Front Seat Belt - Design Change
86hyundai01Group: BODY
Number: 009
Date: AUGUST, 1986
Model: EXCEL
Subject
FRONT SEAT BELT DESIGN CHANGE
The following information is to assist you in addressing questions from your customers relating to the front seat belts in early production Excels.
Both the early production and newer production types of Excel front seat belts exceed the applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard.
The recently announced crash test results are part of the New Car Assessment Program conducted by the DOT. This experimental program conducts dynamic crash tests at a significantly higher energy level than is required by the applicable safety standard. Many experts believe that the higher speed experimental crash tests do not fully reflect what might happen in actual accident situations. It is undisputed that small differences in test dummy placement and safety belt position on the test dummy can and do produce extremely large variations in recorded test results. Indeed, the recent test results obtained by DOT vary significantly from test results obtained by Hyundai and by independent testing laboratories.
The early production Excel seat belts were designed and tested to provide occupant protection by meeting the DOT safety standards. As with other vehicle components, Hyundai was not satisfied with just meeting the DOT requirements. It continued research and development to further refine and improve the operation of the front seat belts. This has resulted in a production change to the front seat belts installed in U.S. models.
The new design seat belt system requires the use of a larger and different shape of retractor (the mechanism that allows the belt to extend and retract, and which locks the belt during a collision). This new retractor necessitated body structure changes to allow its secure attachment to the vehicle (see illustration).
As a result, the new design front seat belts cannot be installed in an early production Excel.
For your customers to receive the greatest benefits from the use of any Excel seat belt, please refer them to the 1986 Excel Owner's Manual, pages 7 through 12.
Part Information
Part Name Old Part Number New Part Number
Front Seat Belt 88801-21200-XX LH 88801-21210-XX LH
88802-21200-XX RH 88802-21210-XX RH
XX = Applicable Color Code
Production Change Effective
Date VIN
4/26/86 KMHLAXXJXGU061138 (5 DR)
4/26/86 KMHLFXXJXGU029712 (4 DR)
Interchangeability
Code N Old not interchangeable with New