Soggy seat belt.

[sduffin]

Hello all,

This is my first use of the forum so apologies if I make a mistake. I've just acquired a 1988 XJS 3.6 to replace a '77 Alfa Spider that wouldn't accomodate both wife and baby daughter. The XJS should be a dry weekend car only but it's been drummed into full service this week as my daily driver (a Citroen XM - does anyone else appreciate XJSs and XMs, I wonder) has broken down. That has meant 2 days' exposure to strong winds and rain. All appears dry inside until I draw the driver's seat belt out to put it on and discover that the portion of belt that is hidden when retracted (behind the trim panel in the rear) is completely sodden.

There's no water in the rear footwells and everywhere else seems dry too. I can't see evidence of water coming in from around the rear side screen and dripping on to the belt and can't understand why if the belt's as wet as it is why water isn't gushing into the car from behind the trim panel.

Before I start taking the rear trim out has anyone suffered this type of leak before and can they share any ideas on cause and fix?

Other than that, I'm enjoying my first Jaguar and even my 2.5 year old daughter says "daddy's fancy car!".

Thanks in advance,

Simon

[jthorne]

Hi, welcome to the forum and congrats on your very sensible purchase!


I may be wrong, but in my '93 car the spring on the seatbelt retract is weak so it's all to easy to leave your belt hanging outside the door without realising....

[sduffin]

Hello to first respondant (you can see this is all new to me).

Thanks for your comment but it's definitely not caused by that. Any more ideas, anyone?

Regards,

Simon

[petticd]

Yes I had exactly this problem on my 1990 XJS. The problem was found to be water entering the car through a rust hole under the rubber seal around the rear side window.

[Brakebuster]

the seatbelt retractor is located behind the side trim , its quite low down and mounted in a box section directly under the side glass, this section sits directly over the sill and if water gets in it wont necessarily get onto the inner floor, so you wont find out about it

it sounds like the above advice, and there is a hole under the rubber for the side window, this happens because the chrome trim is riveted to the body under the rubber, this traps water and rots out, there are about four or five rivets under there and any of them could be letting in the water,

its a case of taking out the glass and seal and effect a repair to the area , the picture below shows the left side rear side window aperture with the glass chrome trim and rubbers removed showing the holes that can appear, i have enlarged and cleaned the area prior to welding in new metal
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/galler ... edium_.JPG

and thats the same area once i had finished repairing it
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/galler ... edium_.JPG

all finished ready for painting
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/galler ... edium_.JPG

hope this helps

BB