Check my install? Pics

[TracyRee]

Park Ave. BLVD in 2004 Forester, center position with shoulder/lap belt.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2153/1498888786_1835b1b9bb.jpg?v=1191693859



http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2115/1498039191_26c4ea4703.jpg?v=1191693785

I get about an inch of movement in the belt path and would like it to be rock solid. Any tips?

[crunchierthanthou]

You can twist both buckle stalks (the nylon webbing that attaches the female ends of the seatbelt buckles to the vehicle frame). You can do the one that the seatbelt buckles to when it comes from the ceiling, the one that the latchplate buckles into, or both. You can do up to three full twists per stalk (with the fewer, the better).

Is the buckle for the outboard seat interfering with getting it tight enough? It looks like it's behind/under the shell in the view from the driver's side.

[TracyRee]

Is it ok to have the outboard buckles under the seat like that? (you can see what I mean better in the 2nd picture) I can still squeeze the buckles into them, but it's not ideal. Stupid skinny center seat.

[jdchic3]

Did you kneel in it? When I had DD FF (I know, I know, it's before I knew better) I would kneel in her seat and tighten the seatbelt while kneeling and I always got a shake-the-car install. I just put all my weight into it.

[TracyRee]

Yes, I had my entire body in it while installing it. It's tight, but I can get movement.

Maybe I need DH to kneel in it, but I want to be able to do it myself....

[Defrost]

It doesn't look like you need to twist the buckle stalks - I think you can get it tight enough simply by shoving the base closer to the bight. Use your knee to push the base as close to the seatback as possible, buckle, lock the seatbelt (instead of using the lock-off), and tighten. You should be able to lock the seat belt by pulling it ALL the way out - it will pull back in, but you won't be able to pull it out any further until you take the carseat out. You should be able to get it quite solid that way. (And don't forget the top tether once you're done!)

Can you push the buckles for the outboard seats to the side, so that the base fits between them? It looks like you could fit the base between them with a bit of wiggling.

[TracyRee]

Thanks :) I tried again and it is rock solid!!

Just wish I would have check DOM first, now I don't want to take it out...... :P

[crunchierthanthou]

Thanks :) I tried again and it is rock solid!!

Just wish I would have check DOM first, now I don't want to take it out...... :P

If it's at all recent (as in, within the past several years), then you won't need to uninstall it to find the DOM. The Britax stickers are under the lip of the top of shell next to where the child's head goes.

[TracyRee]

If it's at all recent (as in, within the past several years), then you won't need to uninstall it to find the DOM. The Britax stickers are under the lip of the top of shell next to where the child's head goes.

OH GOOD!!! Thanks so much! I'll check it when we leave today :)

[TracyRee]

So I found a green sticker that says 9-23-07 so I think that's it. Not to shabby :)