Safety Belt Retractor and Pretensioner - Without Seat Integrated Restraints (SIR): Removal

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2003 Ford Pickup, 2003 Ford F550 Super Duty, 2003 Ford F450 Super Duty, 2003 Ford Excursion, and 2003 Ford Cab & Chassis. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

WARNING: The safety belt buckle pretensioner and safety belt retractor pretensioner are pyrotechnic devices. Always wear safety glasses when repairing an air bag equipped vehicle and when handling a safety belt buckle pretensioner or safety belt retractor pretensioner.

WARNING: The safety belt buckle pretensioner and safety belt retractor pretensioner are pyrotechnic devices. Never probe an electrical connector pretensioner. Doing so could result in pretensioner or air bag deployment and could result in personal injury.

WARNING: After deployment, the air bag surface could contain deposits of sodium hydroxide, a product of the gas generant combustion that is irritating to the skin. Wash your hands with soap and water afterwards.

WARNING: Never probe the connectors on the air bag module. Doing so could result in air bag deployment which could result in personal injury.

NOTE: The driver side is shown, the passenger side is similar.

All vehicles

Prepare the vehicle for safety belt retractor and pretensioner removal.
Disconnect the battery ground cable (14301) and wait at least one minute. Refer to BATTERY, MOUNTING AND CABLES .
WARNING: To avoid accidental deployment and possible personal injury, the backup power supply must be depleted before repairing or replacing any front or side air bag supplemental restraint system (SRS) components and before servicing, replacing, adjusting or striking components near the front or side air bag sensors, such as doors, instrument panel, console, door latches, strikers, seats and hood latches.

The side air bag sensors are located at or near the base of the B-pillar.

To deplete the backup power supply energy, disconnect the battery ground cable and wait at least one minute. Be sure to disconnect auxiliary batteries and power supplies (if equipped).
Deactivate the supplemental restraint system (SRS). Refer to Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Deactivation and Reactivation .
WARNING: To reduce the risk of serious personal injury, read and follow all warnings, notes, and instructions in the supplemental restraint system deactivation/reactivation procedure.

Regular cab vehicles
Using the special tool, remove the bolt. Remove the safety belt anchor.

Fig 1: Removing Safety Belt Anchor
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
Remove the safety belt retractor and pretensioner.
NOTE: For pretensioner retractor disposal procedure, refer to AIR BAG RESTRAINT SYSTEMS .
1. Remove the bolt.
2. Using the special tool, remove the bolt.
3. Remove the safety belt retractor and pretensioner.
  
  Fig 2: Removing Safety Belt Retractor And Pretensioner
  Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
SuperCabs with safety belt retractor pretensioners
Remove the safety belt shoulder height adjuster cover pin-type retainer.

Fig 3: Removing Safety Belt Shoulder Height Adjuster Cover Pin-Type Retainer
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
Remove the safety belt shoulder height adjuster.
1. Position the safety belt shoulder height adjuster cover down.
2. Remove the bolt.
3. Remove the safety belt shoulder height adjuster.
  
  Fig 4: Removing Safety Belt Shoulder Height Adjuster
  Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
Remove the bolt and position the safety belt retractor pretensioner to the side.

Fig 5: Removing Safety Belt Retractor Pretensioner Bolt
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
Remove the bolt and the safety belt anchor.
NOTE: For pretensioner retractor disposal procedure, refer to AIR BAG RESTRAINT SYSTEMS .
- Remove the safety belt retractor pretensioner.
  
  Fig 6: Removing Safety Belt Retractor Pretensioner
  Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
CrewCab and Excursion drivers side
Remove the front driver side safety belt anchor.
1. Using the special tool, remove the bolt.
2. Remove the front driver side safety belt anchor.
  
  Fig 7: Removing Front Driver Side Safety Belt Anchor
  Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
CrewCab and Excursion passenger side
Remove the front passenger side safety belt anchor.
1. Using the special tool, remove the bolt.
2. Remove the front passenger side safety belt anchor.
  
  Fig 8: Removing Front Passenger Side Safety Belt Anchor
  Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
CrewCab and Excursion vehicles
Remove the safety belt retractor and pretensioner.
NOTE: For pretensioner retractor disposal procedure, refer to AIR BAG RESTRAINT SYSTEMS .
1. Using the special tool, remove the bolt.
2. Pivot up at the bottom and remove the safety belt retractor and pretensioner.
  
  Fig 9: Removing Safety Belt Retractor And Pretensioner
  Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.