Seat belt replacement cost?

Craftylee

Hi folks,

My drivers side seat belt needs replacing in my car, due to an intermittent issue. Ford quoted me €310 for a replacement (part + labour). They said it would be 1.5 hours work as the seat needs to be removed to replace it.

Does this sound about right? Sounds mighty expensive to me. Do I have any alternative choice? Or does a seat belt need to be replaced by the dealer?

Thanks

KeRbDoG

Seat belts on cars in the past 10~20 years are not just belts/restrictors, but also connected to the airbag system to pull the belt tight upon certain type accidents. Depending on the age of car, the belt system might require recoding etc. Best to price the part itself and then the labour, sounds like the parts they are charging are 250ish?

mk7r

That sounds pretty cheap to me

I've never done a front belt but changed a rear one in my golf and it was easy.
I would got to the scrap yard and take one out myself so I knew what was involved before pulling my own car apart!

kirving

What car is it? All seatbelts pretty much nowadays have pretensioners and load limits built in, so it may not be just the roll of material that you're paying for.

I would not be putting a scrapyards seatbelt into my car under any circumstances. I fully understand it's no different to a second hand car in theory, but I'd trust most drivers and dealers not to drive or sell a car with a known issue.

Craftylee

Thanks all - I'm guessing by the lack of "OH MY GOD THATS A RIPOFF" posts that this price is about right. Considering it's a vital safety item I'm just gonna suck up the price and get it replaced.

I believe Ford charge €80 p/h for labour (minus VAT @ 12.5%), so 1.5 hours would be €136 with VAT if my math is correct. So the part must be around €170

colm_mcm

Is it the buckle that needs replacing?

I’m gonna be the one that says there’s no way I’d be spending the €310 and would sooner fit a used one.

Taking a seat out takes 5 minutes.

kirving

It depends entirely on what car it is though

colm_mcm

Kevin Irving wrote: »

It depends entirely on what car it is though

I guess so, but usually seats are very straightforward to take out.

Craftylee

2014 Fiesta, it also has heated seats if that makes any difference.
It will be the spool thing that they're replacing as the issue is with the belt occasionally not unwinding no matter how gentle you're with it. And yes I've tried the silicone spray on the belt trick to no avail

colm_mcm

Go to an independent garage, this is a piece of cake of a job even to DIY if you have a socket set.

Craftylee

colm_mcm wrote: »

Go to an independent garage, this is a piece of cake of a job even to DIY if you have a socket set.

Can they order in a replacement seatbelt from Ford?

swarlb

Craftylee wrote: »

Can they order in a replacement seatbelt from Ford?

Why don't you ring your local Ford Dealership and ask for the price of the part you need. Then you'll know for certain exactly how much the part costs.
Then, ring as many 'independents', mechanics, garages, repair shops, and ask them how much to fit the part you priced, and how much they'd charge to...
Fit the part you provide... or
Supply the part themselves, and fit it....

Then you'll know for certain if the 'Dealership' is ripping you off, or supplying or fitting the part at a reasonable cost..... or indeed if you'll be ripped off by going elsewhere.