Car seat touches door...

[Unregistered]

Hi,

I'm new here and hoping someone can help me. I've tried searching for the answer but I just can't find it.

I have 2 FF MA's and a RF RA that I'm trying to fit in a 2002 Nissan Altima. I've got them all in, and they're solid, BUT... the MA on the passenger side hits the door when it's closed. Is this ok? The MA on the driver's side isn't touching at the moment, but it's so close I think it will if I try to shift them over.

Thanks!
Jenn

[lynsgirl]

If it's just touching, that's ok. I wouldn't be quite as comfortable about touching the door if you have to squish the door shut or if it can in any way move the seat when you shut the door.

I am far too familiar with your plight :p (had 3 harnessed seats across in a Subaru Legacy for quite a while. :thumbsdown: NOT my idea of fun installs lol). What I found I sometimes had to do if I had a seat that made the door have to be forced/squished closed is to start over. Move the seat on the other side even just over half an inch, if possible and reinstall. Reinstall the center seat as puzzled/meshed/close as possible to the outboard seat. Do the same thing with the other outboard seat - the one that was touching the door. See if that gives you even that tiniest bit of clearance you need. I hope this all makes sense and maybe you don't even need to reinstall your seats :), since it might not be how I'm describing. I hope so and kudos :thumbsup: to you for working/sweating your way through 3-across a not very big back seat :D.

[papooses]

If it's touching, that's perfectly fine -- it's difficult to close the door, then I'd call the carseat manufacturer to get their opinion....

Also, we can often be fooled by 3 across situations to think the seats are tight, but may not be independently secure as required: I like to install the center seat (make sure it moves less than 1" at the belt path) then install the outboard seats so that you think they're tight enough & remove the center seat to re-check that that the outboard seats still do not move more than 1" at the belt path (you might need uninstall them all & start at the beginning to make sure it's correct now since installing the center seat will be more difficult with the outboard seats already in) :o

P.S. Britax said it was fine that my seats were pressing against the door in a tight 3 across situation in my Escape :)