Someone might be able to help with this. I’m trying to replace the seatbelt in a 1997 Demio that had a frayed belt. I removed the belt from a donor car, which was working fine, but after I go to install the mechanism appears to have locked. I’ve removed the frayed belt and the same thing appears to have happened on that belt. It’s as if once the mechanism is no longer under tension it locks up. Is there a way to release it again so it can be installed?

 

Seatbelts are super sensitive to the angle they are at, a couple of degrees forwards/ backwards, side to side will lock or unlock the retractor mechanism.