Ford Repair: Seat belt, flat screwdriver, retractor

Question
Seat belt is all the way out on a 1999 Tarus on the passenger side and will not retract.  How do I get it to retract?

Answer
Most often, the belt has flipped over or folded in the retractor, and the only way to get it out is to remove the trim paneling around the retractor and use a screwdriver to open the lock mechanism so you can pull it all the way out, then let it reel back in slowly without any kinks or folds.  The trim should pop off with a flat screwdriver if you're careful.  It's also possible that the retractor is broken, in which case you'd need to replace it.  They can be expensive from dealers as they come with the entire seatbelt, but sometimes junkyards offer a bargain on such parts.   Hope this helps,
Jason