On some 2nd generation Ford Escorts the seat belt track may become jammed. The following advice is how to resolve this issue, although it will not work if the motor is blown. Before you start, you will want to cover the seat in an old towel. The grease rubs off very easily. Don't forget to disconnect your battery, and the plugs in the track.

1. Take off the plastic panels covering the track (B Pillar).
2. Unbolt the track from the car
3. At the base of the track, you will see what looks like a big plastic straw coming out of the track and running down the pillar into the motor. Take a boxcutter and make a small slice in it. Try to cut the plastic like you would cut the bottom of flowers before you put them in a vase. Be very careful to not cut very far.
   • The seatbelt works by pushing and pulling a small cable through this big "straw tube" If you cut the small cable, you're screwed.
4. Seperate the the two pieces of the "straw tube". You should now be able to see the smaller cable that runs through this tube. You can grab ahold of this with a pair of needlenose pliers.
5. Pull that small cable, and move the seat belt through the track.

Of course, this may not work for you, but at least you may be able to get the seat belt to move all the way back. If you find the small cable is deteriorated, and it is splitting, you can try to shave off some of the excess with the boxcutters. Make sure you lube the cable again before you connect the seat belt. I used cable lube I got from Advance Auto.

It is also possible to do this by using the factory tool or an allen wrench before going through the hassle. Also, if the plastic part in which the motor drive is supposed to turn is stripped out and the sides are sheared, then don't bother even with the tool, you have to replace the reel unit.

Also see

• Ford Escort & ZX2 section for the entire index of all Ford Escort and ZX2 related articles.