Date: Sun, 6 Feb 2005 16:19:09 EST
Reply-To: Oxroad@AOL.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jeff Oxroad <Oxroad@AOL.COM>
Subject: Re: [vanagon] Need Driver's Side Seat Belt
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
In a message dated 2/6/2005 8:28:53 AM Pacific Standard Time,
close2tj@yahoo.com writes:
> Let me know the outcome. The drivers belt on my 87 westy wont go back on
> its own once pulled out.
I replaced both front seat belts with brandy new VW belts. Because I have an
83.5 I had to replace the seat belt receiver buckes as well. I could have done
it a bit cheaper by using two passenger side buckles. The Passenger side
buckle does not have electric contacts for seat belt idiot light and buzzer. But I
don't deal well with change so got the correct buckle for driver's side and
then the less expensive one for the passenger side.
I replaced mine because the driver's side belt would release on it own at
unregulated intervals.
I went with brand new belts because--as seatbelts are about the only safely
feature in the vanagon (no air bags I mean)-- I figured I didn't want to take a
chance on used 20 year old belts to protect the life of a passenger and deal
with all the guilt of losing a friend because I was concerned about saving
$100.
For what it's worth my VW Fox Bentley manual states "seat belts must be
replaced , as a complete set, if they have been stressed in a collision". Possibly
this is overkill, but the retracting/locking mechanism if worn or stressed
could possibly malfunction when it's needed as a matter of life and death. I have
an older manual for the Vanagon and as near as I can tell it does't address
seat belts. But either way you almost have to agree if seat belts are stressed
in a collision there is a possibility of future malfunction. Follow that with
an unknown history of used belts and I think it makes sense to get new ones if
they're still available.
The seat belts were not available for the 83 as they had a differnet buckle
than later Vanagons--but the later vnagon belt numbers supeceed the 83 and are
a bolt-right-in proposition. The later belts have a slightly different "loop'
mechanism up at shoulder-height on the B pillar which is mostly
inconsequential. The different loop makes opeing the top of the kitchen ever-so-slightly
different in the 83 Westfalia in that you have to turn the upper loop out of the
way to let the cabinet door clear it. No tools required here. Just push it as
it pivots naturally. I n the later Westfalia the front of the kitchen top was
tapered to clear the upper seatbelt loop. I think if you have a non-Westy the
loop wouldn't create any difference.
Anyway, Rennie the parts manager( a listee or maybe former listee) at Peyton
Cramer VW in TorrancE, CA at the time gave me the list discount in 2002 when
I replaced both front seat belts and buckles. He's at the VW dealer on Hindry
St just west of the 405 now, just south of LAX airport. I think it's called
Power VW. As far as I know he still offers the list discount. Camelback VW in
Pheonix AZ. should also still offer the list discount. I think either dealership
is willing to ship parts.
The total for two front seat belts with the correct driver's buckle with
electrical connections and the correct passenger buckle with no electric came to
$214. including tax. The retracting belts were $71 each, $65 with the discount
and the buckles were Driver/Passenger respectively $62/$34-- $45/$25 with the
discount.
Shoot, for the piece of mind, I might just upgrade the seat belts again for
$200 ;)
Best,
Jeff
83.5 Westy
LA,CA
