If you're looking to buckle up the passenger for a trail ride plus realize your jeep tj rear seat belt female receiver is jammed or missing, you know exactly how irritating that can become. It's one of those small components which you don't think about till it stops functioning, and suddenly, your four-seater Jeep is definitely effectively a two-seater. Whether the inner spring has snapped or it's just seen too several muddy days with the top away from, getting that buckle back in working order is really a priority for anyone who in fact uses their back bench.
Why These Buckles Constantly Seem to Fall short
The Jeep TJ was created from 1997 to 2006, which means even the "newest" models are getting upward there in age group. When you mix nearly two years of use with the fact that Jeeps are usually exposed to the elements, it's no wonder the particular rear seat belt female ends start to act up.
Many of the period, the issue is usually environmental. Think regarding it—the rear seat is a catch-all for everything. If you run doorless or even topless, rain, dust, and sand find their way into the mechanism. Over time, that grit mixes with all the factory lube and creates the sticky mess that will prevents the latch from clicking straight into place. Other times, it's just a matter of physics. When you've ever tumbled your rear seat forward to create room for gear, it's incredibly simple for the female buckle to get pinched in the joint or crushed beneath the seat frame.
Identifying the Yr Split
Prior to you go out and buy a replacement, you've obtained to know which usually version you have got. Jeep changed the few things during the TJ's ten-year run. Generally, the 1997-2002 models have a slightly different set up than the 2003-2006 versions.
In the last TJs, the rear seat devices were often a bit more "old school" in their mounting. By the time 2003 rolled around, Jeep up-to-date the interior, the seats, and the particular mounting points to meet newer security standards. This incorporated changes to the LATCH system intended for child seats. In case you buy a jeep tj rear seat belt female from the 1998 model plus try to bolt it into a 2005, you may find that the particular bolt hole dimension or maybe the buckle form doesn't quite range up together with your males end. Always double-check your manufacture day on the door jamb before ordering parts.
Typically the "Penny in the particular Slot" Problem
Before you decide to spend money on a fresh part, do a little detective work. I can't tell you how many occasions a "broken" Jeep buckle was really simply a victim associated with a stray coin or a small pebble.
Grab a torch and peer into the slot from the female receiver. Because these buckles sit upright on the seat, they act such as little vacuum cleaners for debris. If you notice something in there, don't just shove the seat belt within harder—that'll just sand iron the debris deeper. Use a pair of slim needle-nose pliers or even a dental pick and choose to fish away whatever shouldn't end up being there. A quick blast of compacted air can also work wonders for clearing out dust that could be keeping the particular locking pawl from engaging.
Cleansing vs. Replacing
When the buckle isn't physically cracked but feels "mushy" or won't stay latched, you may be able to save it along with some cleaning. Since the jeep tj rear seat belt female is housed in a plastic material housing, you can't easily take this apart without splitting the tabs.
However, you can try some electrical contact cleaner or the dry graphite lube. Avoid using heavy oils or WD-40 in the event that you can, since those tend in order to attract even even more dust in an open-cabin vehicle. If you spray some cleaner in there and work the male end in and out several dozen times, you might feel the mechanism begin to "snap" again. If this still feels loose or falls flat to hold below a firm tug, stop right generally there. Safety isn't worthy of a twenty-dollar cost savings; it's time in order to replace it.
Sourcing an alternative Strip
Getting a separate female buckle with regard to a TJ could be surprisingly tricky. Numerous retailers want to sell you the particular entire rear seat belt kit, including the retractors that bolt to the roll bar. In the event that you merely have the floor-mounted female end, you have a few options:
- Junkyards: This is definitely the cheapest path, but be cautious. Installed want in order to take a seat belt from a vehicle that has been in a main accident. Inspect the particular webbing and the housing for any signs of stress or "stretching. "
- Aftermarket replacement Suppliers: There are several companies that focus in Jeep recovery parts. Look with regard to "direct fit" substitutes.
- Restored OEM: Some eBay sellers specialize in cleaning up original Mopar parts. This is usually the easiest method to ensure the particular color matches your own interior (Jeep used various shades associated with grey, tan, and black within the years).
The Battle with Torx Mounting bolts
If you've decided to swap the buckle out, prepare for the legendary Jeep Torx bolt battle. The rear seat belts are anchored to the particular floor pan with heavy-duty bolts, usually a T50 or T55 Torx little bit.
Because these bolts go through the floor and are subjected to the underside of the Jeep, they are well known for rusting within place. If you just grab a ratchet and pull, you're almost going to remove the head from the bolt.
Pro-Tips for Removal:
- Saturate it in PB Blaster: A day just before you intend to do the work, get under the Jeep and spray the particular threads of the particular seat belt bolts from underneath.
- How to use Influence Driver: If you have got entry to an air or electric influence, utilize it. The razor-sharp "hits" of a good impact driver are much better in breaking rust loose than a regular pull.
- Heat is your own friend: If the bolt won't budge, just a little heat from the propane torch (carefully applied away from the carpet! ) can expand the metal enough to break the connection.
Installing the newest Buckle
As soon as you've got the bolt out, the remainder is pretty straightforward. You'll slide the bolt through the eyelet of the new jeep tj rear seat belt female assembly and twine it in return into the floor.
One thing to consider is the orientation. The particular buckle should encounter toward the middle of the seat so it's easy for passengers to achieve. Some TJs have a small plastic "sleeve" or a stiffener around the female finish to continue to keep it from dropping down between the particular seat cushions. Make sure this will be positioned correctly therefore you don't possess to fish intended for the buckle every single time someone will get in the back again.
Keeping Your Belts Accessible
A common problem among TJ owners would be that the rear buckles always disappear. You fold the seat right down to haul some groceries, fold this back up, and the buckles are usually gone—swallowed by the gap between the particular seat as well as the bench.
The simple "human" fix for this is definitely to use a small piece of Velcro or even a heavy-duty plastic band to maintain the female ends upright against the seat frame. Some individuals even use a little duration of PVC pipe or perhaps a stiff fabric sleeve to generate a "stand" for the buckle. It noises a little "hacky, " however it saves the lot of digging around when you're in a be quick.
Safety and Peace of Thoughts
At the particular end of the day, the jeep tj rear seat belt female is a crucial part of safety gear. When you have passengers within the back—especially kids—you need to understand the buckle is going to keep in the occasion of an unexpected stop or, bliss forbid, a roll.
If your buckle is usually faded in the sunlight, the plastic will be brittle, or the particular "red" release key has turned the chalky pink, it's probably lost the structural integrity. Changing it isn't simply about convenience; it's about making sure your Jeep is ready for the street as well as the trail.
TJs are usually meant to be enjoyed with close friends. Getting those rear seat belts categorized out means you are able to head out in order to the mountains or even the beach without worrying about whether many people are buckled in safely. It's a relatively quick weekend project that makes the Jeep feel a whole lot more "complete. " Once you hear that strong click once again, you'll wonder the reason why you waited such a long time to fix it.