2000 Jeep Cherokee - weird seatbelt!

macasa

New member
My husband wants to get a Jeep Cherokee around 2000 model year. We looked at one yesterday and I am totally confused about the seatbelts. It had the lightweight locking latch plates which I have seen in other Jeeps. No problem. However, the seatbelt did NOT ratchet back when pulled out all the way to activate the automatic locking retractor. It also did not lock when I jerked on it quickly, no matter which angle or strength I did it. What the heck? How do I get the shoulder belt to lock?
 
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katymyers

Active member
My husband wants to get a Jeep Cherokee around 2000 model year. We looked at one yesterday and I am totally confused about the seatbelts. It had the lightweight locking latch plates which I have seen in other Jeeps. No problem. However, the seatbelt did NOT ratchet back when pulled out all the way to activate the automatic locking retractor. It also did not lock when I jerked on it quickly, no matter which angle or strength I did it. What the heck? How do I get the shoulder belt to lock?



It wouldn't have switchable retractors, you rely on the locking latch plates. It's perfectly safe and in my opinion, it's much easier to install most car seats with locking latch plates rather than switchable retractors.


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macasa

New member
It wouldn't have switchable retractors, you rely on the locking latch plates. It's perfectly safe and in my opinion, it's much easier to install most car seats with locking latch plates rather than switchable retractors.


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I agree! the lightweight locking latch plates are good for installing seats. I'm trying to understand the seatbelt retractors, though. So, when does the shoulder belt lock? Because when I jerk on the shoulder belt of other vehicles, like in my Honda Accord, it is very sensitive and will lock with the lightest jerk on the shoulder belt. The Jeep's shoulder belt didn't lock at all, on any of the seating positions. How do I know it will lock in a crash?

For installing car seats this doesn't matter, but for passengers and kids in boosters, I definitely want to know that the shoulder belt locks properly.
 

katymyers

Active member
I agree! the lightweight locking latch plates are good for installing seats. I'm trying to understand the seatbelt retractors, though. So, when does the shoulder belt lock? Because when I jerk on the shoulder belt of other vehicles, like in my Honda Accord, it is very sensitive and will lock with the lightest jerk on the shoulder belt. The Jeep's shoulder belt didn't lock at all, on any of the seating positions. How do I know it will lock in a crash?



For installing car seats this doesn't matter, but for passengers and kids in boosters, I definitely want to know that the shoulder belt locks properly.



You should be able to take it to a dealership to see if the ELR is functioning properly. I have the same type of belts in my Dodge Grand Caravan (I think they were pretty much standard on Chrysler Corp vehicles for many years) and I've never been able to engage the ELR by jerking on the belts but the dealership says they are in perfect working order and I know my drivers seat belt has engaged a couple of times when I've had to brake hard due to being cut off while driving.


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MelodyoftheForest

Active member
I read somewhere recently that Caravans are one vehicle that locks the seatbelts based on the movement of something like a pendulum that moves when the vehicle stops quickly, not when the belts are pulled quickly out of the retractor. Maybe the Jeeps are the same way. You would have to stop quickly during a test drive to test it yourself.


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macasa

New member
It's probably the same thing. I don't like it because it makes it hard to trust that it's working. Not something you're going to test all the time, you know? I wonder if the seatbelts can just be replaced with "normal" ones.

I read somewhere recently that Caravans are one vehicle that locks the seatbelts based on the movement of something like a pendulum that moves when the vehicle stops quickly, not when the belts are pulled quickly out of the retractor. Maybe the Jeeps are the same way. You would have to stop quickly during a test drive to test it yourself.


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shellebelle

Senior Community Member
Not sure if it helps any, but I was in an '03 Dodge Stratus that was rear ended and my belt DID lock when we were shoved into a truck (kept me from getting hurt worse too). My belt had a LWLL, and the seat belt design may be the one the OP is experiencing.
 

ketchupqueen

CPST and ketchup snob
Staff member
Unless there's reason to think the belt assembly or retractor is damaged I'd not worry. Not all belts can be "tested" like that, even switchable belts, and a thorough inspection would catch a broken retractor mechanism.
 

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