You might also try cleaning the belt (soap & water only, then dried well)
and also the guide on the pillar that the belt slides over. This was
actually a service bulletin on my old 90 Prelude and completely cured my
slow/hesitant retracting belt when I tried it when the car was about 7 years
old.

I could actually see crud on that belt guide and also used a thin stiff
plastic sheet to help scrape it off. Don't know if Honda has changed
materials or spacing to help alleviate that problem.

J.

> wrote in message
oups.com...
>
> wrote:
> > I have a 1997 Honda Accord with about 140K miles.
> > The seat belt on the drivers side doesnt retract well anymore.
> > Often the belt gets caught in the door when I leave the car.
> > Perhaps this is normal wear and tear on the seat belt mechanism after
> > so many miles. Just wondering if anyone has a similar problem and if
> > anyone tried to repair this, roughly how much should it cost?
> > Thanks
>
> I have had that same problem with the belt on my 94 civic.
> If the Accord has the same type belt as the Civic this may
> fix it. I took the cover from over the belt (heavy plastic that
> can be pryed off) and found the belt twisted just above the
> retracter. Work the twist up to the top hanger, slide the half
> fold to either side of the hanger and then pull the fold through
> the hanger, this will be a bit of a pull to get it through.
> You may have a few turns in the belt at the floor mount but they
> can be removed by turning the belt hanger around the mounting
> bolt near the floor. My belt now retracts smoothly.
> Ernie
>