Seatbelt removal

[smiddyboy1]

Hi All,
I'm planning to remove my Front & Rear Seatbelts, as they're light grey and the previous owner had a maintenance company so they are full of oil marks & stains on the Belts!!!
I've tried almost every product to clean them up, but without removing them I wont be happy with the results.

The questions I have is:

Do I have to disconnect the battery to do this? I've read about the SAM blowing apon reconnecting the battery and all sorts of problems associated to the battery removal.
Also what special care do I need to take working around the airbags???(depending on whether the battery is still connected).

I also plan to fit Heated seat elements but thats another story, I know it could be worthwhile doing it at the same time but the belts are letting the rest of the car down, so I'll tackle that first.

Car Details: W203 pre Facelift 2003, C220 CDI.

Thansk all for reading.

 

[television]

You have no choice but to remove the battery to do this work.

Why not get one of the dry cell burglar alarm batteries to power up with, then join the car battery up with this still connected

 

[fredfloggle]

I was led to believe that making sure that the key wasn't in the hole was important to making sure these system weren't active -

try cleaning the belts with a strong solution of normal washing powder in hot water , then towel them off , don't scrub them as this can make them go "fluffy".

 

[television]

I was led to believe that making sure that the key wasn't in the hole was important to making sure these system weren't active -

try cleaning the belts with a strong solution of normal washing powder in hot water , then towel them off , don't scrub them as this can make them go "fluffy".

The wake up system is active on most cars now, they wake up by opening a door as the car thinks its going to be driven. If I brush past my car with the key in my pocket it springs to life clicking and clonking for 10 mins, and then goes back to sleep.

Most damage is done by acing when joining up again, if there was a way to join up using a soft start, then they would not go wrong

 

[fredfloggle]

If the key is out can you not unplug the yellow "blast cap" cable to the tensioners without creating trouble ? (in the shape of an SRS lamp) - In that case the belts could be removed safely without taking the risk of giving the electrics a problem?

 

[television]

If the key is out can you not unplug the yellow "blast cap" cable to the tensioners without creating trouble ? (in the shape of an SRS lamp) - In that case the belts could be removed safely without taking the risk of giving the electrics a problem?

This is a hard one, though I would unplug the steering wheel bag and the door bags without disconnecting, the belts are a little more complicated.

If there is a fuse for the SRS system, then take that out, then all safe

 

[smiddyboy1]

Thanks for all your views, Still a tricky one!

I've had a look on the WIS about the seatbelt removal but theres no mention of disconnecting the battery at all (although maybe an MB qualified mechanic should know to do this) Whereas in other documents it goes on about "care to be taken with springs, moving parts" etc so im still not too sure.
I just wanted to do a little search around and see what the forum thought.
My seatbelt is just bolted onto the seat with a Hex key type bolt, its in the B pillar that im not too sure about. I could be a long way off but could my model not have any electric gadget fitted ot it?? or is it in someway hidden / integrated into another part / sensor. (there is connectors underneath the seat but im thinking they're for the electric adjustment).

Thanks to all

 

[television]

Thanks for all your views, Still a tricky one!

I've had a look on the WIS about the seatbelt removal but theres no mention of disconnecting the battery at all (although maybe an MB qualified mechanic should know to do this) Whereas in other documents it goes on about "care to be taken with springs, moving parts" etc so im still not too sure.
I just wanted to do a little search around and see what the forum thought.
My seatbelt is just bolted onto the seat with a Hex key type bolt, its in the B pillar that im not too sure about. I could be a long way off but could my model not have any electric gadget fitted ot it?? or is it in someway hidden / integrated into another part / sensor. (there is connectors underneath the seat but im thinking they're for the electric adjustment).

Thanks to all

First things first, I always play on the safe side when trying to give advice.
the are pretensioners on the belts, if its OK and no warning re safety, then do proceed.

The cover just prises off the B pillar and its all in the bottom.
The part on the seat does have the seatbelt recognition switch, but you should not have to touch that to change the belt. Its all on the B pillar.

Removing the SRS fuse would make it safe