Wet Seatbelt

rschaffrath · May 22, 2003

:?:

I was wondering if anyone has experienced the "wet seatbelt" problem and has a definitive cure. Yesterday, my car sat out in the rain all day and when I got into the car and put on the seatbelt I discovered it was soaking wet. The further I pulled it out, the wetter it got to the point where I could actually ring it out. There have been a few posting on the Yahoo! groups about this problem but no definitive solution as whether it is a tensioner bolt problem or broken ckips. The car is going into the dealer tomorrow to have them take a look at it and I was hoping to be able to point them in the right direction as they only deal with one other Insight besides mine.

Tim Maddux · Jun 12, 2003

I just noticed the wet seatbelt problem today. We hadn't had much rain, and it wasn't that wet, but it'd never happened before even with more rain. Don't have time to deal with getting it looked at right now.

rschaffrath · Jun 12, 2003

The dealer could not find a problem and it did get wet again. Due to other work I have been doing in the car (rear speakers, replacement CD player cable), I have decided to leave the driver side pillar cover off and the seat belt mechanism exposed so that I can see where the water is coming in next time there is a heavy rain (and here on Long Island that is becoming every other day!). Then I can go back with definitive information.

Rick · Jun 12, 2003

Cuirous, the three of you that have had the problem all have 2000 Insight's it seems. It doesn't exactly rain a whole lot in Arizona, but when it does rain it is usually pretty hard for a short period of time. I'm yet to have any leaks anywhere.

Guest · Jun 12, 2003

simulated rain

several weeks ago I had sprayed the Insight with a hose and was inside cleaning front window, when I noticed a light pour of liquod coming from the bottom of the door speaker grill on the passenger side. I have noticed wetness on the inside of the door seal on top of the rocker panel after a wet drive. so far my seatbelts have remained dry.

03 slvr MT
brft drvr

dazey · Jun 13, 2003

Re: simulated rain

rodneyAB said:
several weeks ago I had sprayed the Insight with a hose and was inside cleaning front window, when I noticed a light pour of liquod coming from the bottom of the door speaker grill on the passenger side.

Have you replaced the front speakers? And if so did you have to cut anything in the door to get the new ones in? The previous owner of mine sliced out the nice little lip that is in the metal of the door to put new speakers in and both of them leak. I also wonder if the design of the old speakers didn't allow water thru to the inside? (I have never seen them so I don't know)

As far as the wet seatbelt I haven't experienced it myself after washing the car or in the little bit of rain I have driven in.

Guest · Jun 13, 2003

wet around the speaker

oops....i must have voided the warranty by having those new speakers put in

I didn't do the work so do not know what was done inside the door

03 MT slvr

dflach · Jun 16, 2003

no wet interior

After having read about some of the problems that other Insight owners are having with rain/wash leaks, I just wanted to say that the 2002 Insight that I purchased last September has not yet shown any sign of such a leak (fortunately). I don't know if there was a design change prior to 2002 to address the problem. The only thing that I've noticed on mine that may have some connection to the problem is that when I wash the car there is more water on the door sill when I open the doors than I would expect, but I haven't noticed any wet interior areas. I think I would have designed the weather seal to be mounted closer to the outer door sill edge and outer door skin. Maybe that's a cure, maybe not.

(Edited 8/6/03 - I would like to retract my last two sentences. There is a weather strip on the bottom of the door at its outer edge. - I can only speculate on what the problem might be, but I suspect it's a door alignment/weather strip problem. I would also be suspicious if the OEM speakers have been replaced such that some of the factory weather seal material inside the door has been cut or removed. I don't know what this looks like as I have not opened the speaker cavity.)

Tim Maddux · Jun 16, 2003

We've had rain since my last post, which was the first time I'd ever noticed the wet seatbelt. The seatbelt didn't get wet this time. I'll note here if it happens again.

joe4ska · Jun 16, 2003

Try inspecting the door moldings, also are your seatbelts retracting normally?

rschaffrath · Jun 16, 2003

The molding and clips are fine. I just completed the installation of my rear speakers and replacement CD player HBUS cable and I am leaving the driver side pillar cover off so that I can see what is going on the next time we have rain. Hopefully it will be easy to find.

Michael Farar · Jun 27, 2003

Door gasket replacement needed

I had the same experience and took it to the dealership. They determined that there was a leak going by the driver's door gasket so they replaced it. They kept the car 8) for an extra day to let it dry inside due to the rain chances at the time. As a result there's no wet seatbelt.

Michael

rschaffrath · Jun 30, 2003

The seatbelts retract fine. There was never a problem with them just the sudden wet shoulder problem. I still have pillar cover removed and I am waiting for the next good soaking to see if I can find the leak anywhere. I have not thoroughly checked the gaskets although none are cracked and all appear to be attached. There might a misalignment somewhere.

Willie Williford · Jun 30, 2003

wet seat belts

Why wait for rain. Break out the garden hose and give it a good soaking from different angles. Could also be done with someone inside the car watching for leaks.

Mitch53 · Jun 30, 2003

I have a 2000 5 Spd. No wet seat belt here, but I also had a problem with water dripping out of the passenger side speaker grill. My curious side had me exploring. As Dazey, I saw that during the new speaker installation 3 months ago, the tech had cut the plastic protective covering that was supposed to prevent this. It's supposed to channel any water that seeps from the window molding down to the channel at the bottom to drain properly ...... but not through the speaker grill ! ! A piece of plastic and some good 'Ol duct tape and it's not leaked since ! :lol:

Tim Maddux · Jul 19, 2003

Wet seatbelt came back today after a rain. Dried out pretty quickly, but it's still going into the dealer as soon as I get a chance.

Joe Griffo · Jul 21, 2003

I just bought a used Insight (2000, 5 spd, Red) and noticed a wet seatbelt. I am taking mine to the Honda Engine Plant employee service center (in Anna, Ohio) sometime this week. Hopefully they can solve this problem...I will post their conclusion when they get one.

james · Jul 21, 2003

May we infer that you either work for Honda, or know someone who does?

Joe Griffo · Jul 22, 2003

james said:
May we infer that you either work for Honda, or know someone who does?

I worked for them for 3 summers (as college help) but my dad works for them now...which is how I got the car in the first place (used company car).

cheetahdriver · Aug 7, 2003

add me to the list

well, my wife's insight is now giving her wet seatbelts on every rain. took it to the dealer, and they were unable to find a watertrack anywhere. have put aftermarket speakers in, but did not have to cut anything to do it. will check again, and then remove everything and see if i can tell where it is coming in. there needs to be a solution to this problem.

Tim Maddux · Aug 7, 2003

Of course, about 2 days before I brought it in to be looked at, the seatbelt dried out and stopped getting wet, even though we are still getting rain!

Joe Griffo · Aug 8, 2003

I am taking mine in for its wet seatbelt appointment on Tuesday (August 12). Hopefully they can find a solution to the problem.

Sparky5501 · Aug 11, 2003

I've just experienced this problem for the first time since i've owned my Insight.

The weather here in Seattle has been hot, averaging 85 for the past couple of weeks. This weekend was the first heavy down pour in a long time. My seatbelt was totaly drenched the next day.

Some items of note.
The car was pointing slightly down hill.
The weather has been hot a dry before it was rained on.
Driverside was wetter than passenger side belt.
No water any where else in passenger compartment.

I'm taking my Insight in for it's 30,000 mile service tomorrow and am going to have the dealership check it out.

Considering Seattle is a very wet place I'm amazed this hasn't happened till now.

Tim Maddux · Aug 18, 2003

Took it back in after a thunderstorm. The service guy noted leakage coming through the torn door plastic (previously torn by an installation of new window regulator assembly for auto-down fix). There was also leakage up above that point that he couldn't pinpoint, so he put a lot of glue/sealant around and maybe that will fix it.

If it happens again I'll make prints of this thread to give him an idea of where to look next. Did anyone else (rschaffrath?) find a solution?

Also, no HondaCare coverage (I'm out of the factory warranty).. Bummer. Although if the leak is from an in-warranty repair, maybe I can complain.

koko · Aug 23, 2003

I have had the same wet seat belt problem. yesterday my honda dealer found the problem in my 2000 model insight. they said it was leaking from the roof molding clip. they had to remove some interior trim and seal it. i am happy to say it worked. last night it came a gully washer and the seat belt was dry this morning. hope this helps

Sparky5501 · Aug 26, 2003

UPDATE:

The dealership did a water leak test and eventually found the culprit. The top "A" pillar trim clip will allow water to enter the body and drain into the "B" pillar and soak the seat belt retractor mechanism.

The clip is white and is at the very top of the roof and is the last one before the "A" pillar trim ends at the top before the rear window. My dealership used windshield adhesive/sealer to seal this clip into place. All of the white plastic clips under the "A" pillar trim piece have a thin rubber washer to seal out water, but the ones I got to see were squashed flat and didn't look like they would block out the water.

So far no more wet seat belt. If and when the other side ever gets wet I know exactly what to ask to be done. Overall the experience was a PITA, but i'm glad the leak is fixed. :?

:!: WARNING: :!:
Don't let the dealership butcher your "A" pillar. The service technician who worked on my trim piece buggered up the paint on my fender and under the trim piece while taking it off. They gave me back my car while they waited for parts and I spotted all of the paint damage. Luckly my dealership is pretty cool and they fixed it at NO charge when I complained. Ask your service advisor to make sure that they read the service manual befor removing this trim piece and they are trained on servicing the Insight.

Wet Seatbelt

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