I have a 1988 ford escort and both passenger and driver side seatbelts do not retract or activate when the car is turned on. The waist seatbelt works just not the shoulder. Is it a fuse, the motor? Should I disconnect the seatbelt and if so how? My dad is going crazy cause he thinks i will get a ticket and the car can be impounded. I have called all the dealerships and other places and it all cost money and I do not have any money. If you can help me I would be grateful.

google it

i did

as long as the waste seatbelt works then you should be fine.
i know on the older models they didnt come with seatbelts. i had a old bf yrs ago that bought a old farm truck that never had seatbelts. but he actually put some in

I know i should be fine but my dad says all it takes is one police officer that is having a bad day and he will give me a 75 dollar ticket. then he will say i cannot drive the car till it is fixed and if i do drive it it can get impounded. how did your bf put in a seatbelt? can i do it? but i agree with you. i even called the local police department and told him my situation and he said it is no big deal.

I know i should be fine but my dad says all it takes is one police officer that is having a bad day and he will give me a 75 dollar ticket. then he will say i cannot drive the car till it is fixed and if i do drive it it can get impounded. how did your bf put in a seatbelt? can i do it? but i agree with you. i even called the local police department and told him my situation and he said it is no big deal.

it was a old bf of mine.. my mom bought them for him one yr for xmas and he put them in.
and sense you had already called the police on the same question. then you shouldnt have anything to worry about

well the police told me to call the state highway patrol and i did and the lady told me i can get a ticket. you need a shoulder harness in my state. all it takes is a police officer who is in a bad mood and i can get a ticket.

Stock car drivers put in a 4 point harness system.
Get one.

Take it to a dealership... They should fix it without pay because it's the law to wear a seat belt and if they expect you to wear it then they should expect you not to pay for it

That's my theory

ive done a bit of research and my money is on faulty moters
let us know what happens bud

In most states, if the car comes equipped with shoulder belts, you are not only required to wear them but keep them in good working order. A cop having a bad day? He is doing his job, which is to keep people safe, whether they like it or not. Yes, he can let you off with a warning but he is not required to do so and writing you a ticket for faulty equipment is his job. Them letting you off with a warning is simply a courtesy. Don't take your not taking care of a problem out on him/her.

As for what is wrong with it? Doubtful anyone here would know. You'll probably have to take it to a mechanic.

thanks man i appreciate your concern

i have not money for a mechanic

do you know where i can find one?

1. along the post that both doors hinge to, remove those plastic panels & down the bottom of each are the motors for the seat belts sometimes the fuse for each one is there. 2. underneath either the driver seat or the passenger seat there is a module for the seat belts. that can go bad as well.

yea but if its a older car or truck that never had seatbelts then you dont have to worry. as the old bf the truck he had was 1960s model and back then they didnt have seatbeats... it was funny when he bought it we didnt know at the time it was a old farm truck untill he found hay strands on the back of the bumber..LOL!!

neat! i wish i lived on a farm. this car came with seatbelts though.

Yup, that's why I said if it came equipped with. If it didn't, no worries.

If only driven in parades, you don't have to have them.

Otherwise, seat belts HAVE to be installed, in all road driven vehicles. Minimum seat belt, shoulder harness I can't speak for.
Installed seat belts in lots of older trucks, to meet D.O.T. regs.