Do I need a Locking Clip

[cutekid2004]

I have a Radian 80 that is installed forward facing. When I first got the seat a CPST helped me install it in the center of our former mini van. No issues with the install.
Next I had to move the seat to a 1992 chevy lumina 4door. I have installed it in the center since its only a lap belt.

I am visiting my mother and I am driving her car. She has a Sebring convertible. Let me say that intitially I took the car to a fire station and had it installed. BUT!!! I am wondering about the install because the Fireman who installed it was insistant that the Radian required a tether and that let me know he didn't know everything LOL.

So now for my question. The sebring has light weigh cinching latch plates. My concern comes from this statement in the manual.

"If your vehicle lap shoulder seat belt is equiped with ELR (Emergency Locking Retractors) that does not switch to function as ALR(Automatic Locking Retractor), you MUST use a locking clip to secure the lap portion of the vehicle seat belt."

The sebring depends on the cinching plates to hold the seat belt in place and not ALR's. Do I need a locking clip on the radian.

[SusanMae]

No you don't. If you find that the latch plate is slipping, try flipping the buckle over one time and rebuckling.

Susan

[scatterbunny]

Susan is correct. The first "fix" to try when cinching/lightweight locking latchplates loosen over time is to flip the latchplate once (a half-twist) and buckle. That should hold the belt at the correct angle to lock. A locking clip could become a projectile in a crash as the belts tighten up and the locking clip pops off, so we want to avoid them as much as possible.

[cutekid2004]

Thanks ladies. I will try the flip when I install it back into her car. Right now its wonderfully installed in a blazer using LATCH.

Denise

[scatterbunny]

You're welcome. :)

In the Blazer, with LATCH, is it installed in the center or outboard?

[cutekid2004]

Its out board. There is no LATCH in the center according to the Owners Manual.

[scatterbunny]

:thumbsup: That's what I was getting at, but I didn't want to type out everything about no LATCH in the middle if I didn't have to, and didn't want to come off as accusing you of/assuming you did something wrong, when you may be doing it all right! :)

[cutekid2004]

LOL. I read the owners Manual of the Blazer we are driving after I couldn't get the seat to install with the seat belt. I almost didn't make this trip because I couldn't get it to install. So I broke out the owners Manuals since it was a "newer" vehicle and I did a mini dance when I got to the LATCH illustrations. LOL.
Then I had to break out the Manual for the Radian and read about how to do LATCH. In about two minutes we were ready to hit the road.

[scatterbunny]

You're doing awesome, then! :love: