Driver'* is no longer retracting...darn it!

I am generally pretty careful about not pulling it all the way out, but with a larger jacket on, I guess I screwed up.
It has done this once before, and I somehow managed to get it to retract, not today tho.
I sprayed some wd-40 back in there hoping that would help, so far no go.
Any ideas to make it work again appreciated.
I wonder if a new retractor is even available for it anymore.
Should I try slamming on the brakes, and hope it starts working again?

Outside of giving it several hard tugs, about the only thing to do is take it apart and free it.....seriously doubt those are still in stock...taking that plastic apart without breaking it, is a bugger.....

YA the FSM is very vague and requires headrest removal/ no component shots I can see.
Will have to dig further & see what I can find about removal.

Not sure how you replace it, but I did find the part, it is $$$!
You may be better off finding one from a scrap yard, maybe you'd be lucky enough to find the right color.

88893496 BELT & RETRACTOR for 1997 Buick Park Avenue

Wait that is the rear one, lef tme see if I can find the front one..

Ok that is odd, the one listed for the front looks totally wrong, the one listed for the rear looks closer to being right, wtf...

12459804 BELT & RETRACTOR for 1997 Buick Park Avenue

Part of it may be the electronic raise & lower head rest system on it.
I believe there also was a recall due to tangling, but I think they just added that round slotted piece, where top of seat belt goes in.

Lots of complaints online regarding failure of retractors.
I called the dealer and no parts are available anymore.
I will have to make it in to the dealer & see if they have a schematic diagram for removal.
On a positive note, once it is removed it can be packaged up and sent back east and in 24 hours this company will make repairs & return it to me.
$65 Seat Belt Pretensioner Repair

Good luck man, hopefully you can get it fixed yourself, if not at least you found a place to repair it.

I think your good luck William was enough for it to fix itself!
Got to the car after sitting for 2 cold days, & wouldn't ya know it...it retracted by itself!
Back working again ..for how long..? I think a spring in there is wearing out.

Sometimes all one needs is a little bit of luck!
Glad to hear it is working again, hopefully it was just showing you how angry it was for stretching it to the max, lol
Maybe it just needs a little lube, too bad it is hard to tell right where that part that holds it is, you could drill a tiny hole in the cover to it, and give it a squirt, then again that may do nothing, just thinking outside of the box again, normal repairs aren't always the best fix, ok so maybe they are most of the time, but there are those rare occasions where non conventional methods work better..