Installing a Seat Belt Extender

A seat belt extender can be a helpful addition if you find that your belt is too tight or if you want to secure something in place that is larger than the normal belt allows. Fortunately, installing a seat belt extender is not particularly complicated as they normally come in a standard, universal size designed to fit any seatbelt in any vehicle. Follow the simple steps below to complete this project in just a few minutes.

Step 1 - Get the Right Seat Belt Extender

You should be able to find a universal seat belt extender at any well-stocked automotive store. You can also buy them online. Though the fittings on seat belt extenders are universal, the belts themselves do come in different lengths. The available lengths are normally 6 or 12 inches. Choose the best one for your purposes.

Be sure that you buy an approved extender for maximum safety. Before attempting to install it, check that the kit includes all of the required components including the nuts and washers. In addition to this, you will need an adjustable spanner.

Step 2 - Detach the Seat Belt

Find the end of the seat belt inside the car. This will be attached to the door frame or the seat itself. The seat belt should be attached by a heavy duty nut and bolt that you can remove using the adjustable spanner. Remove the seatbelt away from the assembly.

Step 3 - Put in the Seat Belt Extender

To install the extender, simply place the bent end of it in the place where you just removed the seat belt. Replace the nut and bolt that you removed earlier, and the seat belt extender should be fixed in place. Be sure that it is as tight as possible.

Place the bolt that came with the seat belt extender into the other side of the extender (the flat side). Then place it into the metal section of the belt itself. This part of the existing seatbelt is the one which you detached from the car . Make sure that the bolt is facing in towards the seat so that it does not get in the way when the person is getting in or out of the car.

Place the washer on the bolt which runs through the extender and the existing seat belt. Be sure to screw the nut tightly in place using the wrench.

Step 4 - Finish Up

Before you use the modified seat belt, check over the connecting parts again to make sure that all of the nuts and bolts are adequately tight. If they are at risk of coming loose, it will negate the purpose of the seat belt in the first place. When you are satisfied that the extender has been installed correctly, you can use the car again.