How to fix seatbelts that won't extend, 1998-2001 Dodge Ram

If you are having trouble getting the seatbelts in your older Dodge Ram to extend enough to put them on, this video is for you. This video is a deep dive into the seatbelt control timer module design in the 1998-2001 Dodge Ram. This iteration of the Ram had the seatbelt spool built into the seat back rather the B pillar of the cab. With this design, rear passengers could enter and exit the vehicle without having to sweep the front seat belt strap out of the way. So rather than using a pendulum device that might be problematic with variance in seat angle, they designed an electronic timer module to unlock seat belts. Ultimately that design was problematic for various warranty callbacks, so Chrysler abandoned the design after 2001. They no longer make this module, and with the small number of vehicles still on the road, aftermarket companies don’t make one, either. This video explores how this circuit is designed, it discusses various repair options, and it shows a general game plan for assessing dysfunctional automotive modules. A week after this video was released the module failed to wake up again. Today I published a part 2 of this video set to describe a definitive work around repair that I think will last for the life of the vehicle, it's here https://youtu.be/G20Drp_a4MM?si=Rp_s9G9jzwSwm3FM All automotive repairs involve risk, so a wise back yard mechanic needs to asses his own skill set when deciding whether to proceed. The information contained here is largely taken from the Chrysler dealers repair manual, but there are no guarantees as to safety or accuracy. Any misadventure you encounter if you decide to move forward with DIY repair is on you.