please check the install

[wildeyes]

"02 elantra, scenera, for a newborn. its rock solid, without any help yay!! the only thing i see is how the edge of the front of the seat kinda digs into the latch strap. no biggie to fix... (second pic) is the angle ok for a newborn??
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa247/wildeyescl/S7300202.jpg
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa247/wildeyescl/S7300201.jpg
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa247/wildeyescl/S7300199.jpg
tia!!!

[SusanMae]

Are you parked on level ground?

The "level line" sticker...is it level with the ground? It looks like it might be a touch over reclined to me in the pic.

Susan

[crunchierthanthou]

I'd say it's possibly a bit over reclined, even for a newborn.

Do you just have the front of the carseat pressed into the back of the vehicle seat? I think that's giving you a false sense of tight install. If you are in a crash, the seat will likely move forward and there will be nothing supporting the front of the seat. You need to adjust the recline by either a tightly rolled towel or pool noodles. I prefer a pyramid of 3 pool noodles taped together for the Scenera.

[azgirl71]

I agree with the others that it is reclined more than 45 degrees. It looks like the front of the base of the seat is not touching the vehicle seat. Try pulling the seat away from the back of the seat and push be seat with one hand and tighten the latch with the other. I think this will help with the recline too. You may still need to add noodles, but try them without first.

[SusanMae]

Where's SouthPawBoston with his cool angle measurer program?

Susan

[wildeyes]

i guess i didnt take good pics. i was standing on a snow covered hill with sandals on... lol. the car is level, but i wasnt. the front of the carseat is in firm contact with the back of the back seat, and it does not touch the front seat at all. i have more pics...
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa247/wildeyescl/S7300196.jpg
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa247/wildeyescl/S7300206.jpg
hope that helps. i can take more pics in the am, have to go to the store and get more batteries for the camera lol.

[azgirl71]

It is still over reclined. Even with differnet pics. I am going to PM SPB and send him to check with his nifty software.

[crunchierthanthou]

When I said front of the carseat- I mean the part toward the rear of the vehicle in this case, the part where the child's legs go. I think you need something to support the carseat in the vehicle seat bight (crease where seatback and bottom meet) - like a rolled towel or blanket or pool noodles.

edit: here's a picture of a rf scenera with pool noodles under the front foot of the base-

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z157/crunchierthanthou/rf%20scenera/IMG_3568.jpg

[wildeyes]

ok in the meantime i will get new batteries. it really does look level in person tho.

[wildeyes]

When I said front of the carseat- I mean the part toward the rear of the vehicle in this case, the part where the child's legs go. I think you need something to support the carseat in the vehicle seat bight (crease where seatback and bottom meet) - like a rolled towel or blanket or pool noodles.

edit: here's a picture of a rf scenera with pool noodles under the front foot of the base-

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z157/crunchierthanthou/rf%20scenera/IMG_3568.jpg

why? the front of the carseat digs holy crap out of the car seat back (of the back seat, not the front passenger seat, that it doesnt touch.) i wish i had batteries i could get more pics while the baby is sleeping
i understand what you are saying about the noodles if the seat was too upright then it would need something to get the 45 for newborns, but it seriously digs into the car.

[southpawboston]

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa247/wildeyescl/S7300199.jpg


when i rotate the pic to the left about 2.6 degrees to make the car more level (based on window sill angle), i come up with 40.8 degrees recline angle. even if i don't correct for the tilted picture angle and err on the side of caution, that means 43.4 degrees max. i'd say for a newborn it's not bad at all.

[azgirl71]

ok in the meantime i will get new batteries. it really does look level in person tho.

Ok I PMed SPB. This is a picture of a MA installed about 45 degrees.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1354/576161372_bdb2e5f5b7.jpg

[azgirl71]

when i rotate the pic to the left about 2.6 degrees to make the car more level (based on window sill angle), i come up with 40.8 degrees recline angle. not bad.

I will trust you and you software :).
What do you get on mine posted below?


ETA: OOPS posted above

[crunchierthanthou]

why? the front of the carseat digs holy crap out of the car seat back (of the back seat, not the front passenger seat, that it doesnt touch.) i wish i had batteries i could get more pics while the baby is sleeping
i understand what you are saying about the noodles if the seat was too upright then it would need something to get the 45 for newborns, but it seriously digs into the car.

because


I think that's giving you a false sense of tight install. If you are in a crash, the seat will likely move forward and there will be nothing supporting the front of the seat. You need to adjust the recline by either a tightly rolled towel or pool noodles.

propping it against the seatback, even digging the holy crap out of it, is not sufficient. Crash dynamics will likely pull it away from the seatback. You need something under the carseat.

[wildeyes]

i dont understand tho... well i do, but i have the same seat in dh's car, checked by a tech, and he said nothing about i needed noodles. thats why i dont understand why i would need them in my car if his didnt. i have pics of it in his car if you want. (can ya tell i have a new camera? lol)

[southpawboston]

What do you get on mine posted below?


i'm getting 46 degrees.

[azgirl71]

i dont understand tho... well i do, but i have the same seat in dh's car, checked by a tech, and he said nothing about i needed noodles. thats why i dont understand why i would need them in my car if his didnt. i have pics of it in his car if you want. (can ya tell i have a new camera? lol)

Is the whole base touching the vehicle seat bottom in DH's car? In an accident the part of the seat you have squished down could un wedge itself and since the whole base is not touching the seat in your car it couls make the seat loose. It is hard to expalin. DO you see the spacewe are talking about where the car seat base is not touching the vehicle seat?

[azgirl71]

i'm getting 46 degrees.

Thanks. It is not installed in there anymore, but was curious. I knew it was borderline. The OP's seat looks more reclined than mine :confused:

[crunchierthanthou]

If you want it at such an angle that the front is lifted off the vehicle seat, you need to support it with something under the carseat, not just press it into the vehicle seatback. It states in the trouble shooting section of your manual to use a rolled towel if it is too upright (pg 45 in my copy of the manual), although a pool noodle or leveling product of the same material is fine (like this (http://www.babybungalow.com/sitriulcarse.html) or this (http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2343250)).

[wildeyes]

do you mean under her butt? here is a pic from dh's car. hes not home right now to go look, but the seat is in pretty much the same way.
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa247/wildeyescl/S7300074.jpg
if under her tush is what you are talking about then heck yes i would need a noodle. but i thought you meant the front of the seat itself, like under the harness adjuster. she woke up so now i cant go outside to check till dh gets home. lol i need arrows to put on the pics. might eliminate some confusion here lol

[supermommyof2]

How it looks to me is that the only part of the base that is in contact with the seat bottom is the back edge of the base (where the baby's bottom goes). The "front" part of the base (where the baby's feet go) looks like it is pushed into the seatback and not touching the seat bottom at all. A pyramid of 3 pool noodles taped together and trimmed to fit under the base and not interfere with the belt will allow the seat to be pushed down onto the seatbottom insead of into the seatback. I used a tightly rolled towel (I folded it to the width of the base before I rolled it) with my Touriva (previous model of the Scenera) and it worked great to get the recline and still have the whole base in contact with the seatbottom.

I'm not a tech, but I've learned from the best :D. Hope this helps!

[azgirl71]

"02 elantra, scenera, for a newborn. its rock solid, without any help yay!! the only thing i see is how the edge of the front of the seat kinda digs into the latch strap. no biggie to fix... (second pic) is the angle ok for a newborn??
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa247/wildeyescl/S7300202.jpg
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa247/wildeyescl/S7300201.jpg
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa247/wildeyescl/S7300199.jpg
tia!!!

See the space between the bottom of thebase and your vehicle seat towards the seat bight? That is what we are talking about. It needs to have noodles or a rolled towel under it. It is not safe to have the gap there.

do you mean under her butt? here is a pic from dh's car. hes not home right now to go look, but the seat is in pretty much the same way.
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa247/wildeyescl/S7300074.jpg
if under her tush is what you are talking about then heck yes i would need a noodle. but i thought you meant the front of the seat itself, like under the harness adjuster. she woke up so now i cant go outside to check till dh gets home. lol i need arrows to put on the pics. might eliminate some confusion here lol
The base of the seat in DH's car appears to be touching the vehicle seat completely and that is fine. Your seats are probably more angled.

[azgirl71]

do you mean under her butt? here is a pic from dh's car. hes not home right now to go look, but the seat is in pretty much the same way.
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa247/wildeyescl/S7300074.jpg
if under her tush is what you are talking about then heck yes i would need a noodle. but i thought you meant the front of the seat itself, like under the harness adjuster. she woke up so now i cant go outside to check till dh gets home. lol i need arrows to put on the pics. might eliminate some confusion here lol

Here you go I circled what I am talking about ;) Hope this helps.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2219/2082287387_9aafbf24d3.jpg

[azgirl71]

How it looks to me is that the only part of the base that is in contact with the seat bottom is the back edge of the base (where the baby's bottom goes). The "front" part of the base (where the baby's feet go) looks like it is pushed into the seatback and not touching the seat bottom at all. A pyramid of 3 pool noodles taped together and trimmed to fit under the base and not interfere with the belt will allow the seat to be pushed down onto the seatbottom insead of into the seatback. I used a tightly rolled towel (I folded it to the width of the base before I rolled it) with my Touriva (previous model of the Scenera) and it worked great to get the recline and still have the whole base in contact with the seatbottom.

I'm not a tech, but I've learned from the best :D. Hope this helps!


Well said!!:) You put into words what I could not. Rep awarded :D

[wildeyes]

ahhhhh now i get it. i think we all were talking about 2 different things there for a few lol. blame it on my sleep deprivation. yes the circle helped alot azgirl71. thanks. how'd you do that btw?
yeah i can slide my hand under the seat there where it was circled, i know thats not safe. i didnt even notice that. geesh. well, at least shes only ridden in it twice and all was well, now i can fix it in the am, i have plenty of towels. not gonna find any noodles around here this time of year. i got snowed on taking the pics to begin with lol. and here i thought i had it in right... sniff sniff... oh well, nothing that cant be fixed, and at least nothing happened the 2 times she rode in it.

[supermommyof2]

Well said!!:) You put into words what I could not. Rep awarded :D

:thanx!: I'm glad to help!

[azgirl71]

ahhhhh now i get it. i think we all were talking about 2 different things there for a few lol. blame it on my sleep deprivation. yes the circle helped alot azgirl71. thanks. how'd you do that btw?
yeah i can slide my hand under the seat there where it was circled, i know thats not safe. i didnt even notice that. geesh. well, at least shes only ridden in it twice and all was well, now i can fix it in the am, i have plenty of towels. not gonna find any noodles around here this time of year. i got snowed on taking the pics to begin with lol. and here i thought i had it in right... sniff sniff... oh well, nothing that cant be fixed, and at least nothing happened the 2 times she rode in it.

Ok Glad you understand now. I new we must have been talking about 2 different things. I used Photohop CS2 Image Ready to circle. You can do it with Paint too I believe.

I figured you did not notice it. Just make sure the towel is rolled. I know someone who tolled a towel reall tight and then put a couple rubberbands to keep it from unrolling while she was installing her seat. If you have a pool supply store they may have noodles. You did hve it right other than that gap. I am still not sure onr the recline, but SPB say you are fine for a NB. He said my seat is at 46 degrees and yours is between 40-43.5 degrees. My saet s not installed in that truck right now since racing season is over for now. Look at my pic and your pic and you sill see what I mean. Your car seat back looks much further back than mine. Yet he says mine is reclined more. Mine looks more upright to me. Now I am confused. :confused:
Try to stay warm.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2219/2082287387_9aafbf24d3.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1123/576369855_16004c65ee.jpg

[wildeyes]

ok, now i am really really mad with myself.... put the towel under the seat. even called mil in florida to send me a noodle. i cant get it in with the latch, and the seatbelt got it tight, BUT THERES STILL A GAP!!!!! argh.... now what do i do? i have 30 minutes till dd1's bus gets here then i have to go to the dr's office, then i an go to bru to try out the triumph advance, maybe that will fit better in my car.. (i kinda wanted it anyway lol. ) so if i cant get it fixed wth am i supposed to do? dh is at work with the "good" scenera... and i cant stay home, he wont be home from work till 11or 12 pm. see....
lovely wonderful towel...
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa247/wildeyescl/S7300226.jpg
lovely wonderful (little upright) angle...
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa247/wildeyescl/S7300227.jpg
AND THE STUPID GAP!!!
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa247/wildeyescl/S7300229.jpg
grrr i am sooo mad. i dont think another towel will help, cause that will just push the front (feet side) up more, increasing the gap.... the stupid seat boton of the car is just too angled... grrrrr. what do you guys think?

[azgirl71]

ok, now i am really really mad with myself.... put the towel under the seat. even called mil in florida to send me a noodle. i cant get it in with the latch, and the seatbelt got it tight, BUT THERES STILL A GAP!!!!! argh.... now what do i do? i have 30 minutes till dd1's bus gets here then i have to go to the dr's office, then i an go to bru to try out the triumph advance, maybe that will fit better in my car.. (i kinda wanted it anyway lol. ) so if i cant get it fixed wth am i supposed to do? dh is at work with the "good" scenera... and i cant stay home, he wont be home from work till 11or 12 pm. see....
lovely wonderful towel...
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa247/wildeyescl/S7300226.jpg
lovely wonderful (little upright) angle...
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa247/wildeyescl/S7300227.jpg
AND THE STUPID GAP!!!
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa247/wildeyescl/S7300229.jpg
grrr i am sooo mad. i dont think another towel will help, cause that will just push the front (feet side) up more, increasing the gap.... the stupid seat boton of the car is just too angled... grrrrr. what do you guys think?

I wish I was hter to help you :(. Try pulling the car seat away from the vehicle seat back and pushing down. But I think that will put it to upright. Is there a tech near you that you could go to them? I have not been a tech for a long time. I am not sure what else to do ther than putting the rolled towel under that part of the base.

Hey other TECHS:Would it be ok for her to put a rolled towel inder that part of the base?

[wildeyes]

there are techs all over the place here... but i cant fix it even enough to get to one, and i have a dr appt today... in 45 minutes... ugh. and now i have to go put dd1 on the bus and cant fiddle with it anymore, then off to the drs. i'll just make the appt on time. stupid 2 hour delay.. wth am i gonna do. the roads are still crappy from the storm, and i have no choice but to go out in it with the baby. i am sooo upset.

[joolsplus3]

Only 80% of the base needs to be on the vehicle seat, a little gap isn't a big deal. I'd buy one of those stiffer foam leveling noodles for carseats... the ones at stores are so flimsy now they aren't worth the price to ship, IMO.. http://www.amazon.com/50050-Car-Seat-Leveler/dp/B000058DOB

[joolsplus3]

Don't sweat it. The *most important* thing is that the belt is tight and locked. The angle just needs to be such that the baby's head doesn't fall forward onto the chest and cut off the airway, and only 80% of the base needs to be on the car's seat. :)

[supermommyof2]

That's how mine looked, so I hope it's allright! JMO, but as long as the "feet end" of the carseat has something under it (eyeballing for the 80% rule) and there is less than 1" movement in any direction at the beltpath it should be fine :)

As for judging the angle, are the window sills level with the ground? If so it might be a little too upright. Does baby's head tip fwd? To help this when you tighten the belt push down on the back of the seat (where the baby's bottom goes) instead of the front (feet end). You would do the opposite to get a more upright recline for an older baby.

[azgirl71]

there are techs all over the place here... but i cant fix it even enough to get to one, and i have a dr appt today... in 45 minutes... ugh. and now i have to go put dd1 on the bus and cant fiddle with it anymore, then off to the drs. i'll just make the appt on time. stupid 2 hour delay.. wth am i gonna do. the roads are still crappy from the storm, and i have no choice but to go out in it with the baby. i am sooo upset.

Please do not be upset {{{{{HUGS}}}}}. I am sure you have already left for your appt. I have just emailed my instructors to ask thier opinions. I ahve to go to an aoopointment in about an hour an will get back with you ASAP.

[tiggercat]

ok, now i am really really mad with myself.... put the towel under the seat. even called mil in florida to send me a noodle. i cant get it in with the latch, and the seatbelt got it tight, BUT THERES STILL A GAP!!!!!

That looks a lot better in the new pictures.

When you are installing it, are you getting in behind the seat (facing the rear of the vehicle), and pushing with your belly towards the seat bight? This can help compress the vehicle seat underneath the carseat, and reduce/eliminate that kind of gaping while maintaining your 45 degree angle.

[crunchierthanthou]

I wouldn't worry about the gap. You have something under the front end, which was my concern. I wouldn't put a towel in the gap because you don't want to do anything that might lift the back end of the base off the seat any more than it already is.

I have better luck getting the belt tight on a rf Scenera if I pull the cover back- whether LATCH or seatbelt. That way you can feed it into the buckle and tighten across the beltpath while you tighten. It also makes it so you can pull the tail end (or shoulder portion) at a better angle, rather than straight up.

Like a pp mentioned, I prefer to climb in behind it and push with my hips so that I can have both hands free to tighten the belt.

[Defrost]

I wouldn't worry about the gap. You have something under the front end, which was my concern.

I'm confused as to why she needed the towel under the front end when the seat was already reclined?

[wildeyes]

ok i am home finally. i made a stop at bru and tried the triumph advance in the car, i will have to play with it more, cause i liked it much better and i got it. i was just sooo aggravated with the scenera, and given i didnt really like it anyway... well, i didnt really need a reason to get a new seat, except when i tell dh... lol. you guys understand. i already called a local tech to take a look at the new seat. i had to put it in right there at bru cause i wasnt confident in the fit of the scenera, and i had pulled it out anyway. lol i got alot of funny looks in the parking lot installing the seat. i got an "acceptable for one ride home install" and when my mom gets here to watch the baby, i will go play and get it in there, cause tomorrow i have 2 drs appts. (i got really sick after i had her)
i did however take a pic of dd in the seat.
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa247/wildeyescl/S7300230.jpg
the bunting is fleece with a thin cotton lining. its just baggy on her, everything is lol.

[skaterbabscpst]

That looks a lot better in the new pictures.

When you are installing it, are you getting in behind the seat (facing the rear of the vehicle), and pushing with your belly towards the seat bight? This can help compress the vehicle seat underneath the carseat, and reduce/eliminate that kind of gaping while maintaining your 45 degree angle.

:yeahthat:

You'll probably need to fold the front seat forward to do it, but it's a GREAT way to compress the padding of the vehicle seat. I use my hip/upper thighs though instead of my belly. ;)


Edit to add:

She looks great in the Triumph Advance!

[wildeyes]

That's how mine looked, so I hope it's allright! JMO, but as long as the "feet end" of the carseat has something under it (eyeballing for the 80% rule) and there is less than 1" movement in any direction at the beltpath it should be fine :)

As for judging the angle, are the window sills level with the ground? If so it might be a little too upright. Does baby's head tip fwd? To help this when you tighten the belt push down on the back of the seat (where the baby's bottom goes) instead of the front (feet end). You would do the opposite to get a more upright recline for an older baby.

no i dont think the 80% rule was in effect there. there was a good inch under the part where i stuck my hand, and when i zoomed in on the pic, the gap went way past the level to ground sticker, so bascially no better than b4. and yes it was to upright. her head didnt flop on the way to the drs cause she was screaming.. lol. she was too awake. the window sills are almost level to the ground. (peeking out window) and i installed the exact way you described, i am too tall to do it any other way lol.
but i got the new seat and the only place i am going is to have it inspected... enough is enough already kwim? the new seat seems like it will give me more room for the front seat passenger anyway. i did have fun playing with the TA tho. seems like a nice seat and i liked the harness adjuster. went in fairly easy in the bru parking lot. its not super tight but i got it to less than one inch movement, i bet the tech can show me how to get it tighter.

[wildeyes]

:yeahthat:

You'll probably need to fold the front seat forward to do it, but it's a GREAT way to compress the padding of the vehicle seat. I use my hip/upper thighs though instead of my belly. ;)


Edit to add:

She looks great in the Triumph Advance!

ty!!

i cant fold the front seat tho. i guess you lose little features like that when you buy a "cheap" car.

[SusanMae]

Put it as upright as possible and as far forward as possible, so you can get in "behind" the seat and shove it forward.

Susan

[tiggercat]

:yeahthat:

You'll probably need to fold the front seat forward to do it, but it's a GREAT way to compress the padding of the vehicle seat. I use my hip/upper thighs though instead of my belly. ;)



Yeah, well I'm short! :p

[crunchierthanthou]

[I'm confused as to why she needed the towel under the front end when the seat was already reclined?

QUOTE=wildeyes;277836]
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa247/wildeyescl/S7300199.jpg
tia!!![/QUOTE]


The foot on the front of the seat is meant to go on the vehicle seat bottom, not back. If you need to lift that part to adjust the recline (which is almost always with a rf Scenera), you need to support it with a rolled towel or pool noodles.

[skaterbabscpst]

Put it as upright as possible and as far forward as possible, so you can get in "behind" the seat and shove it forward.

Susan

:yeahthat: You're just giving yourself a little room in which to move around.


Yeah, well I'm short! :p

:p And I'm not. ;)

[azgirl71]

ok i am home finally. i made a stop at bru and tried the triumph advance in the car, i will have to play with it more, cause i liked it much better and i got it. i was just sooo aggravated with the scenera, and given i didnt really like it anyway... well, i didnt really need a reason to get a new seat, except when i tell dh... lol. you guys understand. i already called a local tech to take a look at the new seat. i had to put it in right there at bru cause i wasnt confident in the fit of the scenera, and i had pulled it out anyway. lol i got alot of funny looks in the parking lot installing the seat. i got an "acceptable for one ride home install" and when my mom gets here to watch the baby, i will go play and get it in there, cause tomorrow i have 2 drs appts. (i got really sick after i had her)
i did however take a pic of dd in the seat.
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa247/wildeyescl/S7300230.jpg
the bunting is fleece with a thin cotton lining. its just baggy on her, everything is lol.

SHe is so cute in her new seat :love:. I am sorry if I scared you in anyway :(. That was certainly not my intent. I can't wait to see a full install pic with the new seat. You can still keep the Scenera and maybe put it in your Mom's car as a spare seat ;).

[wildeyes]

yeah i am putting it in her car today. she has the twin to dh's car so it should go in easy.

[Defrost]

The foot on the front of the seat is meant to go on the vehicle seat bottom, not back. If you need to lift that part to adjust the recline (which is almost always with a rf Scenera), you need to support it with a rolled towel or pool noodles.

Okay, I think I get what you're saying - I just kept reading it as "it's too reclined, use a noodle," and that didn't make any sense. :)

[wildeyes]

omg i just saw the dom.... its nov 9, 2007!!!! she was born on the 7th!! cool!!!

[azgirl71]

omg i just saw the dom.... its nov 9, 2007!!!! she was born on the 7th!! cool!!!

That is great!!! Post pics of the install when you get a chance :love: