Clunk, But No Click.

[Khandro]

My daughter has just phoned me from far away. She has recently bought a used Honda Civic, she is delighted with the car but says that both front seat belts have stopped engaging. I have said that the chances of both belts ceasing to engage at the same time due to to something mechanical in the buckles would be a million to one, so the fault, being common both must be related, and probably something electrical to do with a safety feature.
Has anybody any ideas what might be the cause please?

[CoffeeLounge]

I have a Honda Accord aprox 10 years old and if you pull the front passenger seat belts they do not lock or stop. But if you brake suddenly you can feel the belts lock so that they restrain you.
The belts in the back (all three belts are the across the shoulder type) lock in place as you buckle them and it is difficult to move in them I gues this is a safety feature probably designed for children.
The seat belts operation is part of the MOT test I believe I know they test the buckles and also if the belt coils up again

[RATTER15]

Do you mean the buckle is not locking the belt into place or the belt is running in and out freely? if the latter it could just be the angle the car is parked, if on a steep angle it may not lock until you move the car off, if it is the buckle device, I dont think they are fitted with anything electrical that could prevent from operating effectively.

[Zacs-Master]

Outside chance but they may have a 'pre tensioner' facility which works as fast as the airbags in a crash to hold you in place. Could be that this has inadvertently activated. I'd phone a Honda dealers first thing tomorrow.

[Khandro]

Ratter; In plumbers terminology, the 'male' part doesn't click into position in the 'female' buckle. It's strange that it should happen to both belts at once.
Zacs; The garage she bought it from is going to look at it for her tomorrow, but it means a 20 mile drive without a functioning belt.

[Zacs-Master]

Then I wouldn't do it! I'd make them come with a tow truck / flat bed.

[razza]

Is she putting them in the correct one,my rear seat belts do not click in if in wrong one.Front seats are too far apart for this to happen.

[Khandro]

razza; It wouldn't be plausible to get the belts overlapped in the front, but it might be possible, the car being unfamiliar, she has somehow got the buckles reversed and they are not of the same pattern. I'll mention that to her, thanks.

[TWR]

If she get's stopped by the police Khandro, she will be booked if seen by the poice, as said, ask them to come to you.