Back for some more advice! Anybody have experience replacing the front seat belts on a 2005 Montero? It seems to be fairly straightforward, but the digital repair manual says:

Required Special Tool:
• MB991958: Scan Tool (MUT-III Sub Assembly)
• MB991824: Vehicle Communication Interface
(V.C.I.)
• MB9991827: MUT-III USB Cable
• MB991911: MUT-III Main Harness B (Vehicles
without CAN communication system)

Why would I need any of these tools just to replace the seat belts?

Thanks,
Richard

 

Sorry, no experience with that. Sounds like you have the manual. Read the section on the seat belt replacement. It is possible that all those electronic tools are needed as a safety check after repair is complete. For example - to confirm that the seat belt LOCKED signal is properly communicated to the computer (perhaps there is some pre-tensioning happening if you do crash, etc.). If this is a passenger side seat belt, then it also needs to communicate with the air bag system as well. Read up on it to understand the process better, then decide if you are comfortable with purely mechanical part of it. I would suggest that you disconnect the battery when you are doing that, just in case to avoid any stray signals from seat belt to computer and back

 

I sent in my front seat belt unit to a business back east that replaces and repairs the belt. Cheap and easy to take it out with a wrench, send it in, get it back, and reinstall. If the unit itself is broken, not just a bad belt, they can help you. Just google seat belt replace. They rebuild air bags as well. Great service.

 

Thanks for the reply. I found a new OEM belt assembly on Ebay for $100 and it looks and works great.