I recently had some collision repairs done to my 96 Escort LX hatchback. Air bags were replaced, as well as, front body work repair.
Now, the shoulder belt does not extend from the retractor. This car has automatic seatbelts. The passenger side works fine and the lap belts are fine. It was working fine after I had the accident. After getting the car from the shop, the problem with shoulder belt appeared.

Do the retractors tend to break on these cars? Any good junkyards out there have good Ford parts?
thanks.

 

Alan, I'd think if you talked to your insurance, and told them that the seatbelt didn't work after getting it back from the repair shop, that they would belive it was over looked and would have you return it to them to get replace under your insurance.

 

I fixed it! There was a penny stuck in there. The belt had rolled up with the coin creating a bump. That's why it was stuck. I have owned the car for only a couple of months and I have never released the shoulder belt from the fastener near the window. When the mechanic released the belt, it rolled up creating the locked up belt.
I found a dime on the passenger side retractor. The openings on the parking brake console where the belts fit through allow coins and such to fall in there easily.

thanks,

 

Sounds like the fix paid for itself