Hello! This is my first post. I am very close to buying a 2006 TSX. It appears to be in great shape inside and out. Interior is very clean, however the rear seatbelts are disgusting! How could this be? It is a tan interior, but the belts are dark gray, like they have been soaking in filthy water. Is this a red flag? The seller mentioned something about pulling out the belts and soaking them in clorox. I was thinking of just replacing them altogether, maybe with black belts. Is this expensive? Thanks for any help.

 

Clorox would be a bad idea. It would probably weaken the belt and then the belt wouldn't hold a passenger in a crash.

I don't know what happened to discolor the belts but I can offer some guesses. Someone tried to clean them with some strong chemical and they discolored? The belts are stored in reels which are primarily in the trunk - was there some leakage in the trunk?

The belts are guaranteed for the life of the car. Perhaps Acura will replace them under warranty?

 

Yup, red flag. This may be a flood car; best check further.

 

have the car checked out by either a acura dealer or trusted mechanic. The seatbelts on my tsx have saltwater stains but the seats are in excellent condition. I live near the ocean and spent lots of time there.

 

1) The rear seatbelt retractors are located under the parcel shelf, or higher than the fuel fill cap. If they got underwater, the whole car is screwed.

2) Clorox would compromise the seatbelts, and probably result in an insurance company refusing to pay any claim from rear seat injury. That'll really cost you.

3) The only real option is replacement of the three belts/retractors. BTW, you don't say if it is just the main portion of the belts or includes the buckle elements too. Roughly $200-250 per retractor set from Acura.

 

What is the warranty on seat belts and or seat belt retractors... with my 2001 Honda Accord that I owned before my TSX they replaced the seatbelt without even asking and it was over 36kmi...

 

quoting from my warranty book (2005) for seat belt warranty...
"This warranty continues for the useful life of the vehicle.
Acura will repair or replace, at its option, any Acura seat belt components that fails to function properly during normal use. This includes all parts and labor charges."
"This warranty does not cover: replacement of a properly-functioning seat belt assembly strictly for cosmetic or comfort reasons. Failure caused by abuse, alteration, accidental damage, misuse, or malfunction resulting from a collision."


I don't know if discoloration of belts is cosmetic. or accidental damage.

 

I guess it will depend who he talks to at the dealer. I would bring it in and show them what is going on and then let them make a decision. They may hook him up.

 

Thanks for the info fellas! I should have saved y'all the effort and replied earlier that the dirty belt car sold out from under my nose. Good thing too, I ended up finding a MINT condition 06 for a lower price. Also, I figured out the belt mystery. Under closer inspection I found dog hair in the seatbelt pockets. Must have kept a wet dog back there. So glad I missed out on that.