NA seatbelts dangerous?

91 V-Spec · Post by **91 V-Spec** » Wed Mar 03, 2010 2:21 pm

I'm a bit uneasy about the positioning of the seatbelts in my NA.

The receiving (female) end of the buckle is on a rather long stalk that puts the lap part of the belt uncomfortably across my stomach under my ribs.

All of the safety info I've seen states that one's lap belt should be tightened low, across the hips, to prevent "submarining" and abdominal injury in the event of a frontal collision.
That's not even possible the way they're mounted in the MX5. I'm a small guy so I have the seat quite far forward, pulling the belt even lower, but its still not ideal. My average-sized Dad noticed the same thing when he drove it...

I'm sure the long stalks are there to keep everything easily accessible at both ends of the seat's travel, but it goes way overboard.

I'll be looking around for quotes to get them re-mounted on shorter stalks, but the cost will probably be prohibitive.

Anyone else have thoughts on this?

Habanero666 · Post by **Habanero666** » Wed Mar 03, 2010 2:45 pm

Buy a Hummer

If you have a front on collision in a NA MX5 two things can happen:

You will go under what ever you have hit or,
The refridgerators produced from that day forward will be sharing the same dna as you once did via the recycled scrap metal that once was your car!

Sport has its risks.

My 2 cents worth.

91 V-Spec · Post by **91 V-Spec** » Wed Mar 03, 2010 3:00 pm

HAHAHAHAHA!

If I was that safety-conscious, I wouldn't have bought an MX-5, or any convertible for that matter!

I do tend to keep some very safe following distances though, especially behind trucks, due to the likelihood of Scenario A. If Scenario B happens, well, it was worth it LOL!

I like to put safety first where possible, as long as it doesn't spoil my fun!

Timmo · Post by **Timmo** » Wed Mar 03, 2010 4:58 pm

hmm...this is from memory, but in my car, the female part is short and travels with the seat....there are no stalks?

So it is either a design they changed for the later NA cars or your seatbelts have been replaced at some stage with generic ones? (Compliancing?....mine is NZ new)

Euen · Post by **Euen** » Wed Mar 03, 2010 4:58 pm

I have to agree with 91 V-spec. I am using a 91 as my daily driver at the moment and the position of that buckle concerns me. Some of the later cars had the buckle fixed to the side of the seat which was much better. I had a set of those seats but sold them last year.

poison · Post by **poison** » Wed Mar 03, 2010 5:01 pm

Try Brownie (Mazspares) or MX5Mart.co.nz there are two different lengths, I
changed mine on my NA for the same reason. I assume that the JDM cars are
designed with shorter legs in mind so the seat will be forward requiring a
longer buckle stork, but when you have the seat all the way back the buckle
will sit too high.

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sprsta · Post by **sprsta** » Wed Mar 03, 2010 5:17 pm

my buckle sits alot nicer now with the buckets

i think brownie can get new seat belts in any colour you want

maby just get some six point harnesses (in a hummer)

poison · Post by **poison** » Wed Mar 03, 2010 7:57 pm

Any colour as long as it's Brownie..... lol

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SLYDIT · Post by **SLYDIT** » Thu Mar 04, 2010 10:55 am

all the mx5 floor pans have seat belt points in the even if yours are attatched to the seat.
New seatbelts arent that expensive and you can spec different stalk lengths.
As said above, i suspect that they have been replaced at some stage with generic ones.

post a pic and we will cast our expert eyes over them.

91 V-Spec · Post by **91 V-Spec** » Thu Mar 04, 2010 11:06 am

This is the only pic I can find where the buckles are visible, but sadly the stalks aren't.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chris_klav ... 6/sizes/l/

And yes, they are definitely bolted onto the transmission tunnel, not the seats.

I'll post a better one tonight if I remember.

ross · Post by **ross** » Thu Mar 04, 2010 11:30 am

Most of the early NA belts were changed here when imported as they didint meet nz standards.
Autolive and others supplied belts and theres a number of different lengths Ive seen of the stalk.

brownie · Post by **brownie** » Thu Mar 04, 2010 10:17 pm

You beat me to Ross,That what i was going say

,
Yes i can get coloured seat belts brand new,I can check with the supplier to see if they can get shorter buckles for me,did you want to go as far and complete new belts,The belts fitted in NZ start out as black but most have faded out to grey which in theory will be getting weaker due to UV damage,Which also means they are not as strong as when first put in,Any WOF man if he's a hard arse can fail them due to safety issues.
I keep looking at my faded belts and think RED belts!!.
V spec's did come into NZ with Tan belts first of all before plain black ones were put in for compliance.

91 V-Spec · Post by **91 V-Spec** » Thu Mar 04, 2010 11:01 pm

Thanks guys!

I'm very tempted to get a new set of coloured belts, but another member local to me has made an offer that may suffice in the meantime.

If not, I'll be back on this thread soon...

JiB · Post by **JiB** » Sat Mar 06, 2010 10:11 am

For those of you worried about safety - EURONCAP seems fairly impressed with the NB and NA body.

http://www.euroncap.com/tests/mazda_mx_5_2002/120.aspx

91 V-Spec · Post by **91 V-Spec** » Sat Mar 06, 2010 10:50 am

Hey thanks for the link!

I did have a half-hearted look around for this info before buying, but missed this particular page.

Every source I've heard has nothing but praise for the MX-5's structural rigidity, which has to translate into occupant protection in a crash. If you can stick a V8 in it without having to strengthen the chassis, it must be good!

Though when I pulled the NA door apart I was a bit

about the lack of any kind of side intrusion beams, which I think the NB has...

Here's a great link comparing the relative safety of old "tanks" with new "tin cans".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joMK1WZjP7g

JiB · Post by **JiB** » Sun Mar 07, 2010 2:56 pm

91 V-Spec wrote:Though when I pulled the NA door apart I was a bit about the lack of any kind of side intrusion beams, which I think the NB has...

If I'm not mistaken, '94 onwards NA's have side intrusion bars and a couple of other safety bits that make them heavier.

brownie · Post by **brownie** » Sun Mar 07, 2010 11:07 pm

89/90 no intrusion bar,91 on ,mandatory on most cars,Just remember ,If your car has had a door replaced at some stage ,Most beaters don't take too much notice of this so a later car can end up with a lighter weaker door.
I've seen plenty of cars with and without that have been crashed damaged and really believe far better to have them in,Even if you are chasing light weight,Leave them in !!.

91 V-Spec · Post by **91 V-Spec** » Sun Mar 07, 2010 11:20 pm

By "leave them in" are you implying they're removable? And if so, are they retrofittable? Or do the racers just take an angle grinder to them?

brownie · Post by **brownie** » Tue Mar 09, 2010 10:21 pm

Semi removable,They are spot welded at the ends of the doors,Some racers take them out,others like Ian look out for early doors that don't have them at all.
Could be retro fitted ,but would be a whole easier to buy a couple of doors with them,maybe get lucky in buying the same color doors