Help! - Cant Pull Out My Seatbelt!

[joko]

went to use my car, and the seatbelt would not extend properly - because theres a little plastic stud - thats supposed' to stop the metal clasp from falling down to the bottom of the chair etc, and that is now inexplicably and bizarrely, above the metal clasp! ...
and i absolutely cannot get it back above it!
i sat there for about 30 mins, tugging, twisting, angling etc etc -and nohing!
i even managed to flip the fabric around after much fiddling and forcing it, because the back of the stud seemed a tiny bit smaller than the front - didnt help at all - not even a bit.
the stud will absolutely not go through the slit.

how on earth has this happened?? :o i am astonished.
im quite strong and i pulled and pulled and it wouldnt even budge - the stud is simply too big, and the slit is too thin.

what can i do? i cannot wear the seatbelt at all.

i had to drive to the my doctors to collect my urgent pain relief, and fortunately the route is very simple and quiet, but i still felt 'wrong' and 'unsafe' etc and i really dont want to do it again! obviously!

im thinking i could just sand/slice off some or all of this stud - its only function seems to be to hold the metal part at a height easy to grab, and i can always put another one there -
but im just mystified how it got that way!

anyone know of a trick, a manouvre or something in order to get it back through perhaps?

thanks :)

Its a renault laguna

[Old_Geezer]

Without being there trying things, difficult to say. My suggestion is to pop into the garage and see if they can fix it.

[tonyav]

Looks like the plastic stud ( stopper ) splits in two. Try splitting it and then get the belt back into position and replace the stud.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-Stopper-for-Seat-Belt-Plastic-Universal-Black-Button-443857847B-New/183624669720?hash=item2ac0e21a18:g:gnwAAOSwA4dWHfPw:rk:6:pf:0

[Sam1960]

would spinning the bit of the seatbelt which is attached to the car on your shoulder side 360 degrees (either direction) make any difference ??

[tonyav]

[joko]

ah yes Tonyav - thats the same item, i'll try and prise it apart tomorrow- thanks!

thanks all

[joko]

still doesnt explain how it got like that in the first place though! :D
genuine mystery

[bhg481]

Bearing in mind that you could be booked until it's fixed, rather than wait for Ebay I'd pop into your local Renault dealer. I suspect they'll do it free; my Volvo dealer did several years ago and it was my fault.

[joko]

ive pulled it off. unfortunately part of it pinged off and i dont know where it went - it is grey and the exact same colour as the carpet and seats lol, i will look again in daylight, though i used the car fine without it, it makes no difference really so probably just leave it

[bhg481]

Even if you find it it's unlikely it will go back together (mine wouldn't). So long as you can wear the seatbelt you're legal but I'd still go to a dealer when you're passing and see what they say. I got fed up with fiddling to find the buckle on mine as the stud kept it high up and easy to find.