Standard Procedure - Seat Belt Cinch Bar Verification Test

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2005 Dodge Stratus and 2005 Chrysler Sebring. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

WARNING: THE SEAT BELT CINCH BAR, CINCH BAR COVER OR ANY OTHER SEAT BELT COMPONENT MUST NEVER BE PAINTED. PAINT MAY CHANGE THE WAY IN WHICH THE SEAT BELT COMPONENTS PERFORM. FAILURE TO SO COULD RESULT IN OCCUPANT PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.

The latch plates of seat belts installed in certain positions may be equipped with an automatic cinching feature. See Fig 1. The cinch bar mechanism is designed to maintain the adjustment of the lap portion of the belt webbing when the belt is buckled, but allow the belt webbing to slide freely through the latch plate for proper adjustment or storage when the belt is not buckled. The following procedure will verify proper seat belt cinch bar operation.

Fig 1: Seat Belt Cinch Bar

Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1 - SHOULDER BELT SIDE

2 - CINCH BAR MECHANISM

3 - LAP BELT SIDE

4 - LATCH PLATE

Pull the suspect seat belt latch plate and webbing across the seat and insert the latch plate into the buckle until it is fully engaged. See Fig 2.

Fig 2: Seat Belt Cinch Bar Verification Test

Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1 - SHOULDER BELT

2 - LATCH PLATE

3 - BUCKLE

4 - 38 CENTIMETERS (15 INCHES)

5 - REFERENCE MARK (TAPE OR PAPER CLIP)

6 - LAP BELT

Place a paper clip or a small piece of tape on the belt webbing on the lap belt side (not the shoulder belt side) of the latch plate as a reference mark of the latch plate location.
Release the seat belt latch plate from the buckle and pull another 38 centimeters (15 inches) of the belt webbing as measured from the latch plate reference mark location through to the lap belt side of the latch plate.
Reinsert the latch plate into the buckle until it is fully engaged.
Firmly grasp the center of the lap belt webbing, then pull the belt webbing upwards and towards the front of the vehicle while noting whether any of the webbing pulls through the latch plate.
The cinch bar should engage the belt webbing and prevent it from being pulled through to the lap belt side of the latch plate. If the cinching mechanism is loose or fails to maintain proper lap belt adjustment while the latch plate is buckled, a seat belt cinch bar repair is required. (Refer to ELECTRICAL/RESTRAINTS/SEAT BELT CINCH BAR - REMOVAL) .