Dodge Nitro. Manual — part 248

verification test procedure should be performed following service of any SRS component. See
VERIFICATION TEST - SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM.

SECOND ROW CENTER ANCHOR AND LEFT SEAT BELT BUCKLE

Fig. 68: Second Row Center And Seat Belt Buckle Components
Courtesy of CHRYSLER LLC

1. Position the second row left outboard buckle anchor plate (5) between the seat back and the seat cushion

(10).

2. Lower the second row center seat belt and left outboard seat belt buckle anchors over the stud (4) on the

rear floor panel (9).

3. Install and tighten the nut (3) that secures the anchors to the stud on the rear floor panel. Tighten the nut

to 62.5 N.m (46 ft. lbs.).

WARNING:

To avoid serious or fatal injury during and following any seat belt or child
restraint anchor service, carefully inspect all seat belts, buckles,
mounting hardware, retractors, tether straps, and anchors for proper
installation, operation, or damage. Replace any belt that is cut, frayed, or
torn. Straighten any belt that is twisted. Tighten any loose fasteners.
Replace any belt that has a damaged or ineffective buckle or retractor.
Replace any belt that has a bent or damaged latch plate or anchor plate.
Replace any child restraint anchor or the unit to which the anchor is
integral that has been bent or damaged. Never attempt to repair a seat
belt or child restraint component. Always replace damaged or ineffective
seat belt and child restraint components with the correct, new and
unused replacement parts .

NOTE:

The anchor plates for the left outboard second row seat belt buckle and the
second row center seat belt anchor are secured to each other by a soft metal
grommet as an assembly aid during the manufacturing process and, once
removed, the grommet does not require reinstallation.

2007 Dodge Nitro R/T

2007 RESTRAINTS Service Information - Nitro

4. Lower the front edge of the seat cushions downward and align the seat cushion legs (8) to the holes in the

rear floor panel.

5. Install and tighten the four screws (1) that secure the legs to the floor panel. Tighten the screws to 54 N.m

(40 ft. lbs.).

SEAT BELT AND RETRACTOR

DESCRIPTION

AUTOMATIC LOCKING RETRACTOR

The seat belt retractors used in all seating positions include an inertia-type, emergency locking mechanism as
standard equipment. However, the retractor locking mechanisms for the front passenger and both second row
outboard seating positions are mechanically switchable from an emergency locking retractor to an automatic
locking retractor. The primary function of this feature is to securely accommodate a child seat in any of these
seating positions of the vehicle without the need for a self-cinching seat belt tip half latch plate unit or another
supplemental device that would be required to prevent the seat belt webbing from unwinding freely from the
retractor spool of an inertia-type emergency locking retractor mechanism.

The automatic locking mechanism is integral to the seat belt and retractor unit and is concealed beneath a
molded plastic cover located on one side of the retractor spool. The automatic locking mechanism cannot be
adjusted or repaired and, if ineffective or damaged, the entire seat belt and retractor unit must be replaced.

OPERATION

AUTOMATIC LOCKING RETRACTOR

The locked mode of the automatic locking retractor is engaged and the retractor is switched from operating as a
standard inertia-type emergency locking retractor by first buckling the combination lap and shoulder belt
buckle. Then grasp the shoulder belt and pull all of the webbing out of the retractor. Once all of the belt
webbing is extracted from the spool, the retractor will automatically become engaged in the pre-locked
automatic locking mode and will make a light, audible clicking or ratcheting sound as the shoulder belt is
allowed to retract to confirm that the automatic locking mode is now engaged. Once the automatic locking
mode is engaged, the retractor will remain locked and the belt will remain tight around whatever it is
restraining.

The retractor is returned to standard emergency locking (inertia) mode by unbuckling the combination lap and
shoulder belt buckle and allowing the belt webbing to be almost fully retracted onto the retractor spool. The
emergency locking mode is confirmed by the absence of the light, audible clicking or ratcheting sound as the
belt webbing retracts. This mode will allow the belt to unwind from and wind onto the retractor spool freely
unless and until a predetermined inertia load is sensed, or until the retractor is again switched to the automatic
locking mode.

REMOVAL

SECOND ROW CENTER SEAT BELT AND RETRACTOR

2007 Dodge Nitro R/T

2007 RESTRAINTS Service Information - Nitro

Fig. 69: Identifying Second Row Center Seat Belt Retractor, Seat Back Panel, Bezel, Screw & Anchor
Unit
Courtesy of CHRYSLER LLC

1. Remove the left second row seat belt buckle and center seat belt lower anchor unit (5) from the rear floor

panel and separate them from each other. See REMOVAL.

2. Remove the second row seat from the vehicle as a unit and place it on a suitable work surface. Be certain

to take the proper precautions to prevent the trim cover from receiving cosmetic damage during the
following procedures. Refer to REMOVAL .

WARNING:

To avoid serious or fatal injury during and following any seat belt or child
restraint anchor service, carefully inspect all seat belts, buckles,
mounting hardware, retractors, tether straps, and anchors for proper
installation, operation, or damage. Replace any belt that is cut, frayed, or
torn. Straighten any belt that is twisted. Tighten any loose fasteners.
Replace any belt that has a damaged or ineffective buckle or retractor.
Replace any belt that has a bent or damaged latch plate or anchor plate.
Replace any child restraint anchor or the unit to which the anchor is
integral that has been bent or damaged. Never attempt to repair a seat
belt or child restraint component. Always replace damaged or ineffective
seat belt and child restraint components with the correct, new and
unused replacement parts .

NOTE:

All seat belt retractors except the driver side front and the second row center
retractor include a switchable automatic locking mechanism. See
DESCRIPTION.

NOTE:

The anchor plates for the left outboard second row seat belt buckle and the
second row center seat belt anchor are secured to each other by a soft metal
grommet as an assembly aid during the manufacturing process and, once
removed, the grommet does not require reinstallation.

2007 Dodge Nitro R/T

2007 RESTRAINTS Service Information - Nitro

3. Remove the bezel (3), trim cover and foam from the 60 percent seat back panel (2). Refer to

DISASSEMBLY .

4. Remove the screw (4) that secures the second row center seat belt retractor (1) to the seat back panel.

5. Remove the second row center seat belt and retractor unit from the seat back panel.

SECOND ROW OUTBOARD SEAT BELT AND RETRACTOR

Fig. 70: Identifying Nut, Second Row Seat Back, Outboard Seat Bracket, Stud, Rear Floor Panel, Seat
Cushion & Seat Belt Lower Anchor
Courtesy of CHRYSLER LLC

1. Reach through the outboard opening between the second row seat back (2) and seat cushion (6) to access

and remove the nut (1) that secures the seat belt lower anchor (7) and the forward end of the outboard seat
bracket (3) to the rear floor panel (5).

WARNING:

To avoid serious or fatal injury during and following any seat belt or child
restraint anchor service, carefully inspect all seat belts, buckles,
mounting hardware, retractors, tether straps, and anchors for proper
installation, operation, or damage. Replace any belt that is cut, frayed, or
torn. Straighten any belt that is twisted. Tighten any loose fasteners.
Replace any belt that has a damaged or ineffective buckle or retractor.
Replace any belt that has a bent or damaged latch plate or anchor plate.
Replace any child restraint anchor or the unit to which the anchor is
integral that has been bent or damaged. Never attempt to repair a seat
belt or child restraint component. Always replace damaged or ineffective
seat belt and child restraint components with the correct, new and
unused replacement parts .

NOTE:

All seat belt retractors except the driver side front and the second row center
retractor include a switchable automatic locking mechanism. See
DESCRIPTION.

2007 Dodge Nitro R/T

2007 RESTRAINTS Service Information - Nitro