Belt-shortening clip

scatterbunny

New member
How does this work and when exactly is it needed?

We're getting a 1994 Mazda MPV (I posted about it, along with a few questions, in the Car Safety Forum) that has only a lapbelt in the middle row. It's a short, two-seater bench with headrests in both spots, but only a lapbelt on the passenger (really in the middle) side. The lapbelt male end comes out forward of the seat bight, and it retracts fully into the seat (only the metal part sticks out of the hole in the seat). I'm assuming this is one of the rare, emergency locking retractor lapbelts? If I understand seatbelts correctly, this is what calls for a belt-shortening clip, correct?

Will I be able to install our Husky in this spot?
 
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UlrikeDG

Admin - CPS Technician Emeritus
Is it an ALR or ELR (automatic locking retractor or emergency locking retractor)? That is, if you sit in the seat and buckle the belt around you, can you pull slack into the belt after it is buckled, or does it move freely in and out until/unless the vehicle stops suddenly?
 

scatterbunny

New member
I haven't been able to actually test it out; the owner is supposed to call me back tonight to see about a test drive, and I was going to try installing the Husky then, too. But because it's almost 12 years old, and because the lapbelt retracts into a "hole" in the vehicle seat, I figured they must ELR.
 

bazanna

Senior Community Member
It does sound like ELR. I have to dig out my tether manual for your other questions in the other thread. Anyway, yup, we do use belt-shortening clips in those cases and they have quite a learning curve, moreso than a regular locking clip. It can be done, though (usually LOL!). I'm out in Dayton with the nursery more often these days, I can come take a look and we can play with it if you like. I'll be out there this Saturday, even :)
 

scatterbunny

New member
Where would I get a belt-shortening clip?

I'm out in Dayton with the nursery more often these days, I can come take a look and we can play with it if you like. I'll be out there this Saturday, even

This Saturday, huh? Too cool! I'll probably be in possession of the MPV by then, and I'll have my 14yo cousin with me (she's staying with us for part of summer break) to keep Hayley corralled while we figure it out.

Can you PM me where you'll be so I can get Mapquest driving directions? :)
 

UlrikeDG

Admin - CPS Technician Emeritus
1) Ford has belt shortening clips available for free. The part number is in the CPSP list archives. If you don't have access, I can look it up later (nak).

2) Don't assume that an old vehicle that has lap-only belts has ELR. The vehicle that my dad loaned me to use while waiting for our Pilot to catch up with us is a '79-ish Buick with lap-only belts in the back seat - all ALR. I know the vehicles I rode in when I was a kid (early 80s) all had ALR lap-belts as well.
 

crunchierthanthou

New member
I checked the archives and can't find the part numbers. Help!

a quick google search yielded this-

Mfr. / Part Number for Belt-Shortening Clips (Part name used by manufacturer may be different)

Ford / F03Z-5461249-A (includes instructions for use as locking clip only; refer to vehicle manual)

GM / 94844571 (no instructions included; refer to vehicle manual)

Toyota / 73119-22010 (includes instructions for belt shortening)

Nissan / H8010-89970 (includes instructions for use as locking clip only; refer to vehicle manual)

from http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/childps/Add-On04/nissan.htm


edit:

and a different Ford one here- http://www.cpsboard.org/pdf/techreport/techreportwinter98_99.pdf (page 4)

Ford: F1VZ-6161248-A (includes instructions for belt shortening)
General Motors: 94844571
Nissan: H8010-89970
Toyota: 73119-22010 (comes with directions that do not include the loop)
 

CDNTech

Senior Community Member
I could be wrong, but a '94 seems too new to have an ELR lap belt. My bet is that it's an ALR lapbelt... my parents have one in their '01 F150.
 

An Aurora

Senior Community Member
I would not assume it's an ELR. I have one just like that in my van, and it's an ALR. ALR lap belts are actually very common in pre-2002 Ford vehicles. I know Ford isn't the only one with ALR lap belts. With a vehicle of that year, I'm willing to bet it's not ELR. Those are usually found in really old vehicles (like 1980s).
 

scatterbunny

New member
:ROTFLMAO:

It was ALR, and a total PITA because it was soooo far forward of the bight! The Husky and Regent (and probably the Frontier) and Futura work well there using LBP, but anything with a traditional belt path just sucked. Okay, most infant seat bases I tried were okay, but anything else did not work. It was very frustrating when Britax disallowed the LBP with lapbelt-only on the Husky, we couldn't use it there according to manufacturer's instructions.

My friend has an Expedition with an ALR lapbelt in the middle row, middle seat, and I haven't had issues with getting good installs with that spot, but it isn't so far forward of the bight like my old MPV.
 

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