97 Honda accord tether question

[nonniecita]

Hi everyone,
I have a 97 honda accord. I jst got a Britax marathon and plan on using it rear facing. Does a car this old have a way to install tethers? Where would it be?

Thanks so much,
Michelle

[Jeanum]

Hi there. :) You can have top tether anchors retrofitted for use with a forward facing harnessed child restraint, but not for a rear facing child restraint. More on that in a moment. :) To top tether your Marathon rear facing, you actually create a tether anchor point toward the front of the vehicle using a metal D-ring tether connector strap that came with your Marathon. :thumbsup: You need to loop the D-ring strap around a front seat leg/rail, or other part of the front seat or front seatbelt stalk that's anchored directly to the vehicle floor, and then clip the Marathon's top tether hook to the metal D-ring. There are helpful online installation videos showing how to top tether a rear facing Britax convertible at www.carseatsite.com and also at Britax's own website at http://www.britaxusa.com/safety/Default.aspx?ID=TSIP

You picked a great seat for extended rear facing, and ideally you'll keep your little one rear facing as long as possible within the Marathon's rear facing limits to provide optimal protection for the kiddo's neck and spinal column. :thumbsup: For more details about the benefits of rear facing as long as possible, please have a look at http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/stayrearfacing.aspx

Okay, moving back to the subject of retrofitting top tether anchors for forward facing installations. :) You can have top tether anchors retrofitted in your Accord, but not lower LATCH anchors. According to my LATCH manual, the '97 Accord can have up to 3 top tether anchors retrofitted. The Accord has three 8 mm weld nuts in the rear filler panel (package shelf) where the top tether anchors may be installed. The retrofit tether anchor is Honda part number 82410-SE3-C01, called a "plate assembly," and available for approx. $13 each from the Honda dealership service dept. You can probably find the retrofit part for slightly less online through a Honda parts vendor if you google the part number. The Honda dealership will charge you for parts and labor if you have it done there (no free retrofits through Honda, unfortunately), but you could buy the parts from the dealer or an online parts store, and probably do the install yourself with a torque wrench to save on the labor charges. There should be instructions in the vehicle's owner's manual for installing the top tether anchors if you want to do it yourself.