F 350 4WD Pickup V8-7.3L DSL Turbo VIN F (1994)
Seat Belt Retractor: Testing and Inspection
Continuous-Loop Shoulder/Lap Safety Belt Test
WARNING: IF THE RETRACTOR OF A NEW SAFETY BELT ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN BOLTED INTO A DAMAGED OR DISTORTED
MOUNTING AREA, THE NEW RETRACTOR COULD BE WARPED AND MAY NOT FUNCTION. IF THIS IS THE CASE, REWORK
THE SHEET METAL BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL SHAPE AND STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY, AND INSTALL ANOTHER NEW
COMPLETE SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY.
1. Driver will buckle up and proceed to a safe test area. If one of the passenger safety belts must be tested, a passenger should be buckled into the
appropriate seat. The passenger front safety belt may be tested using a driver only, providing the driver has the ability to grasp the right front
safety belt and extend it approximately 660.4 mm (26 inches) with no compromise to safe driving. This method applies to the 8 km/h (5 mph) test
only.
2. After reaching a safe area to perform sudden stops, the driver will attain a speed of approximately 8 km/h (5 mph). The driver should inform the
passenger, if applicable, that he is preparing to make a severe brake application. At this time, both driver and rider should grasp the shoulder belt
portion of their respective front safety belts and prepare to lean slightly forward at the moment the brake application is made.
WARNING: THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SHOULD BE PREPARED TO BRACE THEMSELVES IN THE EVENT THE
SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR DOES NOT LOCK.
3. The driver will make a maximum brake application of approximately 9.7 m/sec (32 ft/sec) without tire skid. The maximum brake application
should be on dry concrete or equivalent hard road surface, never on a wet or gravel road. The driver and passenger should lean forward slightly
into the front safety belt. At this instant, the front safety belts should lock up without webbing payout.
4. If there is a lock-up of both shoulder straps, the front safety belts are functioning properly. Should either or both retractors fail to lock up at the 8
km/h (5 mph) speed, the test should be repeated at a constant 24.14 km/h (15 mph). This test must be performed with a right side passenger if the
right side belt is to be tested.
5. If any shoulder belts do not lock up at the 24.14 km/h (15 mph) test, the vehicle is to be returned for repair of the malfunctioning front safety
belts. Remove the retractor and rework the sheet metal in the retractor's mounting surface back to its original shape and structural integrity. Install
the front safety belt retractor and tongue and test the front safety belts as previously stated.