1997 Chrysler Town & Country????

[henrietta]

Tell me about yours, please, esp about the tether anchors and installing carseats.


Thanks!

henrietta

[Jeanum]

I don't have a T&C van, but can look up the '97 model year's retrofit info. for adding top tether anchors in the LATCH manual. :) Per the LATCH manual, Chrysler dealers retrofit top tether anchors for free for certain older models, and you would refer the dealership to Technical Service Bulletin 23-008-00 Revision B for details of this policy. The LATCH manual lists top tether anchor retrofit parts for all second and third row seating positions in the '97 Town and Country (woohoo) with anchor points located on the vehicle floor. Here are the part numbers:

Second row center and second row outboard seating positions: 04864118AB

Third row center and outboard seating positions: 05018506AA

The current Chrysler section of the LATCH manual is viewable and printable here for reference to have something documented, if need be, to show to the Chrysler dealership: http://www.saferidenews.com/LATCH_manaul_updates/Chrysler_6_07_6_web.pdf

Chrysler models from that timeframe usually have seatbelts with lightweight locking latchplates which are designed to lock at the latchplate when they're buckled, rather than at the retractor. I know a number of techs/carseat fanatics recently posted in another thread about how they prefer installing seats in vehicles with those sort of latchplates, although sometimes you might need to use the carseat installation trick of twisting the buckle half a turn to help keep the belt locked.

Others with the actual vans can hopefully chime in more about their installation experiences for you. :)

[henrietta]

Jean,

That's fantastic info!!! Thanks! That would be so great, as my current Mercury Villager only has ta's on the floor board behind the third row, so I have to use the seatbelts in the third row as ta's for the second row (per the car's manual). And that stinks, b/c it eliminates those seatbelts from use by another passenger.

Thanks!

henrietta

[henrietta]

What about the Generation 3 seatbelts? Are they in the second AND third row OR only in the third row? And would you trust those seatbelts, w/kids in carseats, boosters, and/or for adults?

Thanks!

henrietta

[skaterbabscpst]

all of the seatbelts will be gen3.

[henrietta]

"sometimes you might need to use the carseat installation trick of twisting the buckle half a turn to help keep the belt locked. "

The female end? And how does this help?

Thanks!

henrietta

[Jeanum]

The male latchplate end in the case of the locking latchplate type of seatbelt. :) Twisting the male latchplate part half a turn before buckling can help to keep a locking latchplate type of seatbelt parallel and locked. It's also true that you could alternatively twist the female buckle stalk end half a turn if the buckle stalk is long enough and can be twisted, or twist the female buckle stalk up to three times if you need to keep the buckle out of the child restraint's belt path.

[henrietta]

Got it, thanks!

On this one, I'd have to twist the male end, as the female end is pretty much stationary and down really low.

henrietta

[Jeanum]

You're welcome. I saw your other thread about purchasing the van. Congrats on the new to you wheels. :)