Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
Functional Test - Automatic Locking Retractor
- Retractors
- Buckles
- Belt tension sensor (BTS) (if equipped)
- Front safety belt buckle support assemblies (slide bar) (if equipped)
- Safety belt shoulder belt height adjusters (if equipped)
- Child safety seat tether bracket assemblies
- Automatic locking retractor (ALR) feature for child safety seats (passenger seating positions only)
If any safety belt assembly is damaged, does not operate correctly or does not pass all of the Functional Tests in the Diagnosis and Testing portion of this article, a new safety belt assembly must be installed. If any safety belt assembly attaching areas are damaged or distorted, the sheet metal must be restored to its original structural integrity and new safety belt assembly and attaching hardware must be installed. Failure to install new safety belt assemblies and attaching hardware may increase the risk of serious personal injury or death in a crash.
After any crash that results in deployment of the driver and/or front outboard passenger safety belt pretensioners, new driver and/or front outboard passenger safety belt systems (including retractors, buckles and height adjusters) must be installed. Failure to install new safety belt systems increases the risk of serious personal injury or death in a crash.
- Position the seat back into the full up position.
- Position the height adjuster (if equipped) in the full down or up position.
- Latch the seat belt buckle and tongue assembly.
- Pull the shoulder belt out until the automatic locking retractor (ALR) feature is activated.
- Release the shoulder belt and allow it to retract until it stops.
- Pull on the shoulder belt to check that the belt has remained in the ALR mode. If the belt is not locked, install a new safety belt assembly.
- Unlatch the safety belt tongue from the buckle and allow the safety belt to retract to its stowed position.
- Pull the shoulder belt to verify the retractor assembly has converted automatically out of the ALR mode. If the shoulder belt remains locked in the stowed position, install a new safety belt retractor assembly.
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- • You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- • Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- • The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- • You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- • You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.