Flipping my seat belt buckle... Possible MOT failure?

[Hates_]

I can only get my seatbelt buckle to fit between my new seat rail and centre console by flipping it around. Would this cause any issues come MOT time?

As you can see the release is on the inside facing the seat, as opposed to outside. Ignore the bunching of the harness as I've moved it all around since taking the photo.

[mik]

No idea, but if you message @yetiayrshore on twatter (real name Gordon) he’ll almost certainly answer.

I can “message for a friend” if you’d rather the question wasn’t too public?

[DeskJockey]

Purely speculation, but: having it that way will make it more difficult to undo, especially in an emergency. I would have thought it would be a fail for that reason.

[Beany]

As far as i can tell, unless it affects the actual operation of the seat belt - IE could you put your Aunt Nora in there and would she have trouble buckling up and subsequently unbuckling? - then you're fine.

Just rotating it 180deg shouldn't make any different as long as it doesn't stop the seat belt from being used.

https://www.motester.co.uk/mot-test-of-seat-belts/

[Zonda_]

Not entirely clear on your configuration but when I had the Golf all normal Seat belts were removed and the harnesses passed fine.

[integrale_evo]

As long as it sill works as intended it will pass.

[Sundayjumper]

I’m thinking the same as deskjockey. It’s going to make it harder to release.

MOT testers are inconsistent at the best of times, so this doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll fail !

And @Zonda_ - if they were a push-button release than that’s OK. Aircraft or NASCAR buckles *shouldn’t* pass. See above re: consistency…..


Re: the push button rather than twist, that’s why this style of harness is available:

15738CE3-D5CA-4B9F-AA7E-8C551698635F.jpeg (53.05 KiB) Viewed 2071 times

[duncs500]

The Caterham had the red rotating harness buckle, never had an issue at MOT. Technically failed on emissions every time but TADTS.

[duncs500]

@Hates_ assumed you'd be going straight to harnesses when you got the Tilletts TBH.

[integrale_evo]

Being a bit more awkward doesn’t come into it.

If it plugs in and is secure and releases when the button is pressed it should pass regardless of having to twist your hand a bit to press it.

It’s a safety test not a user friendliness test. But then a lot of people who do then can be a bit jobsworth

[Sundayjumper]

I've not found the wording for types of buckle yet but I just came across this, which should definitely be a fail on the Compact as I ditched the pre-tensioners when I fitted the side mounts & buckets.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mot-inspect ... -equipment

7.1.4. Seat belt pre-tensioners
You must check all seat belt pre-tensioners fitted as original equipment other than on Class 3 vehicles.

Seat belt pre-tensioners activate in certain violent collisions to tighten the seat belt just before the full force of impact. Once activated, a warning device might display.

Defect Category
(a) A seat belt pre-tensioner fitted as original equipment obviously missing or deployed Major

[Sundayjumper]

God, this is a rabbit hole of internet forum regurgitated "truths" Mostly drift forums

In the MOT manual, 7.1.2.c refers to "incorrect type" being a fail without going into detail of what "correct" might be. As per the car's type approval ? Complying with C&U regs ? BS approval ? A N Other ?

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mot-inspect ... tion-7-1-1

7.1.2. Seat belt fitment and condition
...
Fitment
...
Defect Category
(a) A statutory seat belt missing Major
(b) A seat belt:
(i) or flexible stalk damaged Major
(ii) webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened Dangerous

(c) Seat belt not functioning as intended or of an incorrect type Major

(d) Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended Major
(e) Seat belt retractor not functioning as intended Major

[Sundayjumper]

Interesting - *all* belts must meet standards (my emphasis added below). So having the original 3-point plus an unapproved harness should be a fail, keeping the original(s) doesn't exempt the additional one(s).

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... e-vehicles

Seat belt standards
In general, if a vehicle is required to have a seat belt, then all seat belts which are fitted must meet either the British or European Standards, or equivalents, set out in Regulation 47 of The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986. They must be approved for use in the relevant type of vehicle and must display an approval mark - this will normally be an ‘e’ or ‘E’ followed by a number, or a BS ‘kitemark’.

[DeskJockey]

That makes sense. No shortcut to using potentially unsafe belts while leaving the originals in place.

Edit: in theory. Depends on the tester obviously.

[JonMad]

I doubt the tester would notice the buckle is on backwards if they can operate it easily during the test.
Can you remove the seatbelts and just keep the harnesses in? I have had no issues with just harnesses, and with a twist release, not a button, but it needs the whole car to look 'competition' I think,

[Sundayjumper]

Edit: in theory. Depends on the tester obviously.

Indeed. If only everything was written down somewhere, eh ? Then all the testers would be able to refer to it and be consistent about things.

[DeskJockey]

Edit: in theory. Depends on the tester obviously.

Indeed. If only everything was written down somewhere, eh ? Then all the testers would be able to refer to it and be consistent about things.

Indeed. Just a shame that people do the doing.

[Sundayjumper]

People.

People are always the problem.

[V8Granite]

My MK1 Golf harnesses with a twist buckle failed the MOT.

Dave!

[davecG60]

Take it to the garage that does your MOT testing duties. Ask them if it would pass. If it's a no then rectify, if yes then whoopy dooooooooooooo ?

Failing that ask on Facebook as that is where all the worlds intelligent folk lurk