Britax Decathlon install question

[dsnyworld]

We just bought a 2008 Saturn Outlook and are having trouble installing the Decathlon with latch. When we tighten it up it changes the angle of the seat and we end up with the front edge of the seat digging into the seat and not sitting flat. Are we doing something wrong or will it not fit in the vehicle?

[daycaremom2002]

Are you trying to install it forward facing or rear facing? If you can post a picture, it will help a lot also.

[crunchierthanthou]

Are you installing rf or ff? Do the seats in your Outlook recline at all? Are you using the tether? How old is the child?

[snowbird25ca]

We drive a 2007 Saturn Outlook and our MA works fine both rf'ing and ff'ing installed with LATCH. The truck manual does tell you to recline the seatback whenever carseats are installed, and that both sides of the bench (if you have a bench,) have to be at the same angle. The little strap on the side of the seat will recline the seat if you pull it out and then push on the back of the seat. If you're installing the seat ff'ing, this will eliminate the interference from the vehicle headrest. Rf'ing you'll need to use the tether to adjust the recline or else use a pool noodle because the seats are quite sloped. There's a great rf'ing tether spot though on the passenger side:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/snowbird25ca/Saturn%20Outlook/outlookdeliverypictures008.jpg

More upright (my dd was 2.5yrs old, front passenger seat is all the way back and reclined just slightly)
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/snowbird25ca/Saturn%20Outlook/outlookdeliverypictures007.jpg

Reclined for my 1yr old ds who still needs close to a newborn recline:
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/snowbird25ca/Carseats%202/kidsstartedoct29006.jpg

Seatbelt install ff'ing passenger side: (I was just using the seatbelt because the ff'ing lock-off is so easy to use & I hadn't wanted to both changing the LATCH connectors. :o)
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/snowbird25ca/Kids%20Started%20March%201%2007/may15022.jpg

Top of seat & routing of tether strap:
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/snowbird25ca/Kids%20Started%20March%201%2007/may15024.jpg

FF'ing seatbelt in the center:
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/snowbird25ca/car%20seats/12maymisc004.jpg

Obviously we have 2nd row bench, so double check the recline for your 2nd row if you have captain's chairs. I'm sure they'll tell you to recline, but I'm not sure about the adjustment & if the captain chairs recline to different degrees. :)

Just ask if you have more questions. We LOVE our Outlook. :) (And be prepared for the first little while the gas mileage won't be as good as promised, but it will improve as the engine gets broke in. :))

eta: The Decathlon and MA shell are identical, so yours should be pretty much the same. :)