The Importance of Seatbelt Pretensioners

The seat belt pretensioner is what locks your seat belt in place if you get into a car crash. This tool has been proven to reduce the number of injuries and deaths from crashes. If you own a car, this is a part of your vehicle that you should be familiar with because it is responsible for minimizing any damage caused by an accident.

Since it plays such a big role in ensuring your safety, you should have some understanding of how this mechanism works. Here’s a quick overview of the importance of seatbelt pretensioners and why you need to have them checked regularly:

The Different Types of Seatbelts

The most common seatbelt is the three-point belt, which is a single belt fabric that stretches across the shoulders and lap of the person seated. This covers the chest, pelvis, and shoulders. There are other belts, like the give-point of harnesses and six-point harnesses—all of which provide better security; however, they are usually found in child safety seats and race cars. 

There are other seatbelts that are used in different vehicles. These include automatic seat belts, belt-in-seat (BIS) sash belts, and lap belts. The three-point belt is a combination of the lap and shoulder belt design. 

By knowing what type of seatbelt your vehicle has, you will better understand the parts that go into it. By assuring that all components of this safety feature are in good condition, you are better equipped for the open road.

Why Get Your Pretensioner Checked

All these mechanisms are controlled by the SRS airbag control module, and it needs to be reset after an accident. Once the pretensioner has been deployed, the entire seatbelt, along with the pretensioner, needs to be rebuilt and repaired. It is possible that in the collision, the seat belt pretensioners have been ripped, torn, or cut. This is why you should fix your seatbelt after a collision.

Even if you have not experienced any accidents, they can grow worn and dirty. This can cause malfunctions and affect the security of your vehicle. Look for a reliable SRS repair services provider to make sure that your vehicle is well-maintained at all times.

The 2 Types of Pretensioners

Mechanical pretensioners are connected to the seat belt buckle because of a spring that remains tightly compressed in a tube before an accident. A latching mechanism compresses the pretensioner until it detects an accident and the impact releases the spring. This tightens the seat belt and eliminates slack from the belt so that the passengers remain firmly in their seats. 

Electronic pretensioners use an ECU and a gas generator system that is similar to the airbag system. This pretensioner is more effective because it works in correlation with the airbag—which uses an explosive charge that triggers a volume of gas from within the gas generator. In turn, this produces the pressure needed for the mechanical linkage to tighten the belt. 

These pretensioners may have different ways of operating, but they function in the same way. In the 30 milliseconds after a collision, both pretensioners will create a slight amount of slack so that the passenger is able to have controlled contact with the airbag. 

Conclusion

In any scenario, it is better to be safe than sorry. These are mechanisms that often do not show signs of wear and tear until it fails to deploy when it is needed, so it’s up to you to take the initiative of maintaining it. A stable pretensioner will help you and any people riding in your vehicle feel safe because they have something protecting them if the worst happens.

Are you looking for SRS module repair services to check out your vehicle after an accident? RepairMySRS is an accident restoration company that specializes in SRS modules and seat belt repairs. We provide services nationwide! Check out our products and services online and schedule a mail-in for the parts you need today.