drivers side sholder restraint not functioning. I can pull it back a ways by hand. It mwill retract and stay

Question

Why won't it engage when I close the door to start driving?

Answer 1

Safety belts are designed so that quick jolts will lock the belt from moving, while slower pulls will allow the user to move around a little. Unless you have the automatic ones that are attached to the door frame, closing the door and starting to drive will have no effect on the seat belt.

Try yanking on the shoulder belt while its buckled. It should lock. If it does not, that is a huge safety concern and should be repaired immediately.

Answer 2

The retractor could be defective, the retractor reel for the shoulder belt can be contaminated by dirt and debris that accumulates over time or the belt could be twised inside the retractor mechanism. It sounds as though the retractor mechanism is clogged with gunk if you have to pull on it to get it to retract.

if this is a US vehicle, American Honda has a lifetime warranty on the seatbelts. I don't know about the other distributors, but if there is a problem with the seat belt retractor, I'd take it to dealer and have them look at it. If the retractor is not retracting they will replace it under the lifetime warranty unless the belt is twisted in which case they can untwist it.

hope that answers your question