Frayed safety belt on MK5 GTI

elbyrneo · 21-03-2019 11:22pm #1

Hi

My MK5 GTI driver safety belt is frayed/torn/fairly haggerred. NCT in May and imagine would be a fail (?) But regardless would like to replace as probably dangerous!

Is it possible to DIY? Source on internet or best to go to Indy mechanic?

SweetCaliber · 21-03-2019 11:59pm

elbyrneo wrote: »

Hi

My MK5 GTI driver safety belt is frayed/torn/fairly haggerred. NCT in May and imagine would be a fail (?) But regardless would like to replace as probably dangerous!

Is it possible to DIY? Source on internet or best to go to Indy mechanic?

Yeah best to replace. Not sure how much they are online, a good parts breaker might be able to source one second hand thats in decent condition.

Fitting it is handy enough, if you have an airbag in the side panel disconnect the battery.

Remove the trim and then remove both upper (8) and lower (1) bolts holding the belt mechanism and anchor in. There is also a piece in the middle holding the belt in (7), remove that also.

There is also be a connector block you need to disconnect for the belt tensioner (5).

elbyrneo · 22-03-2019 7:55am

SweetCaliber wrote: »

Yeah best to replace. Not sure how much they are online, a good parts breaker might be able to source one second hand thats in decent condition.

Fitting it is handy enough, if you have an airbag in the side panel disconnect the battery.

Remove the trim and then remove both upper (8) and lower (1) bolts holding the belt mechanism and anchor in. There is also a piece in the middle holding the belt in (7), remove that also.

There is also be a connector block you need to disconnect for the belt tensioner (5).

Thanks a mill, really appreciate that!

w211 · 22-03-2019 9:42am

Until there is no any cut, the shaggy safety belt are the safe. Easy option are to use the safety belt cover.

So funny as it sounds, but the safety belts needs too the maintenance. The safety belt itself!!! Simple solution clean and lube. Yes, lube!!!! If you do not care about your cloths use WD40 :P Otherwise some kind dry one. After every 5 years are good enough

Henry Ford III · 22-03-2019 12:45pm

w211 wrote: »

Until there is no any cut, the shaggy safety belt are the safe. Easy option are to use the safety belt cover.

OP said the seatbelt was "frayed/torn/fairly haggerred" though.

Covering up damage like that is not a good idea.

w211 · 22-03-2019 2:09pm

Henry Ford III wrote: »

OP said the seatbelt was "frayed/torn/fairly haggerred" though.

Covering up damage like that is not a good idea.

If it does not look nice, it does not mean immediately it is not the safe. Until it is not cut or damaged, it is just the cosmetic problem.

Henry Ford III · 22-03-2019 2:31pm

w211 wrote: »

If it does not look nice, it does not mean immediately it is not the safe. Until it is not cut or damaged, it is just the cosmetic problem.

Frayed and torn are both terms for damage and are both beyond cosmetic.

SweetCaliber · 22-03-2019 2:39pm

w211 wrote: »

If it does not look nice, it does not mean immediately it is not the safe. Until it is not cut or damaged, it is just the cosmetic problem.

For such a safety critical part that could potentially save your life in the future any sign of wear or damage and id replace it. Not worth the risk.

w211 · 22-03-2019 3:02pm

SweetCaliber wrote: »

For such a safety critical part that could potentially save your life in the future any sign of wear or damage and id replace it. Not worth the risk.

OP did not said anything about damage, only it did not looks nice. By that shaggy belt you can easily lift that car up and it does not snap. Only if there are any mark of cuttings, then is time to replace it. If OP shows to us pictures, we get the better picture about the problem.

Seriously I do not understand the Irish car owners. If we talk about the preventive maintenance they bursting the fire, but shaggy safety belt they are ready to replace immediately. Then why you do not maintain your safety belt??? Do not start the safety first BS.

Midnight_EG · 22-03-2019 3:06pm

Not everybody wants the cheap way out, some of us appreciate our cars being 100%

w211 · 22-03-2019 3:11pm

Midnight_EG wrote: »

Not everybody wants the cheap way out, some of us appreciate our cars being 100%

Do you even know how the safety belts are made?

SweetCaliber · 22-03-2019 3:13pm

w211 wrote: »

Do you even know how the safety belts are made?

The OP said the belt was torn, that to me is enough to warrant a replacement.

Midnight_EG · 22-03-2019 3:23pm

w211 wrote: »

Do you even know how the safety belts are made?

Yes, I do, and a frayed belt is enough to fail an NCT and that's good enough to want to change it

Del2005 · 22-03-2019 3:40pm

w211 wrote: »

Seriously I do not understand the Irish car owners. If we talk about the preventive maintenance they bursting the fire, but shaggy safety belt they are ready to replace immediately. Then why you do not maintain your safety belt??? Do not start the safety first BS.

This is a motoring forum so most people posting here are into cars and preform the required maintenance. So if the belt is suspect its gets replaced.

If the OP was like the average Irish motorist they wouldn't have bothered posting as they wouldn't see any issues with a potentially damaged piece of safety equipment.

w211 · 22-03-2019 4:47pm

ok you all are double face morans. I leave...

antodeco · 22-03-2019 4:50pm

w211 wrote: »

ok you all are double face morans. I leave...

Thanks.

@OP, just be careful there's no sensor on any of the belt. It may throw up some errors in the car.

tcawley29 · 22-03-2019 6:14pm

w211 wrote: »

ok you all are double face morans. I leave...

Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

Naturally its hard to be 100% accurate without a picture but based on the OPs description this does sound like a damaged safety item which needs to be replaced.

A seat belt can be replaced cheaply, somebody's life can not be replaced at all if involved in an accident and the seat belt fails.

biko · 22-03-2019 7:13pm

w211 has closed their account, let's leave it at that and focus on OP.

FDave · 22-03-2019 8:44pm

w211 wrote: »

If it does not look nice, it does not mean immediately it is not the safe. Until it is not cut or damaged, it is just the cosmetic problem.

(a) Any belt, including any for a child seat attached to the vehicle is damaged.
(b) Any cut, sign of over-stretching, badly frayed or obviously unsafely repaired or modified.
(d). Safety-belt not in accordance with the requirements(1).
(e). Safety-belt/buckle, including any for a child seat attached to the vehicle, is not operating properly or is damaged.
(f). Safety-belt retractor, including any for a child seat attached to the vehicle, is not operating properly or is damaged.

From the NCTS manual. Of course it a fail.
Just in case he is still looking ;p

Henry Ford III · 22-03-2019 9:44pm

biko wrote:

w211 has closed their account, let's leave it at that and focus on OP.

No harm.

carzony · 23-03-2019 8:14pm

PM sent to you OP.

I've got a GTI in the garden ready to be sold on for parts.

23-03-2019 9:26pm

carzony wrote: »

PM sent to you OP.

I've got a GTI in the garden ready to be sold on for parts.

Dsg?

lawred2 · 23-03-2019 9:28pm

w211 wrote: »

OP did not said anything about damage, only it did not looks nice. By that shaggy belt you can easily lift that car up and it does not snap. Only if there are any mark of cuttings, then is time to replace it. If OP shows to us pictures, we get the better picture about the problem.

Seriously I do not understand the Irish car owners. If we talk about the preventive maintenance they bursting the fire, but shaggy safety belt they are ready to replace immediately. Then why you do not maintain your safety belt??? Do not start the safety first BS.

Frayed/torn/haggered

That's more than 'it doesn't look nice'

carzony · 23-03-2019 11:34pm

BrownFinger wrote: »

Dsg?

Manual

elbyrneo · 24-03-2019 2:52pm

OP here, thanks for all the posts, didn't realise it would spark such a debate. Not worth the effort of photo and upload but suffice to say the belt is torn, more than just frayed, and even for peace of mind the replacement is worth it.

And loving the idea of red belts OSI, good shout!

elbyrneo · 24-03-2019 2:53pm

antodeco wrote: »

Thanks.

@OP, just be careful there's no sensor on any of the belt. It may throw up some errors in the car.

Thanks I'll also take the earlier advice too of disabling battery before I do anything

elbyrneo · 24-03-2019 2:54pm

OSI wrote: »

Perfect time to get red belts

Am researching online as we speak!

Frayed safety belt on MK5 GTI

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