[bladehack]

I've been noticeing a strange rattle recently and found that it was the front passenger seat belt buckle, the male portion. The noise was coming from the plastic shroud over top of the metal buckle/tongue. I looked closer at the buckle and noticed it was different then the driver side buckle. So I took inventory and noticed that all of the buckles in the back seat were the same as the front passenger buckle, but the driver buckle is different.

Why the hell would GM spec two different buckles? Anyone else noticed the two different parts in their CTS?

Edit...just did a search and came up with this explanation

http://cadillacforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11556&highlight=seat+belt+buckle

 

[Jon]

A lotta cars are like that.

 

[bladehack]

A lotta cars are like that.

Yeah, i must be outta the loop. This is my first new car since Bush 41 was in office. I gotta get used to these new fangled inventions like airbags, anti-lock brakes and this stabilitrak warning that keep showing up on the radio whenever I use the gas pedal to make sharp turns.

 

[71sx]

I noticed the different buckles myself a few weeks ago but didn't wonder enough to ask anyone. That other thread really doesn't explain why the buckles are different- anyone know why the buckles are different? I've had plenty of cars with locking retractors but never one that had a different buckle for the driver...

 

[bladehack]

maybe it helps the belt slip through the buckle easier...permitting the continuous tightening of the belt. This would make sense if the belt was being used to fasten a child safety seat.

My only gripe is I can hear this extra plastic part rattling around as I drive.

 

[71sx]

I just got out of the car and spent a minute messing with the front passenger buckle. The sliding doo-hickey cinches down on the lap belt if pressure is applied to underside of the belt. Essentially, it appears to take the last bit of play out of the lap belt. I haven't heard any rattling around but I'll give it another look and see if I can find a likely cause. Is it possible that the rattling is actually due to the buckle tongue tapping against one of those plastic stops (looks like a button) that are riveted to the shoulder belt strap? Try sliding the the tongues all the way down and see if that makes a difference...

 

[PAW 47]

I know I thought it was screwy too.. I like to be sinched down in the seat. I'm constantly pulling at it. My other thought is one of these... http://www.ngpracing.com/Merchant2/...&Product_Code=C_3pt_Ret&Category_Code=harness

 

[71sx]

I find the driver's seat pretensioners to be more than eager to clamp down with even moderate changes in inertia. If you want to be really locked in, maybe you could switch out the driver's retractors for a passenger side retractor. Might be a simple switch out and you wouldn't have to go to such an extreme set-up.