To further increase the safety level of Opel vehicles, as of Model Year 2002 a seat belt load limiter will be installed at the seat belts in the Astra-G car line.
The seat belt load limiters are integrated in the reel retractors of the seat belts. They are designed to prevent the seat belt from "cutting into" the occupant's body. In extreme cases, this "cutting in" can lead to internal injuries.
The function principle of the seat belt load limiter will be described below.
- On activation, the pawl (1) retains the lock wheel (2).
- When the seat belt is pulled out, the torsion bar twists above a certain force level, the same as the deployment threshold of the pyrotechnic seat belt tensioners.
- The twisting of the torsion bar reduces the energy that would otherwise act on the occupant's body. This reduces the risk of injury for the occupants.
• Service: After every accident, in which the seat belt tensioner(s) was/were deployed, the reel retractor(s) must be replaced. Further information can be found in group "C" of the "Astra-G" Service Instructions.