It's real bad on my 00 hatch, to the point where unless you're like directly feeding it it will just stay there and not retract, or retract VERY slowly. I want to make it normal, on my mom's Lexus it retracts very quickly and nicely (06 IS250). I want it to be like that.

Before I pull everything apart and try to figure it out, does anyone who has done this before want to point me in the right direction? Is it matter of buying a new mechanism (from a newer car maybe that will retract quickly and just bolt it in)? Or can you just adjust something, to buy just a new spring or something for it?

Thanks.

 

First take a paper shop towel (like the box 'o' shop rags) and get one soaked with rubbing alcohol. Run it in the plastic loop that the belt goes through up on the B pillar Make sure that you clean that plastic (where is touches the belt material) really well. Let it dry and test it out. If it retracts faster then you're golden. If it doesn't retract faster, take it to the nearest Honda Dealer. Honda has a lifetime warranty relating the the seatbelts and their performance. It will be free of charge for them to replace the seatbelt units. Don't let them tell you otherwise. It's stated in the back of every Honda owner manual.

 

This is common. ^ Do that. Then:

You can take it back to Honda for a free replacement, IIRC. My friend worked at Honda and he told me this. The restraint system is lifetime warranteed.