a car (6 easy steps)
Let’s get to it.
Contents
Is it safe to drive with a broken seat belt buckle?
It is extremely unsafe to drive while your seat belt buckle is broken. For many years, seat belts have been utilized to save lives. Every passenger in a car must wear them since they are mandatory. Unfortunately, many people choose not to buckle up; some do so deliberately, while others do so because their seatbelts are damaged.
Six steps on how to fix a broken car seat belt buckle
Well, I believe with the six detailed steps listed below, you’ll be able to fix your broken seat belt buckle successfully. However, you’ll need the following tools:
- A set of screwdrivers with several screw heads
- Butter knife or another flat, pointed object
Let’s get started.
Examine the Belt
When fixing a broken car seat belt buckle, the first thing you should do is examine the belt carefully. If there is an impediment on the belt, it is possible to clear it and get the belt back to working properly.
The position of the seat belt makes it easy for dirt, grime, and other debris to accumulate over time. Without taking any further action, you might be able to take anything off the tongue if you can tell it is stuck.
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Inspect the buckle
There is a good chance that something could become stuck inside the buckle considering the way it is designed. Check to see if there are any obstructions, and if there are, you must remove them.
Move the knife’s sharp end through the edges and into the buckle. Take anything that is inside out. By doing this, you can clean the interior of the buckle, and your seatbelt may now work properly. You can move on to the next stage, though, if it is still broken.
Take out the Buckle
Your seatbelt’s issue is likely to be inside the buckle if the aforementioned steps weren’t able to resolve it. In this situation, you must take the buckle off. It is either screwed together or fitted with the vehicle seat. You must remove the female end of the buckle from the seat in order to have a better look.
In some circumstances, you just need to unscrew the buckle, but other types can require you to detach the seat. Your vehicle’s service manual has the directions. It is, in any case, the best approach to accessing the buckle itself.
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Disassemble the buckle
You must first look at the contents of the buckle in order to determine the true issue with it. When you unscrew it, you’ll discover that it has sockets that need to be disassembled.
On the other hand, some buckles have sockets. If that’s the case, applying a bit of pressure will open it. It won’t take long to disassemble the seat belt buckle. But keep in mind that when you open the buckle, there are little springs inside that might jump out.
Check the internal operation
A small system to catch and release the tongue on command is still in place when you open the buckle. Obviously, the seat belt won’t work correctly if the buckle is damaged. This means that once it is opened, you must inspect how it functions.
Three main components make up the buckle’s interior: springs, a cam, and a red push button. The cam should catch the tongue if you push it in and firmly hold it together. The tongue and cam should both become looser after you press the red button, thanks to the help of the springs.
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Reassemble the Buckle
When you’re done, carefully reassemble the buckle and position it in its original location. Additionally, you ought to clean the spaces between the seats. There is a lot of potential for debris to find its way down there and slowly sink into the seat belt buckle. It is frequently the main reason why seat belt buckle issues arise. However, if you were unable to resolve the issue, your only choice is to replace it with a new one.
Replacement cost of a seat belt buckle
Depending on the make and model of your car, the cost to replace a seat belt buckle might range from $25 to $245. However, depending on labor costs in your location, replacing your seat belt buckle can cost you around $100.
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FAQs
How do you fix a seat belt buckle that won’t latch?
If you don’t see anything stuck in the seat belt buckle, it could just be a dirt accumulation. Try injecting some lubrication into the seat belt buckle; WD-40 or Tri-Flow should work. I’m hoping it will allow whatever is stuck inside to loosen.
Can you fix a broken seat belt?
The entire buckle can always be changed. Depending on your make and model, a replacement seat belt kit can cost as little as $30 if you prefer to fix it but don’t have the time.
Is it easy to change the belt buckle?
Unsnap the poppers, remove the belt’s plain buckle, and then thread the belt’s tip back through the new buckle to replace the old one. This process is really easy.
What are the two parts of a buckle called?
The frame, the prong, and the bar are the three parts that make up a typical belt buckle. The frame serves as the buckle’s “base,” and the prong, which is coupled to the bar, is the moveable component used to tighten or loosen the belt strap.
How much does it cost to fix a seatbelt buckle?
The cost to repair a seat belt buckle might vary from $25 to $245 depending on the type and model of your vehicle. However, labor for replacing your seat belt buckle could cost you roughly $100, depending on local costs.
That is all for this article, in which we stated and discussed six steps on how to fix a seat belt buckle. We also looked at frequently asked questions about how to fix a broken car seat belt buckle.
I hope you learn a lot from the reading. If you do, kindly share it with others. Thanks for reading; see you around!
