Graco replacement tether?

[tawnylee]

Graco has been out of stock on the tether's for, well, about 6 months. I asked if a universal one would be sufficient but they said that they were too different. Does anybody have an extra they could sell? I'll pay S&H.... I really really really need one for my dd!

[snowbird25ca]

Graco has been out of stock on the tether's for, well, about 6 months. I asked if a universal one would be sufficient but they said that they were too different. Does anybody have an extra they could sell? I'll pay S&H.... I really really really need one for my dd!

Is it the Canadian Graco you've talked to? I'd ask them point blank how you're supposed to tether your car seat if they can't provide a replacement when you're legally required to tether the seat.

How old is the seat? Would it still be under warranty? If it's not very old, then I'd push for them to replace the entire seat since they're not able to replace a part that you're legally required to have. It's a tether strap for goodness sakes - they put them on their new seats all the time, how can they not have one in stock? Just doesn't make sense why they're telling you that. :confused:

At any rate, I can't help with the tether, but here's the CDN contact info:

Please contact our Customer Service Department with any questions you may have concerning parts, use or maintenance.

When you contact us, please have your product's model number and serial number (if applicable) ready so that we may help you efficiently.

Montreal: (514) 344-3533

Elsewhere in Canada: 1-800-667-8184

email: service@elfe.ca

Where abouts in Canada are you? Maybe if you have an organization locally that does seat checks they'll have some extras?

[tawnylee]

I'm in Kelowna BC. Yes, it's the cdn Graco...they've been so stinkin useless! I can't figure out why they can't just give me a strap off a new one either. I told them I'd pay! I DON'T have a tether... Illegal and unsafe. Not really how I want my dd being driven around, that's for sure!
As far as getting them to replace anything, it's a no go. I didn't know really anything about carseats when I got this one, didn't keep the receipt, didn't register it, etc.
If anybody has used a universal tether on this seat before, can you let me know how you rigged it? TIA!

[CDNTech]

How old is the seat? Where did you buy it from? Did it come with the tether or was it missing from the beginning?

If the tether was always missing and the seat is less than 6 months oldish, I'd probably just take it back to the store and return it. You don't always need a receipt to do this... it is a defective seat if it is missing the top tether and if it was missing the top tether, then who knows what else they forgot to do when putting it together.

[tawnylee]

The seat is about 4 years old. It had one, but I lost it in a move quite sometime ago. I didn't know until just a while ago that it was the law to have a tether. Nobody mentioned it ever!

[CDNTech]

Oops! Duplicate post.

[CDNTech]

Which carseat is it? make/model? How old is the child using it? Weight/height/torso height if you have it. You measure torso height by sitting her on the floor against a wall. Measure from the floor up to the top of her shoulder. Where are her shoulders in relation to the top slot... above or below and by how much?

[tawnylee]

It's a graco treasured cargo. Trinity is 4.5 yo, 41", torso height is 14", and she weighs 36 pounds.
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r70/tawny_lee/Gage923.jpg

[tawnylee]

Ok, a lady on another board has a Graco tether that belongs to a US seat. Is it ok to use american tethers? Please let it be ok!!

[CDNTech]

Those tether straps have a loop at one end of the strap and the tether clip at the other end with a locking latchplate adjuster in the middle of it to tighten and loosen the tether strap.

There are two holes on the back of the seat near the top with a thick bar of plastic between them to re-inforce the tether strap. The tether strap goes through the top hole and comes out the bottom hole. Then you loop the tether clip end through the loop at the opposite end to form a 'knot'. Most universal tether straps will look identical to this type of tether strap. If you came into a seat check, this is the type of tether strap we would put on your seat.

Off hand, I know that Canadian Tire sells the ones I am talking about. I believe that Walmart and Toys R Us will also carry them.

For now, I would purchase a universal tether strap to use with your seat. Given your daughter's size, she really does need a tether strap.

ICBC does seatchecks in B.C. I would also contact them and see if they have someone in your area doing seatchecks. They can check your seat and make sure that the tether strap is put on correctly.

I would also contact Graco again... sometimes you just need a decent CS rep. How long did they say their tether straps are on backorder?

[CDNTech]

Ok, a lady on another board has a Graco tether that belongs to a US seat. Is it ok to use american tethers? Please let it be ok!!

The tether straps should be the same, but I would rather have you go and get a universal tether strap in Canada to use with your seat.

You have no idea of knowing how that tether strap has been treated, if it's been exposed to ironing, chemicals, ect. I'd get a new universal one from here instead.

[tawnylee]

See, I bought a universal one, but they (graco) say it's not the right type. All though, universal only has one meaning though, right? LOL...I'm going to go grab the seat and try to figure it out. Thanks so much!

[CDNTech]

If you want, you can take a picture of the universal tether strap you bought and post it. We'll be able to tell you if it's the same as Graco's.

Honestly most tether straps can be used on most carseats that come with a tether strap (all seats in Canada)... the technicallity is that it wasn't provided by the manufacturer and could void liability of the manufacturer. It then becomes a parental decision to not use a tether strap or to use a tether strap that wasn't technically approved for use with your seat.

I can tell you that we put universal tether straps on carseats that do not have tether straps at our seat checks. A tether strap is required by law and your seat is safer having a tether strap then not having one. The important thing is to make sure it is put on correctly.

[tawnylee]

Ok, so I'm going to use this universal one... would somebody be able to post a pic on how to thread it, or just a pic of the back of a carseat to see how it looks when it's all said and done? I'm pretty sure I could figure it out by that.

[snowbird25ca]

Manual for your car seat: (I think you said treasured cargo?)
http://www.elfe.net/common/sitemedia/8486HMP_ISPB024CB%20&%20ISPB012CA%20Manual.pdf

pg 6 shows diagram of the seat. It's not super clear, but if you look at Jen's directions and the back of your seat in combination with the instruction manual it should be easy enough. :)

eta: pg 32 has diagram of the shell without any belts showing - you can see the 2 holes in the middle of the shell that Jen was describing.

[QuassEE]

I ordered a Graco tether from them for use with my Century NextStep while I was living in the US. It was a strap with the tether hook on one end, and a loop on the other. Think of it like a needle with a head on one end and a point on the other. If yours looks like this...

There should be two holes in the top of the shell of the seat, in the plastic shell. You thread one end through the hole from the back of the seat, around the front of the shell (but still under the cover, of course--there aren't any cover holes there) and back out the other hole. Then you take the point end of your needle (the tether hook) and thread that through your hole (webbing loop).. Pull on the tether hook end until all of the fabric and buckle from around the tether hook is pulled through, and the loop should pull tight.

Whether this is appropriate for your seat/tether combination, I have no idea without taking a look at them. I used a Graco tether with a Century seat, per Graco's instructions (post-buyout).. My new car had tether anchors back in 1997 and nobody in the US had any idea what a tether even was ;)

-N.

[tawnylee]

Okee dokee...I am pretty sure I got this all straightened out! I followed this diagram of how to install the tether, because I have one without the loop, and it was really confusing, lol. I can yard on this thing and it will NOT loosen, so I'm pretty sure it's tight.
Check this diagram out and see if it's ok....? I'm very open to critisism! Let me have it!
http://recall.djgusa.com/services/productrecall/aotetherinstruc/aoenginstruc.pdf

[CDNTech]

That's a butterfly tether strap. The important thing to make sure is that you 'double back' the loose strap on the clip. If you can see the complete O of the gold ring, then it is not doubled back. By doubling back the loose part of the strap, you will only be able to see a C shape of the gold ring. Let me know if that doesn't make sense... or post a picture of how you have yours secured.

[tawnylee]

yup, all I see is a 'C'!! Woo hoo!