Well, the 3rd row has the shoulder belts on each side but is missing the buckles. The seat is also missing the lapbelt and it's corresponding buckle. I also don't see any holes or cutouts on the leather seat itself for these missing parts.

Besides ordering the center belt set from the dealer, does anyone have any suggestions on how solve this dilemma? I was wondering if there are aftermarket belts I could use and maybe mount to the solid bar located behind the center of the 3rd row seat.

TIA

 

Is this a bench seat? If so, I believe the seat belt buckles are attached to the seat itself. I know that's the way the split 3rd row bench is.

 

Correct, it is a bench seat. The weird thing is that the seat itself has no buckles or center lapbelt much less any cutouts made for such parts. It's completely smooth and intact across the seat itself.

 

Could it be that the seat has been recovered?

 

Good point. It does look untouched. I'll go look and poke around underneath it.

 

So, it seems when the seat was reupholstered by the previous owner, they failed to reinstall the belts.

I ended up heading to the dealer and buying an OEM set of buckles and center belt assy for $80. Luckily, what I needed came as a whole set...2 buckles and mounting bracket and 1 buckle plus 1 lapbelt and mounting bracket. The dealer wanted over $20 for the 2 required bolts! So, I ended up going to the aftermarket and buying 2 brand new bolts and washers per exact OEM specs for $2.00.

I decided to have a professional upholestery shop help on the install as what I needed done I couldn't do by myself. Ended up NOT cutting the leather (as is normally done on the OEM 3rd seat) and instead running the buckles from the bottom of the seat thru the back of the seat. To do so, the nylon belts had to be lengthened. The shop had to cut the original OEM nylon and extend with new nylon material (plus restitch) in order to get all three buckles to reach forward enough.

BEFORE: (shoulder retractors in place but missing buckles and center lap belt)


Example of OEM: (buckles and center belt routed thru cutouts in the leather seat)


From underneath the seat, one of the holes to mount the belts:


Mounted from underneath:


Clean install all DONE!

 

Looks nice. Thanks for the update.

 

Very nice and glad to see you wanted to maintain the belts, they do save lives... and the way you have them mounted if you want the clean look they only need be tucked away...
Thanks for the pictures and the how too...