# Help - Need to replace a seatbelt buckle, '94 Jeep

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-need-to-replace-a-seatbelt-buckle-94-jeep/389961>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 29, 2007, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-need-to-replace-a-seatbelt-buckle-94-jeep/389961 "2007-01-29T14:05:25Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Hung\_Mung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@Hung\_Mung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hung_Mung)\
**Post date:** [January 29, 2007, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-need-to-replace-a-seatbelt-buckle-94-jeep/389961/1 "2007-01-29T14:05:25Z")

</div>

I’ve got a '94 Jeep Cherokee that, after 13 years of good service, has lost the driver’s seatbelt buckle. I went to buckle up and instead of a satisfying _click_ I got nothing.

So, here’s what I’m thinking. I need to save money badly, so I don’t want to take this thing in to a mechanic and spend three times the value of the part to get it fixed. I think I can remove the center buckle from the backseat and replace the one in the front. It’s been years since anyone’s ridden in the back of my car anyway.

Are there any reasons why this wouldn’t work? Any complications or tricks to such a procedure? I’m confident I can do this, but I could really use any advice, tips, tricks, etc.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![cornflakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@cornflakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes)\
**Post date:** [January 29, 2007, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-need-to-replace-a-seatbelt-buckle-94-jeep/389961/2 "2007-01-29T14:30:12Z")

</div>

I don’t know if a rear would work, but you could probably get a replacement front buckle at a salvage yard for ten to twenty dollars. I just checked my '94 Cherokee, and the buckle is attached with a Torx headed bolt. The round button lifts off of the plastic cover so you can get to the bolt.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Shecky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@Shecky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shecky)\
**Post date:** [January 29, 2007, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-need-to-replace-a-seatbelt-buckle-94-jeep/389961/3 "2007-01-29T14:59:44Z")

</div>

Either the junkyard or eBay. Another good idea would be [jeepsunlimited.com](http://jeepsunlimited.com) and use the Wanted to Buy category.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\
**Post date:** [January 29, 2007, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-need-to-replace-a-seatbelt-buckle-94-jeep/389961/4 "2007-01-29T18:05:53Z")

</div>

While the latch from the rear might engage the tab on the front, you can’t separate either buckle portion (latch or tab) from its belt. It’s pretty unlikely that the rear latch belt is the same length as the front one, and it may even have different mounting on its other end. Nevertheless, it might work if you’re lucky. If it doesn’t, used makes sense.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\
**Post date:** [January 29, 2007, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-need-to-replace-a-seatbelt-buckle-94-jeep/389961/5 "2007-01-29T20:35:02Z")

</div>

The leaf spring failed in the seatbelt latch of my 20 year old beater, resulting in the symptoms you discribe.

I was able to swap in some bits from the never-used middle rear seat buckle.