When to use the locking clip and when not to?

[Ericak95]

We have a Radian 65 in a 2002 Toyota Camry, driver side outbound. My DD is 4yrs old 42" tall and about 45-46lbs. I know you can use the latch until 48lbs, but had the seat removed while I was doing some cleaning/vacuuming. I decided since she was getting pretty close to the max I'd just re-intall it with the belt.

I'm having a terrible time getting a good snug fit, my best attempt still allowed the seat to move close to 3". I have twisted the female stalk (as I found a great picture tutorial on this site) and when I try to tighten the belt, it wants to crinkle/bunch where it goes through the buckle (I hope that makes sense). If I were to try to use the locking clip too, I imagine that it would hit the seat/belt path area and make it even harder to get tight.

I haven't tried it in the recline position, but I'm looking for more suggestions.

Thank You
Erica

[BookMama]

In general, you won't need a locking clip with post-1996 vehicles, as they are required to have seat belts that lock in some way. This site (maintained by one of our senior members) provides great info on how/when to use a locking clip. http://www.carseatsite.com/lockingclips.htm

The Radian is known to have come installation problems with Toyotas due to (I believe) the length and/or position of the seat belts. I'm sure someone else with more experience with the Radian/Toyoto combination will be along before too long.

In the meantime, does your car have LATCH? If so, you might want to try installing it that way.

[singingpond]

We have a Radian 65 in a 2002 Toyota Camry, driver side outbound.....

I'm having a terrible time getting a good snug fit, my best attempt still allowed the seat to move close to 3". I have twisted the female stalk (as I found a great picture tutorial on this site) and when I try to tighten the belt, it wants to crinkle/bunch where it goes through the buckle (I hope that makes sense). If I were to try to use the locking clip too, I imagine that it would hit the seat/belt path area and make it even harder to get tight.

I haven't tried it in the recline position, but I'm looking for more suggestions.

Thank You
Erica

Have you read the suggestions posted by aidensmom?

http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=28939

Personally, I have a '96 Corolla, so not sure how much similarity there is to your vehicle. However, the one position I have not yet been able to get a tight install with our Radian is FF outboard. I plan to try again with the recline foot down (as several people here have suggested), and I see that's on your list of things to try also. Have you tried a center install, or is that not an option for other reasons? In my vehicle, center doesn't really look more promising than outboard, but the Radian installs better there, so it may be worth a try. I'm assuming you may have another child outboard on the passenger side (?), and then it gets trickier to get two seats next to each other. If this is your situation, you may have to try the other outboard seat with seatbelt install instead of LATCH, since that often gives you a bit more space in the center (LATCH anchors are often a bit inboard of the seatbelt position).

Katrin

[singingpond]

In the meantime, does your car have LATCH? If so, you might want to try installing it that way.

I believe the OP is moving away from a LATCH install because her DC is approaching 48 pounds. It would be worth double checking the Toyota LATCH limits and the Radian LATCH limits though. I'm not up on this, because my Toyota is pre-LATCH, but I thought Toyota was one of the manufacturers that deferred to what it said in the carseat manual? And what does the Radian manual say (I have a vague impression it's higher than 48)? But please don't take my word for this -- do some research to double-check those limits on both vehicle and carseat....

ETA: I've been looking around a little here on the site (my Radian manual is currently in a room 'guarded' by a sleeping child), and I think people are generally saying the US Radians have the 48 pound limit, but that the Canadian manual just says something about using LATCH to the limit of the seat -- I think this is where the confusion about the Radian LATCH limit may originate. Anyway, check your own manual....

Katrin

[BookMama]

I believe the OP is moving away from a LATCH install because her DC is approaching 48 pounds.

Oops, you're right. :o That's what I get for posting so early in the morning before I've had my usual dose of caffeine!

[Ericak95]

Thanks for the responses. Today I will be trying it in the reclined position. I should have mentioned I do have another DD who is FF (2 1/2yrs old) on the passenger side in a Marathon, so center isn't an option for me.

I just went to the sjkp site and read the manual again and took a peek at the Canadian version -- the US one does definately say DO NOT USE LATCH WITH CHILDREN OVER 48lbs, and the Canadian one allows LATCH use to the weight limit of the seat. Too bad I can't just continue to use latch, it's such a good solid install (but I know I can't).

Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated :thumbsup: I have all day to fuss with the seat, as we have nothing going on today, I'm sure I'll get it.

Erica

[singingpond]

Thanks for the responses. Today I will be trying it in the reclined position. I should have mentioned I do have another DD who is FF (2 1/2yrs old) on the passenger side in a Marathon, so center isn't an option for me.

I just went to the sjkp site and read the manual again and took a peek at the Canadian version -- the US one does definately say DO NOT USE LATCH WITH CHILDREN OVER 48lbs, and the Canadian one allows LATCH use to the weight limit of the seat. Too bad I can't just continue to use latch, it's such a good solid install (but I know I can't).

Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated :thumbsup: I have all day to fuss with the seat, as we have nothing going on today, I'm sure I'll get it.

Erica

Just a note that the Radian and Marathon puzzle together very well when both are facing the same direction, so don't discount the possible center install entirely (unless you think the kids can't tolerate being that close to each other). I currently have a Radian RF center and a Wizard (same basic seat shell as the Marathon) RF outboard in my '96 Corolla (which is probably a smaller car than a 2002 Camry), and they fit fine that way. Both FF also works well.

Katrin