These seatbelts have GOTTA go! - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

TBayToyotaBoy · 03-13-2007, 08:15 PM

So I lucked-out and managed to buy an 87 base-model Camry from the wrecking yard where I work (only 180,000km!), and only one thing bugs me. It has the two-belt style restraint system, where the top belt is built-in to the door post (it slides back and forth as the door opens and closes). I hate it.

Has anyone replaced this type of belt with the integrated seat belts? I haven't had time to rip the trim off the door posts yet, so I'm hoping it will be a simple swap.

atobe · 03-13-2007, 08:22 PM

OMG get me my parts !!!!

TBayToyotaBoy · 03-13-2007, 08:28 PM

OMG then help me get rid of the two feet of mud/snowmelt that's surrounding all the cars!!! And maybe make the school year end, while you're at it. The only reason I chose to buy this Camry was that it just came in--not surrounded by muck.

***HomeGrown*** · 03-13-2007, 08:30 PM

What type of belts do you have on your silver car? They're not the automatic belts?

BTW: need PICS of the new car!!!

atobe · 03-13-2007, 08:36 PM

wait isn't all the gen2 seat belts like that ?

TBayToyotaBoy · 03-13-2007, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HomeGrown

What type of belts do you have on your silver car? They're not the automatic belts?

BTW: need PICS of the new car!!!

Heh heh, I just bought the damned thing a couple of hours ago! I had to swap-in a starter and a whole bunch of broken sensors before I could get it running to decide on the purchase...pics will follow in good time, I swear.

As for my V6 Camry, it has regular (non-automatic) belts in it. As a general rule, I believe that the auto restraints were only offered in the US, due to seat belt laws/regulations. In Canada our Camrys all came with the regular set-up.

***HomeGrown*** · 03-13-2007, 08:48 PM

I think I remember someone mentioning that. Yep, in the early 90's there were a few cars with automatic seat belts. I had a 1990 Ford Tempo that had them.

BTW TBay, gotta update that sig again.

88yotaDX · 03-13-2007, 09:55 PM

I have been looking for a way to change mine, so post anything you can come up with

atobe · 03-13-2007, 11:04 PM

hmmmm well i have a sparco 4 point harness in mine

TBayToyotaBoy · 03-14-2007, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atobe

hmmmm well i have a sparco 4 point harness in mine

Oh, well aren't we just "Braggy-McBragster"?

I am jealous...

In case nobody can post anything helpful, I'll plan to do a pictorial of this swap. From what I could tell, the seatbelt tracks run along the roofline, and down into the trim of the door pillars. They aren't integrated wholly into the door posts, so I should be able to unbolt the mechanism and swap in regular trim. What I'm concerned with is the mounting locations for anchor bolts. If they aren't there (drilled into the inner portion of the rocker panels) then I'll be out of luck...fingers crossed.

atobe · 03-14-2007, 01:14 AM

i never knew it came with regular seat belts :\ i only see the automatic ones here

Tommy · 03-15-2007, 02:05 AM

back in the late 80's, cars were required to have either automatic seat belts or airbags. thats why you only see auto belts in cars from about 87-92. after that air bags were required, so auto belts were no longer used/needed.

just be glad you have ones that move, my VW had a shoulder belt that didnt move, it was secured to the door frame and would try to choke you when you got out of the car. luckly it was a quick swap to regular 3-point belts.

ditto for never seeing a gen2 with regular 3-points, i dont think you can swap them in safely because there is no mounting points in the b-pilars or down on the floor for the retractor.

monito · 03-15-2007, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tommy

back in the late 80's, cars were required to have either automatic seat belts or airbags. thats why you only see auto belts in cars from about 87-92. after that air bags were required, so auto belts were no longer used/needed.

i thought the auto belts were no longer used after the 2nd gen b/c they were deemed a safety hazard? something about the quick releases not workin...

If there really was a choice between auto and airbag...shoulda gone w/ air bag ><. or ABS even

88yotaDX · 03-15-2007, 10:03 PM

what does the saftey release do? aside from causing a blinking light on the dash?

Also I think If you were able to swap in something like the late 80s early 90 hondas had, where the female connector was on the track and the strap and male connector reeled in, would be safe.

TBayToyotaBoy · 03-15-2007, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 88yotaDX

what does the saftey release do? aside from causing a blinking light on the dash?

Also I think If you were able to swap in something like the late 80s early 90 hondas had, where the female connector was on the track and the strap and male connector reeled in, would be safe.

The release allows the male and female ends to separate at the door mount, in the event that the motor won't retract the belt for you.

I just sold a 1996 Saturn that had a setup like the one you describe, where the male & female ends detach with the push of a button. Still a major PITA, because I've used regular 3-point manual harnesses my whole life. Tommy, I sure hope you're wrong but I have a feeling they aren't swappable with the 3-point system.