1998 bonneville SLE seatbelt locked

[1995 gmc]

the passenger side seatbelt in my 1998 Bonneville SLE is folded over in the mechanism (i can see it folded around the pulley) and won't fully extend. i can slowley pull it out maybe 1/4" at a time but it gets stuck at the folded area. i've tried poking at the release mechanism with a screw driver. no luck. do i need to remove the seatbelt covers to access the seatbelt mechanism? and if so, how do i remove the covers. do i need to remove the seat to remove the covers?

P.S. I'm going to get an auto repair manual tomorrow. If I can find one for sale.