Blvd Install issues in 01 Yukon Tahoe Suburban

[teebee41]

I consider myself to be pretty carseat knowledgable however dh's stupid Yukon XL 2001 is giving me a headache. We have had a blvd for almost a year now and I am well versed in the install but can't seem to get it in anywhere properly in dh's truck.

The best fit I get is behind the passenger seat. The only real issue with my install there is that the belt is twisted and appears to be installed like this. I have pulled all the way out and there is no way to fix. Has anyone else found this???

Additionally the center, where I would prefer to put dd has the seatbelt also installed backwards. When I straighten it all the way and pull it through the seat, the male part of seatbelt is upside down. It will go into the female end of the buckle but I am not sure I am comfortable with it being backwards. Also, the strap when tightened would be up inside the blvd with a tight install. What can be done in these cases?

Perhaps the GM worker who put in my seatbelts was drunk, lol. (I can tease, my husband is a line worker there). Can anyone shed some light on this???

[crunchierthanthou]

Are you installing ff or rf?

Your latchplates probably got flipped backward. I've seen that happen in almost new Yukons/Tahoes as well. To turn it back you need to start a little fold on one edge. Then work the latchplate up and down over that while you keep folding more and more over. it takes pretty strong fingers, but it's something you can fix yourself. Those GM seatbelts are kind of twisty, the same way some carseats are.

Did you try twisting the buckle stalk (the short piece of webbing connecting the female end of the buckle to the vehicle frame)? You can twist it up to 3 full twists (360 degrees each). This will move the buckle lower and out of the beltpath.

[teebee41]

Sorry, rfing for a bit longer. DD is hovering around 30lbs. I can flip it around for the middle seat but not the over the shoulder belt on the outboard side. It is like only one end is backwards so if I flip it, the other end will have a twist. Where would it be better to have a twist in the belt?

I thought I could twist the belt stalk but wasn't certain. I would rather install in the middle anyway. I will try that and if it doesn't work I will get some pics and post my issues. Thanks!

[crunchierthanthou]

is the center position a lap belt only, or a lap/shoulder belt?

for the outboard l/s, I don't mean just flip the latchplate- that won't fix your problem. You need to twist the seatbelt webbing one half flip through the slot in the latchplate. Is the twist above or below the latchplate?

[Unregistered]

The center is lap belt only and the twist will fix it. I don't know why I didn't think of that.

The outboard seatbelt..the way it comes out of the floor is backwards for when I put through the seat. It will be twisted either between the floor and the seat or between the seat and the shoulder part. It is not a full twist..it is just like the bottom part, where the seatbelt comes from is backwards.

I will try and grab a few pics.

[teebee41]

Ok, not sure how twisting the stalk will help as it is just the strap and I thought I shouldn't be twisting the belt. Hmmm

And the twist you can see in the pics. It isn't terrible but I am hoping to become certified in a few months and it is making me crazy that I can't get a good install in his truck. GRRRRR.

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q109/teebee41/Blvd5.jpg
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q109/teebee41/Blvd4.jpg
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q109/teebee41/Blvd3.jpg
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q109/teebee41/Blvd2.jpg
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q109/teebee41/Blvd1.jpg

Not sure if there is a real way to post pics...

[jen_nah]

Flip the 2nd row 60 split to see if the center belt is just twisted down near the bolt point and can easily be fixed with you untwisting it.

It's hard to tell with the l/s belt just due to having a seat installed.

[An Aurora]

Yep, flip the seat up and see if that helps. DH's Jeep has a problem with the lap belt twisting, and you have to flip the seat up to get the belt untwisted.

Also, the Blvd looks really reclined, especially for an older child.

[teebee41]

Thanks so much for looking. I have flipped the seats up and followed all the way down. This is the way they are installed in the vehicle. My husband says it would have been nearly imposible for the line worker to put them in wrong but he can't seem to figure it out either.

Is the recline a problem? I know it can go further up but she seems to have more room this way. It seems like with the full recline, required for the rear facing mode, and with my zealous attempts to get a good install, it sinks in more than my car that has more firm seats. She is more upright in my car and has so little space. I didn't know it "had" to be put more upright. Is that the case?

Thanks again!