Seat belts in its modern form have gone through a lot of initial development. In India, a provision to fit seat belts became compulsory in 1991 and factory fitted seat belts for the front seats became compulsory in 1995. Today, seat belts are a compulsory fitment for all front-facing seats in any car sold in India. A seatbelt’s maintenance though is something we take for granted, as they are not known to go wrong. Here are some tips that will help you keep your car’s seat belts in top shape.
1.Cleaning seat belts
If by chance you do spill something on your seat belts and it leaves a stain, use mild soap and warm water when cleaning spills from the seat belts. Do not use a strong detergent, bleach or dye, since these caustic fluids may weaken the belt’s material and affect the seat belts basic integrity. A dirty seat belt apart from being weaker due to gradual disintegration of the seat belt material also looks dirty especially if the seat belt is a shade of beige or brown.
2.Keep the buckle areas clear
Keep the buckle area clean and dry. Foreign particulates, dust and liquids can clog up the buckles and prevent them from doing their jobs properly. Also remember to squirt a dab of WD40 into your seat belt buckles to keep them smooth and rust free. Older cars are prone to seat belt holder failures due to fault springs inside the buckle assembly. If your car faces this issue, replace the buckles from an authorised service centre.
3. Replace your seat belt if damaged or worn
Seat belts are not something you would want to take a chance with. If you find the stitching on the seat belt to be coming off or the seat belt itself facing wear issues, it is best to replace them as soon as possible. By design, seat belts cannot be repaired. If they are damaged, especially if bits that hold integral parts like the loops that hold the buckle (which also act as a force limiter) are showing signs of stretching, it is best to change them as soon as possible. Remember to get them replaced only by an authorised service centre as the bolt used to fasten a seat belt assembly to the body of your car and the torque to be applied on that bolt are very specific and are best left to professionals.
Although it is advisable to use only company provided seat belts, aftermarket race seat belts and harnesses can also be used for specialty applications. For motorsport uses, a 4-point/5-point/7-point harness is usually compulsory. It is essential that the mounting points for these belts are on a separate bolt on the body structure or on a roll cage type structure. Remember to always use Federation Internationale Automobile (FIA) approved seat belts from manufacturers like Sparco, Recaro, Sabelt, Simpson, etc. for motor sport applications.
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