Seat Belts Causing Scratching On Doors

[Guest]

Hi y'all. I have an idea to stop the annoying scratches that the metal part of the seatbelt creates when the belt is not in use on the outer edges of the doors. Whilst on the Auto Express (AE) photo-shoot I was told by John Colley the photographer that AE were looking at certain issues with the iQ, and this was one of them.

I used to -in my school days- help out in the library. One of the things I did was to cover the books in that protective clear backing to protect the 'newness' of the covers.

If this stuff was applied to the area where the marks are appearing, I am sure the damage it does will be minimal and may even stop it altogether. Of course, a reapplication of the plastic film may be necessary from time to time as it wears, but if it protects the plastic, when it comes to resale time it will obviously look a lot better.

I don't know if anyone else has looked at this problem and come up with a different solution, or knows how to make that marked plastic look better, then do tell us all. I'm sure we would all be interested.

PS: Tarquin/David, I know you like the blue lighting, this is my light up Logitech G110 keyboard and one of the colours I selected was this blue. Also included is evidence on my car of the damage caused by the seatbelt, I think it's called the tongue. Kick my A.s.s. if I'm wrong.

[tarquin]

Very nice Bob a credit to all that is blue, The other thing that trashes this area is peoples rings when they fumble around looking for the belt . You see it in the handle pull cups especially on the left hand side with girlfriends and wives diamond ring fingers.

David

[s44gtw]

The finger jewelry takes its toll badly on the area around the door handle on the outside, opening and closing the door.,

but

I about have cardiac arrest when i see a 'weather girl,' about to push the passenger door of an iQ shut with their bottom.

(at least the wider beam spreads the pressure, but when you see the big effort to make sure the door closes it is hard not to shout 'dont do it!'.)

Not a case of excitement, rather the thought of taking that crease out of the door panel,

& combined with the thought that the seat belt is in the door jam.

I am always amazed how many people try to close iQ doors half up the window pillar at the edge of the door and almost trap their fingers or fail to have enough force to get the door closed.

george

[craggle]

I have bought some of that clear 3M protective film from eBay and made myself some long strips to put on the sills to protect and hopefully cover up the scratches from where the previous owner was incapable of lifting their feet up when they left the vehicle.

I also bought the genuine Toyota clear patches to fit behind the door handles to prevent any finger nail damage behind them.

I'll post some pictures when their fitted but interested to see pictures of any other areas people might think are worth doing.

Craig.

[tarquin]

Oh Craig

As you probably know i changed my door scuff panels when i fitted the illuminated ones. They were mint condition. You could of had them but i bin'd them about a month ago not thinking people would want to change them

David

[craggle]

Doh!

Actually the plastic trim panel is in pretty good shape, It's the metal part of the sill outside the door seal that seems to have taken a beating.

Quite perplexed how they have got scratched but the marks on there do polish out with a bit of Ferecla G10 compound so I'll do that, get it all shiny then apply my clear tape to the area to keep the shine and protect in the future.

I have seen the aluminium scuff plates to fit this area and also the illuminated versions and although I do want them, Not sure I can justify the cost. Not just yet anyway....... :)

Craig.

[Guest]

Doh!

Actually the plastic trim panel is in pretty good shape, It's the metal part of the sill outside the door seal that seems to have taken a beating.

Quite perplexed how they have got scratched but the marks on there do polish out with a bit of Ferecla G10 compound so I'll do that, get it all shiny then apply my clear tape to the area to keep the shine and protect in the future.

I have seen the aluminium scuff plates to fit this area and also the illuminated versions and although I do want them, Not sure I can justify the cost. Not just yet anyway....... :)

Craig.

Sorry, I may be a bit dimm here, but what the hell is Ferecla G10 compound? Is that used on the plastic, or the sills?

[craggle]

Sorry, It's a paint, cutting compound used to remove and repolish lightly damaged paint work.

Can't think of anything yet that would work on the plastic trim.

Craig.

[dash]

I wonder if there's a way of hooking the seatbelt to the top edge of the seat so the buckle doesn't drag against the door trim.

Only way I could imagine achieving this is by stitching a hook into the seat fabric...

Dave

[dash]

I wonder if there's a way of hooking the seatbelt to the top edge of the seat so the buckle doesn't drag against the door trim.

Only way I could imagine achieving this is by stitching a hook into the seat fabric...

Another option would be a support arm from the B pillar...

Dave

[Guest]

I wonder if there's a way of hooking the seatbelt to the top edge of the seat so the buckle doesn't drag against the door trim.

Only way I could imagine achieving this is by stitching a hook into the seat fabric...

Another option would be a support arm from the B pillar...

Dave

Now then, now then, hows about this. I put the seatbelt in the gap between the lever at the base of the seat that tilts the seatback forward when moving the seat forward/back. So this holds this seatbelt. Then I get the upper part of the belt, along with the metal slotty in bit -oooher, getting technical now- and place this over the side of the seat, so it sits away from the door. You have to do this before closing the door, but a small price to pay for having an un-scratched door trim. Also, you can reach the seat belt easier when sat on the seat. Simples!

[tarquin]

I bought some of the seatbelt press studs that stop the clip diss appearing and found the natural place the belt retracts to then fitted the stud so its fully retracted but held off the pillar. It stops it rattling and kinda offers itself to you for use

David

[Guest]

Sorry, It's a paint, cutting compound used to remove and repolish lightly damaged paint work.

Can't think of anything yet that would work on the plastic trim.

Craig.

Ah! Thank you enlightened one. Now I'm with ya.

[Guest]

I bought some of the seatbelt press studs that stop the clip diss appearing and found the natural place the belt retracts to then fitted the stud so its fully retracted but held off the pillar. It stops it rattling and kinda offers itself to you for use

David

David, again the genius at work. Seatbelt press studs? Do you have any pics? How did they fit? I can see -okay I can't, but- what you mean, as in how it works. I think in the past, could be wrong, there used to be a sliding piece of plastic that could be adjusted up or down the belt. Funny, me remembering something like that as at the time I recall I didn't know what they were for.

Wot a Dumba.s.s.

[tarquin]

Ha Ok here are a couple of pics I took at the time They are in two halves, The spike makes a hole in the seat bolt ,then the other side is attached. and the protruding spike is then crushed flat with a pair of pliers. Perfect. I let the seatbelt retract naturally, then moved it away a bit so it is held just slightly off from "tapping" on the pillar and marked it and fitted the stud. Now all the belt retracts and doesn't get trapped in the door and doesn't drive you mad tapping. I did the rear ones as well. The studs are available from MR T

David

[Guest]

Ha Ok here are a couple of pics I took at the time They are in two halves, The spike makes a hole in the seat bolt ,then the other side is attached. and the protruding spike is then crushed flat with a pair of pliers. Perfect. I let the seatbelt retract naturally, then moved it away a bit so it is held just slightly off from "tapping" on the pillar and marked it and fitted the stud. Now all the belt retracts and doesn't get trapped in the door and doesn't drive you mad tapping. I did the rear ones as well. The studs are available from MR T

David

Nice. Gobsmacked Mr. T. has them. I'm at the dealers tomorrow for the test they want to do on the AVG fuel consumption thingy-ma-gig. I will make enquires then. My idea mentioned earlier, somewhere on this forum, about the belts, only works to a point. Go over a bump and it slips back against the door. DOH! I noticed it tonight on my way to collect a Cantonese meal. No, I don't eat foreign food, my wife does. My limit is chips/fries with Sweet and Sour Cantonese Style Chicken without the Sweet and Sour Sauce. I think I'm sweet and sour enough already. :lol2:

[tarquin]

He He I like indian myself . Btw insist in the spares that they have them. They are not specific to iQ's. Generic. Erm think they might be about 70p each

Bob I have PM'd you

David

[Guest]

He He I like indian myself . Btw insist in the spares that they have them. They are not specific to iQ's. Generic. Erm think they might be about 70p each

Bob I have PM'd you

David

Cheers David, got the PM. I forgot all about the seatbelt doo-berries. Still, I'll be going back soon, so have written a note to self to remember to get some. I also got today, good news about them changing the computer so I can see how much our car will go over 60mpg. And another thing, I got some of that clear sticky backed (remember Poo-Bleeter... erm sorry, Blue Peter?) plastic stuff to cover the area on the doors from damage off the seat belts. £2.19 from Staples. I tried the range first, they new what I was on about, but had none. I said to the girl, 'There's this fella right, he was a bit hard of hearing. He went to the doctors, and the doctor said, 'Sit down, what can I do for you?' And the fella said, 'I can't sit down, and turned around to show the doctor why. The doctor said, 'You've got a cricket bat stuck up your R'se!' And the fella said, 'Owzat!' I made that up, in the style of the great Tommy Cooper of course.

No actually, I said, well, tell your manager that the Range lost a sale today because they don't stock this 'Cleubikal' stuff. Waste of time really. For £2.19 you get 45cm x 1m, trouble is, I can't see it. (There's a joke there.)

[Guest]

Okay, this isn't good. I got the 'fablon' stuff. The clear stick on plastic sheeting. It's crap, and nothing like what it used to be. It's microscopically thin, has little if any adhesive properties, and I'm peed off I even bothered. I did however manage to get some covering the marks of the driver's door. I have no idea if it will stay where I put it, I seriously doubt it.

Just as well that I am following Tarquin/David's example and will be purchasing the button type thingies to stop the buckle of the seatbelt scratching the door anymore than it has done already. At about £2.80 it sounds a bargain.

I'll drink to that.

[Guest]

Oak-e-ly doke-ely. Our iQ now has 45 miles on the clock! This morning, the nice people at William A. Lewis in Shrewsbury fitted the new computer to the dash. A totally painless experience. I swear it looks clearer you know. So far the AVG MPG figure has climbed to 56. something... They took the car out for a test drive to check it worked, they stamped the service record book and included the previous mileage. I asked if they had done this and was told yes, it had been done already. It was nice dealing with the staff there, friendly, no problems answering questions and I have a set of those press-studs for the seat belts on order, they didn't have any in. They will be ready for me to pick up from tomorrow, unfortunately I will have to wait another week, unless I can think of something else I need to go into Shrewsbury for... hmmm.

Now here's a question, what the hell is this Smiley supposed to be? A ninja? Peeking through a gap in a fence? What is ph34r?