Regent intall today- long

[knkdt]

I received a Regent today from the Kyle Miller foundation for my 49lb almost 4 year old dd, yay!!!! After troubles finding a tech in the area, they contacted me on Tuesday and gave me the location to pick it up and have it installed. So I take my adorable children 60 miles to Denver to have the Regent installed and ds's new FPSVD looked over (I know that it is correct) at the West Metro Fire Station. I get there and meet the tech, he seems nice, and appears to be looking over the seat as I fill out paper work. He then takes the seat to the car and "installs" it in about half a minute. Then I say shouldn't you see where her shoulders line-up. Then she climbs in and he says "Looks good. For FF you want the harness right below her shoulders." This is news to me, so I ask him to refer to the manual. He has no idea where it is :eek:. I show him it is conveniently located under the cover. So we fix the straps and he places shelf liner under the seat (I have cloth seats if it matters) and reconnects the latch. He checks the baby's seat, and says it is fine. I just left and went down the road to fix the regent in a gas-station parking lot, short belt path with top tether. I got in rock solid, but have on question. I had to use a locking clip because I could not get my seat belt to lock, and it rests inside of the seat under the cover. It is half an inch from the plate which is resting just off the seat. Is this OK??? Do I need to twist the female end of the buckle???? I couldn't get a good a pic because it is so dark right now but maybe able to tomorrow.

[LuvBug03]

what vehicle do you have? you need to read your entire manual as well. If you have a newer DOM you will have to go by the revised instructions which have specifications based on weight.

[Defrost]

Sorry about your less-than-satisfactory experience!

Do you have the recline bar in?

[knkdt]

I have a 2001 Grand AM. Yes, I rescued the recline bar from the trash (forgot that part). It has a sticker on it saying attach before installing the seat, could he really have thought it was packaging???? I had to use force to get the bar to stay in tight, but yes the recline bar is in place. The seat's DOM is 8/7/07, so I know I need to use the new instructions.

[Defrost]

So, what kind of car is it? And you're wanting to get the belts to lock, if possible, so you can take the locking clip off?

[crunchierthanthou]

are you sure your car doesn't have locking latchplates? I believe many of that era of GM cars use those instead of locking at the retractor (either ALR or switchable).

If you do use the locking clip, you need to make sure that it's not being pushed against by any part of the shell. I think it's okay if you can only get it 1/2" instead of 1" from the latchplate. I little farther is optimal, but I'd call it good as long as it's not touching the latchplate.

[safeinthecar]

are you sure your car doesn't have locking latchplates? I believe many of that era of GM cars use those instead of locking at the retractor (either ALR or switchable).

If you do use the locking clip, you need to make sure that it's not being pushed against by any part of the shell. I think it's okay if you can only get it 1/2" instead of 1" from the latchplate. I little farther is optimal, but I'd call it good as long as it's not touching the latchplate.

You shouldn't need a locking clip in a 2001 Grand AM. They have a rubber sheild type thingy around the latchplate that holds the belt tight. Or at least my Grandfather's 99 does. The thing is it doesn't really look like a locking latchplate, but it is. Buckle the seat belt around nothing, then pull on the lap portion of the belt. If you can't pull it looser without extreme force, then you don't need the locking clip. That being said, the locking clip shouldn't hurt anything either as long as the install is good. As far as the locking clip being in the belt path, that's ok as long as it lays flat.

Kimberly

[NatenMaddiesMommy]

To the OP - Please contact Laura at the Foundation regarding your experience with this technician. This is the exact type of situation the Foundation is trying to avoid. Please PM me if you don't have her email address.

[knkdt]

I am contacting Laura in regard to the installation issues, and to thank them. I just needed to know about the locking clip issue. Thanks everyone!!!! The seat is rock solid, and I have read the manual several times so I am feeling fairly confident about the install now.

[bombedier]

I discussed the installation and sent the instructions to the instructor based at this Fire Station - apparently this is not who installed the seat. I will be reporting this tomorrow morning. I am incensed to say the least!

[bombedier]

FYI as a follow up - I contacted the instructor that I had asked to perform this installation to report these issues. She has already responded to me with her apologies this morning and that she will be taking the appropriate steps to educate the technician on what he did incorrectly. She will also be contacting the OP directly to ensure the seat is correctly installed. I have also provided the OP with details of two local CPS techs in her town.