Seat Belt Removal Guide
How to Remove Your Seat Belts:
The removal process of your seat belts is a fairly simple one and can be accomplished with some basic tools and instructions. The level of difficulty for the seat belt removal will vary from vehicle to vehicle. In most cases, this should not take more than one hour. If you aren’t willing to remove the seat belts on your own, we strongly suggest that you visit your local automotive repair shop for assistance.
Things to Note:
Pro Tip: We always recommend going online and doing a vehicle specific search on how to remove the seat belts from your vehicle. There is a possibility that another DIYer or Professional Automotive Repair Shop has posted an article, diagrams, photos, or even a video on how to remove the seat belts for your specific vehicle. Vehicle specific seat belt removal guides offer much clearer and direct guidance on which panels to remove to access your seat belt.- Some vehicles come equipped with a dual-stage or even triple-stage seat belt mechanism. If this is the case with your vehicle, keep in mind that you will have to send both the seat belt retractor and the anchor pre-tensioner in for a repair.
- Some vehicles are also equipped with a tensioner on the buckle receptacle. If this is the case, you will also need to send the buckle receptacle in for repair.
To learn more about the various seat belt types, click here.
Tools You Will Need:
- In most cases, you will only be needing some basic shop tools to remove your seat belts:
- Trim Removal Tools
- Varying Size Sockets and Wrenches
- Screwdrivers
- Screwdriver Bits
- Torx Bits
Before You Begin:
You will be disconnecting the battery prior to starting this project, so it is recommended to have all anti-theft codes for the radio and navigation system.
If your seat belt is housed in the B-Pillar of the vehicle, then it may help to slide the seat all the way forward (or back) to have easier access to the pillar for removal, while you still have power in the car.
Sometimes it may be helpful to fully remove the front seat to have an open work area for removing the seat belt. In most cases, you will just have to remove four (4) bolts that are holding the seat down. Keep in mind there can be airbags and other SRS sensors found in the seat. Be cautious and always have the battery disconnected when working with SRS components.
Step 1: Determine the Seat Belt Location
Each vehicle make and model can have a varying location for the seat belts. In almost all cases, the front seat belts will be housed behind the B-Pillar trim. Simply observe where the seat belt webbing retracts into - that’s where the seat belt mechanism will be housed. We have seen vehicles, particularly convertibles, that have the seat belt housed inside of the driver and passenger seats.
Rear seat belts will generally be housed inside the seat as well or in the roof panel/ceiling of the vehicle.
If applicable for your vehicle, anchor pre-tensioners will usually be found on the lower half of the seat frame, or housed behind or in front of the B-Pillar on the bottom of the frame.
Buckle pre-tensioners (red click-release units on the side of the seat), may also need to be sent in. You can scan the vehicle and check to see if you have SRS codes for a deployed buckle pre-tensioner. To remove the buckle pre-tensioner, you may need to remove the seat to access the bolts securing it in.
Some manufacturers do not put tensioning systems into the buckle receptacle. If this is the case with your vehicle, you do not have to send the buckle receptacle in for a repair.
Step 2: Disconnect the Battery
Disconnect the negative and positive cables from the battery and wait at least 3-5 minutes before beginning the seat belt removal procedure.
*It is a standard industry practice to have your battery disconnected when working with SRS components. There are various sensors in your vehicle that are constantly reading different inputs and sending information to the airbag control module.
Removing or handling SRS components while the battery is connected can trigger accidental airbag or seat belt deployment.
Step 3: Remove the Trim
If your seat belt is housed in the B-Pillar, you will have to carefully remove the pillar trim to access the seat belt. In many vehicles, the trim is usually held in place by plastic clips that will pop out when you pull on the trim by hand. There may be hidden bolts or screws that will prevent the trim from popping out. If you do not remove these bolts or screws before attempting to pry on the trim, you may accidentally damage the trim pieces.
Each vehicle is different, but some things to look out for on the removal are the:
- Upper Seat Belt Anchor Bolt
- Lower Seat Belt Anchor Bolt
- Shoulder Height Adjuster Bolt
- Plastic Covers for Bolts
- Rubber Door Seals on the B Pillar
Once you’ve removed the necessary bolts and/or screws, you should be able to use your hands and gently pull back on the trim.
Be careful to not apply too much force. If you are exerting excessive force on the trim, it is possible you did not remove all of the bolts and/or screws. Inspect again to see what may be keeping the trim in place.
Step 4: Disconnect the Seat Belt
Once the trim piece is removed, the seat belt retractor reel and anchor pre-tensioner (if applicable), should now be visible.
Disconnect the seat belt tensioner connector(s). If applicable, disconnect the anchor pre-tensioner connector(s). Remove the mounting bolts, then remove the seat belt from the vehicle.
Make note of any bushings, collars, or washers on the bolts. Do not lose them if they happen to come off of the bolts. You will need these when re-installing your seat belts.
Step 5: Send the Seat Belt in for Repair
Congratulations! Now that you are ready to send your seat belt in for a repair, you may purchase the services needed and package your item(s) up for shipment. You may send all of the items for repair in one package, including the SRS module.
Here is a guide on How to Remove your SRS Unit if you also need to send it in for a reset.