Body/Trim: Drivers seat belt rattle

[Arianne]

My XC90 goes in on 10th May for the fourth time as the dealer attempts to resolve the rattle to the driver's seat belt. I hope that this thread may help some other desperate souls who've had enough of being accompanied by a rattly friend in their right ear!

Symptom
A rattle / knocking noise caused when you make the slightest movement to the belt. Most clearly heard when the car is stationary at traffic lights or at low speed (below 30mph) when the ambient road noise does not drown the seat belt rattle out. Appears to come from the B-pillar where the belt dissapears into the interior trim.

Cause
We think that it is caused by a loosely fitting roller around which the belt winds. The spindle seems to move left & right whenever the belt is pulled or released and knocks against the hinges with which it's held in place. The roller is positioned high up on the B-pillar and so the noise is very close to the driver's ear. Other car I've had place the roller at floor level but not the XC90 because of the passive airbag safety system etc.

Inspection
The vertical B-pillar interior trim, for the most part, pops out. The plastic popper pins are needed for the replacement fitting so be gentle and keep them safe. At the top of the B-pillar there are two metal fixings hidden under the rubber door surround (driver and rear doors) where they meet the top of the B-pillar. Tease the rubber strips off at the top corners and then ease the metal clips off of the bodywork. You can now gain easy access to the seat belt roller etc.

Solution
Hmm. More difficult this one. Other web sites have suggested lubrication - even baby powder. I don't think any of this will work. I think replacement is the only option and a hope that the problem will not return over time with wear. Since only a few XC90 owners have mentioned this problem I'm hoping that my dealer's replacement seat belt system will result in a long-term fix.

All the best and I hope this helps.

Any comments from other affected owners will be appreciated.

Arianne.

[GSMGuy]

I noticed this within 10 mins of picking our XC90 up - and boy is it irritating, even with the music on, I seem to think it's the actual webbing where it passes out through the plastic trim? But you are right about the slightest movement!

Mike

[Multiplex]

Do not under any circumstances use any form of lubrication on the seat belts.

The noise you are hearing is caused by the trim panels where the seat belt passes through into the B post.

Some drivers will never notice this due to different heights/seat positions and this makes it difficult for the technician to diagnose as they will use a different seat position/height to the driver.

There are modified panels available to prevent the noise, speak to your local Volvo dealer.

[GSMGuy]

Originally Posted by Multiplex

Do not under any circumstances use any form of lubrication on the seat belts.

The noise you are hearing is caused by the trim panels where the seat belt passes through into the B post.

Some drivers will never notice this due to different heights/seat positions and this makes it difficult for the technician to diagnose as they will use a different seat position/height to the driver.

There are modified panels available to prevent the noise, speak to your local Volvo dealer.

Surely the belt rubbing on the panel is a safety issue?? ie potential wear/fraying to the belt?

Mike