Seatbelt extenders

[Tom Brennan]

I have a 2019 Expedition Platinum edition. I’m having trouble clipping in an elderly person into the second row passenger seat and think an extender will help. Has anyone put in extenders? Apparently they have an airbag built into the belts based on one site I’ve researched which complicates things. thanks TB

 

[99WhiteC5Coupe]

I have a 2019 Expedition Platinum edition. I’m having trouble clipping in an elderly person into the second row passenger seat and think an extender will help. Has anyone put in extenders? Apparently they have an airbag built into the belts based on one site I’ve researched which complicates things. thanks TB

I would suggest talking to the part’s department of your Ford dealer, and have your VIN handy. Perhaps the part’s Department manager, who may be more knowledgeable or know who to contact to obtain one?

Dealers USED to provide free seatbelt extenders (had to be ordered) based upon customer request for a specific accommodation.

I am not sure if one can be provided for a seatbelt that has the airbag built into it.

 

[Tom Brennan]

Thanks, I tried that first. We have a small dealership but they wouldn't even attempt to look it up. The airbag seems to be a problem on the third party market.

 

[5280tunage]

My guess is they will say that any aftermarket extension could prevent or interfere with the pretensioner system on these, and or due to the position of the inflatable belts, it could be dangerous as it would keep the belt from possibly being fully pulled out. That is, the inflatable part would likely be in a position it wasn't designed to be in if there is an extension on it.

 

[99WhiteC5Coupe]

Thanks, I tried that first. We have a small dealership but they wouldn't even attempt to look it up. The airbag seems to be a problem on the third party market.

Perhaps another dealership?

Seems as though quite some time ago when I obtained a seat-belt extender from a GM dealership, I had to fill out paperwork explaining why? I believe the extender was free from GM but they needed documentation, perhaps for future liability issues?

Perhaps contact the NHTSA to determine if they extender is feasible or available from Ford?

 

[5280tunage]

based on this video, i'm guessing its not really feasible. seems quite dangerous to "extend" the channel used to inflate the belt. https://www.me.ford.com/en/jor/technology/inflatable-rear-safety-belts/

and yes, i get this video isn't an expy but it's the same tech.

 

[Tom Brennan]

Thanks everyone for your comments and ideas.

 

[Fizzy]

Perhaps another dealership?

Seems as though quite some time ago when I obtained a seat-belt extender from a GM dealership, I had to fill out paperwork explaining why? I believe the extender was free from GM but they needed documentation, perhaps for future liability issues?

Perhaps contact the NHTSA to determine if they extender is feasible or available from Ford?

The Platinum trim second row has airbags built into the actual seatbelt - the chest portion. It's likely they can't be extended whilst ensuring the airbag would explode open in the right position and potentially causing injury to the occupant.

 

[duneslider]

If I understand right the actual portion of the belt that clips in is also part of the actual air bag mechanism, if there was an extender it would have to be an actual air bag device and likely would be very expensive. I am suspecting there is not an option for extending this but I think reaching out to ford directly might be a better option.

I wonder if the seat belt could be converted to the non-airbag style if this will be a long term situation.

 

[5280tunage]

If I understand right the actual portion of the belt that clips in is also part of the actual air bag mechanism, if there was an extender it would have to be an actual air bag device and likely would be very expensive. I am suspecting there is not an option for extending this but I think reaching out to ford directly might be a better option.

I wonder if the seat belt could be converted to the non-airbag style if this will be a long term situation.

that might be possible but i'm guessing you'd have to defeat the circuits that are used to diagnostically test it. I'm betting it would throw CEL's and might have other consequences.

 

[duneslider]

that might be possible but i'm guessing you'd have to defeat the circuits that are used to diagnostically test it. I'm betting it would throw CEL's and might have other consequences.

Yes, but I would assume there would be a way to do that in the software but again that would probably have to be a ford thing, not a diy thing. Also, I am not certain if that is even a possibility, just and idea.

 

[Tom Brennan]

I am concerned about screwing with the diagnostics and warning lights etc.

 

[SunnySunshine]

Apparently they have an airbag built into the belts based on one site I’ve researched which complicates things.

They do?! Just out of curiosity, would it screw with things if I buckle the seatbelt on a backpack? I enjoy doing that in our family's current SUV because I don't want my camera bag to fly forward in case of a sudden stop. Would that get affected making the system think there is a passenger in the seat? We're picking up our new Expedition sometime in April.

 

[Fizzy]

They do?! Just out of curiosity, would it screw with things if I buckle the seatbelt on a backpack? I enjoy doing that in our family's current SUV because I don't want my camera bag to fly forward in case of a sudden stop. Would that get affected making the system think there is a passenger in the seat? We're picking up our new Expedition sometime in April.

Certain trims do - Platinum for sure.

Depends on how the logic has been programmed for these airbag seatbelts. None of us can test this non-destructively. Only the Ford engineers know for sure.

If I had to hazard a guess, the risk of not firing the airbag for a belt that is buckled, is greater than the risk of not firing the airbag. If the belt is buckled you have to assume worst case, and that a passenger is seated there. And so airbag would win. Now, do those captain chairs have weight sensors in them like the front seats - not sure. And even if they did, the risk is too great to not fire the airbag.

Put your bag in the footwell or trunk like everyone else?

 

[Walbtok]

On my Expedition I did end up using a car seat belt extender to help with elderly passengers, and it definitely made buckling easier. But because the newer Expeditions use seat belt‑integrated airbag systems, it’s really important to get an extender that’s rated for that design — generic ones can mess with how the airbag and pretensioner behave.

 

[Fizzy]

On my Expedition I did end up using a car seat belt extender to help with elderly passengers, and it definitely made buckling easier. But because the newer Expeditions use seat belt‑integrated airbag systems, it’s really important to get an extender that’s rated for that design — generic ones can mess with how the airbag and pretensioner behave.

The link you shared is for generic extenders and from what I can tell will not function properly with the airbag seatbelts in the second row.

 

[HILLY]

This is why generic extenders will not work for the optional Inflatable Rear Safety Belts (IRSB). Watch that video of how the charge detonator is designed an how it feeds it through the buckle (see picture) as it has a sealed "mouth" end on it.

Now if you had a non-IRSB, a generic belt extended would work (I've done it).