Dear Tom and Ray:

We own a 1987 Subaru GL hatchback. It has been very reliable, but has an annoying and dangerous idiosyncrasy. Since the car was about a year old, the seatbelt has "stuck" about three times a year. When I take it off and allow it to retract, it will stop half way, and won't go further in or out. The seatbelt remains unusuable for about a month or longer, then suddenly starts working again. The seatbelt mechanism is built into the wall of the car, and I can't get to it. A mechanic recommended driving backwards and slamming on the brakes to release the mechanism. I actually tried it, but no luck. I need to drive my car, but I'm pregnant and hate to drive without a seatbelt. What can I do? Eva

Tom: You can go out tomorrow, Eva, and have your mechanic put in a new seatbelt mechanism.

Ray: Your seatbelt mechanism is occasionally binding up, Eva. And the reason the mechanic suggested driving backwards and braking is because the mechanism works on a pendulum. When you suddenly brake hard (or crash into a tree) the pendulum swings forward and instantly locks the belt. At all other times, that allows you to move the belt freely.

Tom: He thought that by trying to force the pendulum backwards, you might unstick the mechanism. But something's probably jammed inside it...like a pistachio nut shell or a broken piece of a Slim Whitman cassette box.

Ray: So I wouldn't play around with it. Given your current condition, you really should have it replaced...right away.

Spending a little money now on "preventive maintenance" can save you big bucks down the road. Find out how by ordering Tom and Ray's pamphlet "Ten Ways You May Be Ruining Your Car Without Even Knowing It!" To order, send (check or money order) to Ruin, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. You can also order online.

© 1993 by Tom and Ray Magliozzi and Doug Berman Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

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