Retractor TENSIONER

Seat belt retractor tensioners supplement the dual front and side curtain airbag system for all versions of this vehicle. These tensioners are integral to the front seat belt and retractor units (1), which are secured to the B-pillars on the right and left sides of the vehicle. The retractors are concealed beneath the molded plastic B-pillar trim. The seat belt tensioner consists primarily of a molded plastic tensioner housing (2), a tubular metal piston housing (3), a piston, a short rack gear, a set of pinion gears, a pyrotechnically activated gas generator (5), and a short pigtail wire (4).

All of these components are located on one side of the retractor spool on the outside of the retractor housing. The seat belt tensioners are controlled by the Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) and are connected to the vehicle electrical system through dedicated take outs of the body wire harness by keyed and latching molded plastic connector insulators to ensure a secure connection.

The retractor tensioners cannot be repaired and, if ineffective or damaged, the entire front seat belt and retractor unit must be replaced. The retractor tensioners are not intended for reuse and must be replaced following any front airbag deployment. A locked retractor that will not allow the seat belt webbing to be retracted or extracted is a sure indication that the seat belt tensioner has been deployed and requires replacement. Refer to RETRACTOR, Seat Belt, Removal .