A questionable sound and seat belt question.

[Micetic]

Hi,

First off, thank you all for all the help you have given me so far. I have come across two more questionable things that maybe you all can help me with.

1. The front seat belts do not automatically retract back into the housing. Any way to "renew" the system so they go back in? (Any belt cleaning tips too?)

2. The car has started making (or I just started noticing) a strange sound. The car makes a noise like air hissing out of a tire, the sound originates from behind the dash (at least seems to), and the sound goes away whenever the gas pedal is pushed. Any idea what this is and should I be worried?

Thanks!

[cason1]

The seat belts are possibly turned behind the panel where you can't see it but it snags and fiddling with it get's it to slowly retract if that sounds familiar. For cleaning, there are several great suggestions in the appearace forum fairly recently.

For the noise, I would say a vacuum leak of some sort behind there.

[87 town]

Hi,

First off, thank you all for all the help you have given me so far. I have come across two more questionable things that maybe you all can help me with.

1. The front seat belts do not automatically retract back into the housing. Any way to "renew" the system so they go back in? (Any belt cleaning tips too?)

2. The car has started making (or I just started noticing) a strange sound. The car makes a noise like air hissing out of a tire, the sound originates from behind the dash (at least seems to), and the sound goes away whenever the gas pedal is pushed. Any idea what this is and should I be worried?

Thanks!

i agree with cason 1 on the seatbelt. maybe pull out all the way and make sure it feeds back in straight....
not sure about the hissing sound?

[joedogg]

i agree with cason 1 on the seatbelt. maybe pull out all the way and make sure it feeds back in straight....
not sure about the hissing sound?
Definately a behind the dash vacuum leak. Might be where the E-Brake auto release is.

[nailfoot]

Definately a behind the dash vacuum leak. Might be where the E-Brake auto release is.


That is about a 99% probability. When you depress the gas, the sound goes away slightly. My 89 did this too.

On my 89, the sound would decrease or completely cease when I switched into Park.

[TheAudioGuru]

dido with the hissing. Mine does this in D, switch it to OD and it goes away.

[CheeseSteakJim]

Does the seatbelt eventually go back in if you tug it and let go a few times? I've seen way too many that act like that... I think it's because the assemblies are wearing out or something. Neither of mine retract very well, the worse one being the one with low miles on it. I don't understand it. Some day I'll tear it down and look at the assemblies to see if there's anything I can do about it.

[87 town]

Does the seatbelt eventually go back in if you tug it and let go a few times? I've seen way too many that act like that... I think it's because the assemblies are wearing out or something. Neither of mine retract very well, the worse one being the one with low miles on it. I don't understand it. Some day I'll tear it down and look at the assemblies to see if there's anything I can do about it.

i have found that dampness and very cold weather effects mine and slows it down and it sticks more. i bet if you got in there and got some oil/lube on the mechanism it may give it new life...

[cason1]

i have found that dampness and very cold weather effects mine and slows it down and it sticks more. i bet if you got in there and got some oil/lube on the mechanism it may give it new life...

Just be careful about what you put around that seat belt. Don't want something that could break down the material and you not know it until it is needed. Then it's too late.

[joedogg]

Just be careful about what you put around that seat belt. Don't want something that could break down the material and you not know it until it is needed. Then it's too late.

Those things are pretty friggin tough. I dont think normal greases that would be used for this purpose could really do that, at least not in the amount that it'll get hit with.

[Elemino]

Is this your first old Ford vehicle? Does the seatbelt go back in automatically when you open the door? If so, that's how the seat is supposed to work. When you open the door you'll notice this little black button that doesn't seem to do anything near the latch. That's the seatbelt release. They're designed to hold their position once you've been in the car for a little while and then retract when you open the door.

[joedogg]

Anyone else notice that the seatbelt won't retract without hanging like a limp noodle, unless its adjusted to the size of a very very small person. That and the no cup holder are my biggest WTF factors in this car.

[Elemino]

Seatbelts have never been an issue for me.. but I think Lincoln just discovered cup holders about two years ago.

[nailfoot]

Anyone else notice that the seatbelt won't retract without hanging like a limp noodle, unless its adjusted to the size of a very very small person. That and the no cup holder are my biggest WTF factors in this car.


The seatbelt is designed to hang loosely. According to the Owner's Manual, it hangs loosey as a comfort device. Personally, I prefer to feel the belt, and I always gave my 1989's belt a little tug so it would tighten up.

[Elemino]

The seatbelt is designed to hang loosely. According to the Owner's Manual, it hangs loosey as a comfort device. Personally, I prefer to feel the belt, and I always gave my 1989's belt a little tug so it would tighten up.Yea, me too.

[Micetic]

I took of the panel and the belts are not twisted. When I manually feed the belt it retracts, so I think I just need to refresh the system.

Also, any easy way to fix the vacuum leak?

[nailfoot]

I took of the panel and the belts are not twisted. When I manually feed the belt it retracts, so I think I just need to refresh the system.

Also, any easy way to fix the vacuum leak?


Replace the piece on the column. It is a half-moon shaped thing, down on the lower part of the column. I believe you have to remove the shin panel.

[joedogg]

The seatbelt is designed to hang loosely. According to the Owner's Manual, it hangs loosey as a comfort device. Personally, I prefer to feel the belt, and I always gave my 1989's belt a little tug so it would tighten up.
No I can live with that. What I mean is that the seatbelt dosen't retract at all from below. The top retracts until it hits the buckle and thats as far as it can go, as it cannot really swallow up the buckle. The bottom part of the belt just hangs there looking bad. It behaves fine when I'm buckled in it though.

[Elemino]

No I can live with that. What I mean is that the seatbelt dosen't retract at all from below. The top retracts until it hits the buckle and thats as far as it can go, as it cannot really swallow up the buckle. The bottom part of the belt just hangs there looking bad. It behaves fine when I'm buckled in it though.Oh I see. Do the new Lincolns have that? I'm pretty sure my Dad's 2000 Vic doesn't. They have a new type of seatbelt that is more easily adjusted and the seatbelt can slide right through it.

[joedogg]

I highly doubt it even made it through the 90's like this. Someone must have noticed this. Maybe I should take a picture to clarify exactly what I mean. Its not really a problem, its just like really shabby looking. Its the same thing with no cup holder. Other than that this is a very sharp looking luxurious ride.

[Duck]

Yes, I know exactly what you mean!! The belts on my 84 just hang loose, unless you move the buckle down. The only way to make it look right is to slide the buckle down when you take the seat belt off and slide it back up the next time you buckle it. Major pain in the rump!!!!!

[joedogg]

Yeah man! Unless you're pencil thin!

[gadget73]

Also, any easy way to fix the vacuum leak?

Disconnect and plug the black hose on the brake release valve. Under the dash on the driver's side, look at the steering column right up against the firewall. There is a white half-moon looking thing with two hoses on it. Thats the valve in question. You can also replace this, but if you don't use it I wouldn't worry about it. it is designed to pop the parking brake when you shift into gear.

[Elemino]

So I drove my dad's 2000 Crown Vic and it confirmed what I thought before about the seatbelts. The lap side is bolted to the floor of the car, there's no retractor on that side. The reason the seatbelts don't hang like they do in our cars is because every car maker started using a different type of seatbelt (probably to stay in line with new seatbelt laws that say they must work with a child seat) which doesn't have that adjustment deal ours has in the buckle part. Since the new seat belts more or less just lay on the seat belt and slide freely, when you get out of the car and the seat belt retracts theres nothing to stop it from going back in all the way.

[Mr Wiggl3s]

Definately a behind the dash vacuum leak. Might be where the E-Brake auto release is.

Yup, thats what it is. You can get that fixed for free at most mom-n-pop auto places if you get some other business.