One strap tighter than other in Cosco Scenera

[Annark]

This is driving me nuts! One strap is tighter than the other, no matter what I do. It's the splitter plate, it seems to "pull" a bit to one side no matter how many times I try to straighten it out. The difference is minimal, but it's annoying me. My husband thinks I'm being too anal-retentive. Has anyone else ever had this problem? Any advice? Thanks!

[NZ Child Restraints]

have you tried making sure the straps are even before threading onto the splitter plate?

These belts thread under the seat out the sides (childs lap) buckle at the middle and over the straps so you will need to slide left to right or right to left and then up and over the shoulders, does that make sence?

[southpawboston]

^^^ yep, what the PP said. the harness is actually one long strap. if one side is tighter than the other, than it needs to have more pulled out from the lap section, causing the side with more slack to shorten.

[heyruthie]

i will add that you should try to do this with your dc out of the seat. sometimes, the straps get sticky or stiff, under the seat, and you have to pull hard to readjust them and get them evened out again.

[Annark]

Yes, I have it out of the car and have checked the whole loop of strap. It is tight everywhere it can be but still the splitter plate is a bit off-kilter, making one strap slightly looser than the other. I estimate the looseness would be equivalent to being able to get a pinky finger under one strap but not the other, once the child was in. DH thinks I'm worrying about nothing.

I could post pics, but not sure if I can in this forum?

Thanks for the help! :thumbsup:

[NZ Child Restraints]

yes you can post pics :)
HTH

[Annark]

I tried posting pics using the "insert Image" button but it asked for a URL? My pics are on my hard drive so no URL. I'm a new member and it does say "You may not post attachments" in my posting rules, does that mean I can't put up the pics?

Thanks for all the help! :)

[NZ Child Restraints]

I am not sure about the new member rules... but you need to upload the images to a server like flicker and then paste the url from that into here.

ie:

http://www.childrestraints.co.nz/images/Untitled-5.gif

becomes:

http://www.childrestraints.co.nz/images/Untitled-5.gif
when entered into the image link.

BTW isn't she beautiful?

[Annark]

Thanks for the help! Yes, your LO is gorgeous! :)

Ok, here is the first photo, showing the carseat turned upside down. You can see that the strap loop is as tight as it can be.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14765427@N08/1511438441/

And here is a close-up of how the splitter plate still favours one side, no matter how I try to adjust it.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14765427@N08/1512291576/in/photostream/

Any advice?? TIA...

[crunchierthanthou]

I can't see your photos. It really sounds to me like the pps are correct and the loop of strap that comprises the harness is uneven. Are both sides of the harness the same length when unhooked from the splitter plate?

To correct that, tug on the shorter side near where the harness comes out of the shell near where the child's hip would be.

EDIT, I was able to see the picutes by going directly to your flicker account. I do think the problem is due to uneven straps, and not caused by the splitter plate. I've had the same thing happen on my Scenera.

[NZ Child Restraints]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2303/1511438441_3ce84ae234.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2305/1512291576_35e285896a.jpg

[NZ Child Restraints]

above are the image of PP.

Left is longer so you need to thread a small portion across from the left side to the right.

[Annark]

Thanks ladies, for the advice and for the help with the photos too!

Well I've tried & tried to get the straps even but they just don't want to. The loop isn't catching on anything, it's as smooth and tight as can be all the way around. I called the store I bought it at & of course they said it was a manufacturer issue & I have to contact them. :mad: Not sure what to do, if I'm being too picky or not? When we strap DS in the one strap is a tiny bit looser, but still tight enough that you can't bunch it up or get a finger under it. Do you think it's worth sending it back to the manufacturer?

Thanks.

[joolsplus3]

I'm pretty sure that since it's all one long strap, you just need to adjust that portion that's under the bum, by pulling the lap straps to one side or the other, that it will even up the splitter plate.....:confused:

[Cindy&Connor]

I'm pretty sure that since it's all one long strap, you just need to adjust that portion that's under the bum, by pulling the lap straps to one side or the other, that it will even up the splitter plate.....:confused:
I agree. If you even up the straps by pulling on the lap portion, then that will even up the shoulder straps, which should even up the splitter plate.

[heyruthie]

I have a Scenera, and I just want to try to clarify what people are saying:

The straps need to be readjusted NOT at the shoulder level, but where the harness comes out at the hips. It's rather counter-intuitive, since the place you probably notice the straps being uneven is at the shoulders and chest area. But if you pull some slack out from the lower entry of the harness on the "short" side, the "long" side should suddenly get shorter.

I looked at your splitter plate, and it looks just like mine--no more "uneven" at all. Mine is just the same but works fine, since I realized I have to even the straps out at the hip level. On the Scenera, it is literally physically impossible for one strap to be longer than the other, because it is all one strap. You just have to make sure that the right hand portion of the strap and the left hand portion are even. (If you have a mental picture of the "center" of the strap, it should be directly underneath the middle of your DC's bottom, beneath the seat. If that "midpoint" gets shifted over to one side or the other, one strap will seem "longer."

[southpawboston]

i have had this problem as well, with my scenera.

also note that if the seat is RFing and is very tightly compressed into the seat, the "foot" that is normally used for FFing that is folded down inside the seat when RFing pushes up and pinches the strap as it runs sideways between the bottom openings. this may make it physically very difficult if not impossible to adjust without loosening the seat from the car. :twocents:

[o_mom]

See if this helps:
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p58/o_mom2/Seats002sa.jpg

[NZ Child Restraints]

or,

1. release belt buckle
2. unthread from splitter plate
3. pull belts through slots

4. hold belts up in the air and align both belts equally.

5. rethread belt.

6. continue using as you would normally.

[Annark]

Thanks ladies. I think I got it even. well much better anyway. It still seems to go a bit crooked when I pull on the harness adjustment strap but it's not a big difference at all.

Thanks for your help! :thumbsup: