evenflo triumph with town and country

[dglaser]

Hi,

We have 21 month old twins and a baby on the way. We want to move the twins to the the third row of our town and country. In the third row I only have one latch system so we have to use the seatbelt for the other carseat. The problem I am having is getting the seatbelt to lock. I used the locking clip on the lap part of the seatbelt but the shoulder strap is still loose. How can I get the shoulder belt to lock??

Thank you so much!
Diana

[An Aurora]

I'm not sure what year your T&C is, but most Chrysler vehicles have lightweight locking latchplates--the seatbelt locks at the buckle. I had those with my Jeep and loved them--very easy to install car seats with no tipping! With lightweight locking latchplates, you just have to tighten and that's it!

[Anise]

The lightweight locking latchplate on the seat belt doesn't always hold carseats snugly so you may be wise to use a locking clip to snug up the lap belt portion of the seatbelt. The shoulder belt may not lock because Chrysler is hoping that the "lightweight" locking latchplate will hold, so they don't have to put the seatbelt retractors in that when you pull the shoulder belt all the way out, it locks. Chrysler seat belt systems will not necessarily work for holding carseats snugly, so just make sure that the shoulder belt has no slack in it (after using the locking clip), and it will hold in a crash (the locking clip holds the lap portion of the belt snug until a crash when then the emergency retractor locks the shoulder belt so the carseat will stay snug). You know when you jerk forward in a lap/shoulder belt and it locks on you, holding you into the seat back? Just make sure that you guide the shoulder belt towards the slot that goes to the retractor, then you should be fine.

[crunchierthanthou]

The lightweight locking latchplate on the seat belt doesn't always hold carseats snugly so you may be wise to use a locking clip to snug up the lap belt portion of the seatbelt. The shoulder belt may not lock because Chrysler is hoping that the "lightweight" locking latchplate will hold, so they don't have to put the seatbelt retractors in that when you pull the shoulder belt all the way out, it locks. Chrysler seat belt systems will not necessarily work for holding carseats snugly, so just make sure that the shoulder belt has no slack in it (after using the locking clip), and it will hold in a crash (the locking clip holds the lap portion of the belt snug until a crash when then the emergency retractor locks the shoulder belt so the carseat will stay snug). You know when you jerk forward in a lap/shoulder belt and it locks on you, holding you into the seat back? Just make sure that you guide the shoulder belt towards the slot that goes to the retractor, then you should be fine.

Chrysler vehicles have locking latchplates. All vehicles after 1996 are required to have locking seatbelts for installing carseats. They will either lock at the latchplate or at the retractor. An automatic locking retractor (ALR) is engaged by pulling the belt all the way out.

A locking clip isn't necessary in your situation. They are mostly for cars that are pre- '96 and have no locking mechanism of their own (although can be useful in other situations as well). If the lightweight locking latchplate is not in postion to lock as it should, then you can flip the male end of the buckle 180 degrees to properly align the belt portions. Here's a picture of how a locking latchplate works:

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z157/crunchierthanthou/lockinglatchplate.jpg

Flipping it one half turn will put both belt portions and the buckle tongue in parallel position to lock. The shoulder position will stay loose until a crash. It's the belt portion that holds the carseat in place until the emergency locking retractor (ELR) is engaged.

[dglaser]

Thanks everyone. I had my husband help with the seatbelt and he got the lap part nice and snug. I am glad that it works in the back!!

Diana