having problems

[Michelle]

My daughter has a Graco Comfort Sport and its installed with a seat belt rear facing. But it moves...a lot side to side. I will put my weight on the seat and tighten the belt but it still doesnt seem right. My other daughter has a cosco scenera and that one seems to be kind of the same. Well it doesnt move as much but it still does a little. Im not sure what im doing wrong....

[CDNTech]

What vehicle is it going in?
How are you locking the seatbelt?
Are you checking for movement AT the belt path? It's normal for the seat to have movement at the back of the seat, you need to check for less than 1 inch of movement AT the beltpath.

[Michelle]

usually it is in a 94 explore..94 or 96, but even when i put it in other cars, a 2000 honda accord and 2005 chevy silverado its always the same. Im not sure what you mean by locking the seatbelt? or the belt path...?

[crunchierthanthou]

you have to lock the seat belt in some way in order to properly secure the carseat. You can't just pull it across and buckle it like you would over yourself.

does the seatbelt stay locked when you pull it all the way out and then let it back in slowly? does the buckle part of the seatbelt lock in place when the strap parts are parallel? are you using a locking clip?

at the belt path means where the seat belt goes through the carseat and buckles- not up near the head or at the back.

[CDNTech]

Definitely dig out the owner's manual for the vehicle the car seat is going in and flip to the Safety Section. There should be instructions on how to install Child Restraints in your vehicle. Take a look there first to see if that helps clear anything up.

It sounds like you are not locking your seatbelts at all... this is really dangerous and as soon as you have locked your seatbelts, that should fix your movement issue.

Read both your vehicle owner's manual (Child Restraint Section) and your carseat manual... together they should tell you how to properly install your carseat. Then post back with what ever additional questions you have.

[Michelle]

ok...maybe thats what im doing wrong then. I never lock the belt. Im not sure how to do that. When i pull the seat belt out all the way i have to hold it so it doesnt retract back in...so no i guess it doesnt lock. Im not using a lock clip...im not even sure what that is, but just the belt. I will have to check the belt path then next they use their seats...

[Michelle]

Definitely dig out the owner's manual for the vehicle the car seat is going in and flip to the Safety Section. There should be instructions on how to install Child Restraints in your vehicle. Take a look there first to see if that helps clear anything up.

It sounds like you are not locking your seatbelts at all... this is really dangerous and as soon as you have locked your seatbelts, that should fix your movement issue.

Read both your vehicle owner's manual (Child Restraint Section) and your carseat manual... together they should tell you how to properly install your carseat. Then post back with what ever additional questions you have.


Thanks! Ill do that!

[CDNTech]

http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/lockincss.aspx

That link will explain the different ways a seatbelt may lock.

I can't stress enough that you need to read your vehicle owner's manual under the Child Restraint section to understand how your vehicle's seatbelts lock.

Do NOT drive anywhere until you have figured out how to lock your seatbelts... the seats are NOT installed without the seatbelt being locked.

[papooses]

You can also call 1-866-SEATCHECK to find your local technician.... Hopefully the link above + your manuals will give you the information you need: just remember that the seat must not move more than 1" at the belt path.

[Michelle]

I am really confused. The car we use most of the time is my dads when he gives us rides and from what i can tell from that website posted it is this description: ELR – Emergency Locking Retractor: Allows the belt to be freely extended or rewound. It locks only when the vehicle slows, changes direction or stops suddenly.

But I still dont know what to do to lock the seat belts?? He doesnt have the manual for his car. We are going somewhere tomorrow and I really need to figure this out.

[skaterbabscpst]

What's the make, model and year of his car? Sometims we may be familiar with it and be able to tell you how to lock the belt.

All cars after 1996 have locking belts, and many older cars do, espcially if they're domestic models (GM, Ford, Jeep, ect)

[Michelle]

He has a 98 Ford Explore....

[skaterbabscpst]

Then he probably has switchable retractors on the lap-shoulder belts. To the best of my knowledge, For uses switchable retractors and not locking latchplates (except on lap-only belts.)

SLOWLY pull the belt out as far as it will go, if you pull too quickly the emergency lock will engage and prevent the rectractor from switching to lock mode. When tightening the belt, pull it parallel to itself. Sometimes it helps to install the seat all the way, THEN lock the belt, as by then it's good and tight already.

[Michelle]

thank you for your help!!! :)

[skaterbabscpst]

:) If you need more help, don't hesitate to ask!