Seat Belt - Scratching Center Console

I'm having an issue on my 2022 Tundra where the seat belts are digging into my center console on both the driver and passenger side. Has anyone else run into this and what have you done to protect the console? I'm thinking about putting some felt on the seat belt so it stops rubbing the plastic. It is not only scratching the hell out of it but it's turning a grayish white color and is getting worse and worse each day. Is there a way to get some color back into the plastic as well... even if I stop the belt from doing further damage?

 

Warranty

 

This wins. Make some aluminum guard plates maybe with some molle or whatever slots. When someone drops their phone, it'll catch it. Mount it to the bottom seat mount, so it doesnt slide with the seat.

or plexiglas.

 

Can you post some pictures?

 

Yea, here is the drivers side... the wife stole my truck so I couldn't get a picture earlier.

 

Thats not the trucks fault.

 

Damn. My truck has almost 4,000 miles and I just looked at my panel and it looks brand new. Do you wear a ring or does the buckle have some rough edges?

 

No, I don't wear anything like that and the buckle is smooth. I'm also 180 pounds so it's not me being a larger dude forcing the buckle into the console or anything, but it is f'n the console up good... I'm starting to get pissed.

 

I imagine this type of scenario but with seat belts

 

I don't even understand how are you are getting that to happen. Are you sitting up against the console with your hip?

 

I don't understand how it's happening either... I'm not grinding my hip into it or leaning on it or anything. Like I said I'm not a large dude either so it's not like my hip is just pushing into it constantly.

 

You can try to warranty it but I imagine they will tell you it is your own fault.

As with others in this thread I can't see what would be causing the damage as result of normal seatbelt use.

You said your wife drives the truck does she wear a ring or something that could be causing the damage?

 

All them g-forces. Maybe the wife knows how to doubletap the ebrake and turn off tcs.

 

It may be the angle, but which part is rubbing? The plastic on the seatbelt or the plastic on the receiving end of the buckle? You should be able to see wear on one of those parts too. Strange it's happening on both seats. Looks like you let your wife drive, so it could be something she's doing. Either one of you wear sharp rings?

 

I have to go to the dealership for my 5k service tomorrow so I'll see what they say... I need to figure out what to put on the seatbelt to stop it from getting worse. Does anyone know of anything I can apply to the plastic to get it back to black?

 

I mean she has her wedding ring on but the rock ain't that big! LOL!

 

It's 100% her ring. My Wife doesnt have the biggest rock either but yet she still managed to create the same exact markings on the passenger side. lucky i caught it early and it was easy buff out. Ask her to get in and put her seat belt on. Key thing is here dont tell what your are doing. If you watch where her hand is going i bet you ill see its her ring.

 

Marking their territory.

 

Tell your buds its wear and tear from your brass knuckles.

 

^^^This. If you are or the Mrs. are right-handed, you probably reach across your body with your left hand to unlock the seat belt buckle, using your thumb to push in the unlock button. I'll bet a ring is being drug across the console and making the scratches. This also works when buckling the seat belt with your left hand. This would not be the fault of the truck and could be remedied by applying a little flat paint to the area. Follow up with some 303 Aerospace spray to the entire console to give everything the same sheen. If the passenger side is not scratched, it is probably because the wife doesn't have a ring on her right hand. Have her turn that big honkin' diamond toward her palm when she enters or exits the truck.

 

Rivet on your jeans pocket?

 

Once discovered that my ring (ceramic men's ring) was damaging the top layer of leather on my steering wheel.

Switched to silicon rings. Much better for virtually any activity.

 

Well, it isn't anything we thought... my wife has a little bit of a booty and that is what is driving the seatbelt into the console. When I noticed it and started to mention it was her she gave me a look like she will stab me so I didn't talk about it after that... LOL! Now I just need to figure out what I can use to stop it and try to get some color back into the plastic at this point.

I'm sure Mr. bee will enjoy this answer a little too much.

 

I've heard of people using heat to restore interior plastics that have been scuffed, but it's obviously risky. As for preventing further damage, add a little square of PPF there and it should take the beating instead of the plastic. I'm fat and my driver side console has similar marks, so booty is to blame.

 

The view out the pano roof is probably better in the back seat.

 

Yea, I'm going to have to find something like that to just stop it from getting worse...As far as getting color back I don't think I will try any heat. Are there any folks on here that do detailing for a living that may know if there is some type of plastic restorer with black pigment in it or something? There has to be a product like that out there somewhere I would think.

 

The trouble with pigment will be trying to match it. Because it's abrasion induced discoloration, I don't think you will be able to dye it back and not have it look like a blotch.

 

Just in case you can't find a fix that looks good enough, those pieces are pretty easy to remove/replace. You should be able to buy each side for about $35 if you find the right dealer. Part nums:

Driver side: 589330C020C0
Passenger side: 589340C020C0

 

Classic case of hyper focus on a new vehicle. We are all guilty of this, wanting it to be "perfect". My suggestion would be to try and move on. It seems like minor wear and tear, and in a year or two there will be plenty more areas that show signs of use, which is fine. Try to remember that nobody will ever look as closely as you will. Try to enjoy the truck and good luck. I like the PPF idea if you want to slow down the wear in that area.