honda pilot lap/shoulder belt not locking

[Unregistered]

I have a 2006 Honda Pilot. The vehicle does not have anchors in the middle seating position of the second row bench seat. The middle is supposed to be safest, and that is where I prefer to install the seat, but I cannot get the lap/shoulder belt to lock. I am installing a Sunshine Radian 80 forward-facing. This car seat comes with a locking clip, but i can still move the seat, even with it tethered tightly. I get the shoulder belt to lock and next time i pull it it unlocks - is it supposed to do that? I had a lot of difficulty installing a Britax Boulevard rear-facing in the same seating position with the lap/shoulder belt. For the Britax I did have technicians assist and will likely do that again, but any responses now would be appreciated! (Later I moved that Boulevard to FF in an Accord with anchors in the middle and got it installed very securely.)

[BookMama]

Are you sure you're pulling the seat belt ALL the way out, slowly?

Here is a great web site that will show you the different ways that seat belts lock, how to tell how your seat belt locks, and how/when to use a locking clip: http://www.carseatsite.com/lockingclips.htm

[SusanMae]

What are you doing to lock the belt? Just a short yank? If that's the case, you're just engaging the emergency lock mode.

What you need to do is pull the belt ALL the way out and let it retract back in slowly...then try to pull it out. It shouldn't come out any further and you've switched it to locked mode. Also when it's going back in, you may hear a ratcheting sound.

Susan

[UlrikeDG]

That belt definitely should lock if you pull it all the way out. I used to have a Pilot and 3 kids in the second row, so I installed many a seat in that position. If it does not lock, you need to take it to the dealership and have it repaired or replaced.

[An Aurora]

Does Honda (Accord) allow the use of center LATCH?

[UlrikeDG]

Honda does not allow the use of outboard LATCH anchors for a center seat, and neither the Accord nor the Pilot has lower LATCH anchors in a center seating position.

[An Aurora]

K thanks, I didn't think so ;)

OP, you'll need to re-install the Blvd using the belt in the center, or move it outboard to use LATCH. :)

[stefanie720]

That was my original post - I then registered on this site. I was not pulling the belt out the whole way and that is why it wasn't locking. But even after I got the belt to lock, the car seat still moved - i am still having trouble getting a tight fit. has anyone installed a Radian in a Pilot - do I need a noodle? I am using the Prince Lionheart car seat mat/protector.

As for the Accord, it is a 2004 and there are not 3 sets of anchors in the back seat, but all four individual anchors are equally spaced, so we were under the impression we could use the two center ones. I know I can't do this in the Pilot b/c they are not spaced that way. I will check my owners manual though.

I appreciate all the advice.

[azgirl71]

That was my original post - I then registered on this site. I was not pulling the belt out the whole way and that is why it wasn't locking. But even after I got the belt to lock, the car seat still moved - i am still having trouble getting a tight fit. has anyone installed a Radian in a Pilot - do I need a noodle? I am using the Prince Lionheart car seat mat/protector.

As for the Accord, it is a 2004 and there are not 3 sets of anchors in the back seat, but all four individual anchors are equally spaced, so we were under the impression we could use the two center ones. I know I can't do this in the Pilot b/c they are not spaced that way. I will check my owners manual though.

I appreciate all the advice.

Glad you came to ask for help. I can tell you that the 1st thing that need to go is the Prince Lionheart seat protector. This is an aftermarket product (did not come with your Radian) and was not tested with your car seat. This is probably a lot of the probelem if this is the hard plastic protector. If you feel you must use something you can use a thin towel on the seat. I can say htough I have never seen a vehicle seat cloth or leather destroyed by a car seat ;).

You definately cannot use lower anchors in the center. SOunds like you know this though :thumbsup:

After you route the seatbelt therough the FF beltpath (I think you said FF) then pull the seatbelt out all the way to lock it. After it is in the ALR mode then apply weight to the Radian, pull on hte shoulder portion of the seat belt at the buckle/latchplate side to tighten the lap belt portion and feed the slack into the retractor. You should get a tight inatall that way. You need less than 1 inch of movement at the beltpath. After it is tight then you can attach the top tether. You never use a noodle for a FF seat only for RF seats to adjust the recline.

I am glad you found us and hope htis helps. Please post with any further questions you may have. I am confident you will have little problem one the seat protector is gone.

[crunchierthanthou]

Did you lower the little ff recline foot? I've found that firms up installs with radians. Also, make sure you're pushing down into the vehicle seat more than pushing back. The Radian is finicky that way.

I prefer to lock the shoulder belt as the very last step. Otherwise, it can cause a ff radian to tip a bit- especially ceiling mounted retractors like in some SUVs. Buckle the seatbelt and get the lap portion as tight as you can (like Jools says, you want it twanging like a guitar string). Then lock the retractor as the last step without forcing any additional webbing into it. This should result in a tight install without tipping. It's also easier to get that lap portion tight if you open the slots on the cover so that you can reach the beltpath from the front of the seat.

Did you twist the buckle stalk at all? You can twist it up to three full twists (360 degrees each). The radian has a low ff beltpath and sometimes the buckle hits against it and can't get any tighter, yet the seat still has quite a bit of movement. Twisting the buckle stalk will move the buckle lower. If it's the center seat, which essentially has two buckle stalks, you can do up to three full twists total (not per buckle stalk)- so, 1-2 on one side and 1-2 on the other with no more than three total.

[azgirl71]

I went back anc clarified when i pull on the sholder portion of the seatbelt at the buckle/ latchplate side it is to tighten the lapbelt portion of the seat belt ;)

[stefanie720]

I do have the recline foot down and I will try to use some twists as directed and try pushing down into the seat instead of back. I saw another thread where the recommendation was to recline the vehicle seat, install, the make the vehicle seat more upright. I'll consider that if the others don't work.

Thanks

[NannyMae]

Also, keep in mind that the tether shouldnt "cover" a poor install. You said that you couldnt get a good install, even with the tether strap. You should always attach the tether last. Make sure it's a firm, tight install before you attach it as well. :)