www.jec.org.uk

My passenger seat-belt is acting up a bit: it pulls out ok and settles back to a comfortable tension but over the course of a journey, not necessarily a very long one, it will gradually tighten but not release as it should. Result - the gradual strangulation of my wife. Any ideas? Other than getting a new wife?!

Since it's a prime safety issue, don't delay before getting a Jaguar dealer or specialist to resolve the issue. After an accident would be too late! Mike.

It sounds likely that your problem is associated with the electrical seat belt comfort system. Jaguar describe it as:

''The electrical comfort system reduces the force exerted on the occupant by the seat belt webbing under normal driving conditions. It utilizes a mechanism in the seat belt retractor to keep the seat belt webbing force at a controlled and pre-defined level. The seat belt on initial extraction of the seat belt webbing, is controlled by the retraction spring. Whenever the seat belt tongue is installed to the seat belt buckle, with the ignition on, the comfort solenoid actuates the comfort switch causing the comfort spring to lower the force exerted on the occupant. During the period that the seat belt tongue remains installed, the comfort system is in operation, reducing the force exerted on the occupant by the seat belt webbing. When the seat belt tongue is removed from the seat belt buckle, the comfort solenoid disengages the comfort spring, re-engages the retraction spring and causes the force on the seat belt webbing to immediately revert to the higher retraction load.

The seat belt retractors and the electrical comfort system, are supplied as an assembly and are not serviceable components.''

As the driver's system is OK, that rules out any appropriate fuses as they're shared between seats. The only possible area that might be identifiable to yourself is the wiring harness under the seat. This can get chafed or caught up so is worth examining. Otherwise, it looks like a new seat belt buckle and/or seatbelt and retractor will be needed.

Thanks, chaps, and apologies for not noticing that you'd replied. I've started using Prestige Jaguar in Airdrie so I'll get them to look at it for me.