'93 Seatbelt repair

[DarkNinja75]

Basically, my driver and passenger side seatbelts don't retract. If I push them back up they have enough force to go back in, but otherwise they just stay extended. Anyone know if it's possible to fix this themselves, or has anyone done it?

[Piloter]

Same problem...I've heard from a mechanic at a dealership that it could be something as simple as dirt in the top loops (not the actual retractor mechanism) causing it to stick. Easily tested--grab the belt just above where it comes out of the sill area, and tug it up and down there. If it moves freely, then it's just the top hangar that's gummed up...maybe some silicone spray would be of use?

If it's the actual retractor mechanism, there has to be some way to get to it short of just spraying some lubricant down in there.

...Although would that be a bad idea, necessarily?

[TxMiniTruck]

My wifes 93 corola has the same exact symptoms with the front seatbelts. Im goint to take them apart and see whats up because they should retract themselves.

[blb]

The factory spring to recoil the seatbelts is very weak. About the only way to improve the situation is to take the retractor apart, pull the end of the seatbelt out of the plactic spool by removing the plastic pin in the loop, spin the spool a couple of turns tighter, then reassemble the belt onto the spool. Basically you are just preloading the spring a couple more turns.