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Recall - Seat Belt Retractor Sensor Replacement: Overview

00-078

October 17, 2000

Applies To:
2000 S2000 - ALL

Safety Recall: S2000 Seat Belt Retractors

BACKGROUND

Under certain conditions, the seat belt retractor actuator can deform and cause complete or frequent locking of the retractor. As a result, the seat belt cannot be used.

CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION

All owners of affected vehicles will be notified of this recall. An example of the customer notification is at the end of this service bulletin.

Some of the affected vehicles are still in dealer inventory. According to Federal law, any new or used vehicle that is subject to a recall cannot be sold or leased until it is repaired.

CORRECTIVE ACTION

Replace the sensors in both seat belt retractors.

PARTS INFORMATION

Seat Belt Sensor Kit: P/N 04814-52A-305, H/C 6646137

WARRANTY CLAIM INFORMATION

Operation Number: 854103
Flat Rate Time: 2.4 hours
Failed Part: P/N 04818-S2A-A01ZA
H/C 6231393
Defect Code: 746
Contention Code: L04
Template ID: 00-078A
Skill Level: Repair Technician

REPAIR PROCEDURE

1. Open the seat belt sensor kit. Use a marker to mark all four plastic pieces (pink, orange, light blue, dark blue) for later identification.

2. Open the roof.

3. Remove both seats. Remove the door sill trim, the rear side trim, and the roll bar lower trim. (Refer to pages 20-48 and 20-49 of the service manual.)

4. Close the roof.

5. Open the trunk. Remove the spare tire cover and the spare tire.

6. Unclip the rear tray rear trim and the rear tray. Remove them through the trunk (see page 20-50).

7. Remove the rear console back board (see page 20-56).

8. Open the roof.

9. Carefully pry up the center console (see page 20-55). Remove the rear console (see page 20-56), and the rear console box (see page 20-57).

10. Close the roof.

11. Remove the roll bars (see page 20-51).

12. Remove both seat belt retractor assemblies.





13. Set the retractor assembly on a level surface with the spring (silver) side down. Slowly pull the belt out of the retractor until it is fully extended.





14. Hold the reel, then turn the retractor assembly over. Insert the spring stop in the hole in the spring assembly to keep the belt from retracting. It may be necessary to let the belt retract slightly to get the spring stop to fit into the hole.





15. Turn the retractor assembly over, and use the small end of the pin punch from the kit to drive the three pins out of the retainer. Make sure the pins do not fall inside the retractor mechanism. Discard the pins.





16. Use a small screwdriver to pry the retainer off the seat belt retractor assembly. Pry carefully along the edges. Do not stick the screwdriver too far under the retainer; you could damage the retractor mechanism. Discard the retainer.





17. Driver's side only: If the retainer you removed is green, install the red cap from the kit on the retractor reel shaft. If the removed retainer is pink, do not install the cap.





18. Remove the sensor from the retractor assembly with your fingers. Discard the sensor.

19. Install the new sensor. Make sure it is fully seated in the retractor assembly.

20. Install the new retainer on the retractor assembly. Make sure it snaps into position and is fully seated on the retractor assembly.





21. Use the large end of the supplied pin punch to drive the three pins into the retainer. Make sure they are driven in straight and are flush with the surface of the retainer.

22. Hold the belt, then remove the spring stop. Allow the belt to slowly retract. Set the belt on a level surface as you did in step 13, and make sure the belt pulls out and retracts smoothly.

23. Passenger's side only: Pull the belt out until it is fully extended. Let it retract slowly. You should hear a clicking sound that means the child seat locking mechanism is working.

NOTE:
You may have to fully extend, then retract the belt two or three times to get the child seat locking mechanism to work properly.

24. Repeat steps 13 thru 23 on the other seat belt retractor assembly.

25. Install the seat belt assemblies in the car. Refer to page 23-6 of the service manual for the proper configuration of washers and collars on the anchor bolts. Torque the anchor bolts and retractor mounting bolts to 32 N.m (24 lb-ft). Torque the retractor mounting screw to 9.8 N.m (7.2 lb-ft).

26. Reinstall all removed parts.





27. Center-punch a completion mark above the fourth character (A) of the engine compartment VIN.





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