Installing Marathon rf

[catchthewind]

First, sorry for any mistakes, typing one handed while nursing.

We bought a new Marathon last night, but can't seem to get it installed properly in our 2007 Honda Fit. We're trying to get it rf in the center (which doesn't have latch, so we're using an auto-locking lap/shoulder belt). I know pictures would probably help but I'm not sure what you would need pictures of. Just the seat sitting in the car how we tried to install it? Here is the problem. We installed it following the user guide, and I put weight on it while my husband tightened it. We both checked how much give it had at the belt path and it seemed fine. Then my husband grabbed the back and kind of rocked it up and down and when we checked the give again it was shifting around a lot.

We started again, and eventually got it in pretty tight but it still shifts more than I'm comfortable with, though probably only around 1" (which I know is the guideline). It also will seem tight, but then if we check it a few minutes later it has loosened, so I'm sure we must be doing something wrong. Maybe I'm just overly concerned about it. We could always get our SafeSeat in rock solid, with no give at all, so that's what we're aiming for with this one too.

The big problem is that our old car seat that we have been using isn't usable anymore. We were in a minor car accident. The next scheduled clinic in our area isn't until the 30th, and we can't walk there so we have to get it installed at least well enough that we're comfortable with it until then, or find a technician willing to come here or close enough we can walk before then. I might see about borrowing an infant one more like our old one, but most of my friends are using theirs.

ETA: Sorry, I must have hit the back button before hitting post. I thought I was reading the installation forum. Please feel free to move this there.

[crunchierthanthou]

We're you using the lock-offs? They aren't required when the seatbelt locks on its own, but Britax recommends using them at all times. A locking shoulder belt can also cause a rf convertible to tip and the lock-offs help prevent that. Open the far one from the buckle, route the seatbelt through the rf beltpath, get it as tight as you can and close the open lock-off over both the lap and shoulder belt sections.

Where were you checking for movement? The top of the shell will move in a rf convertible, even when the seat is in tight. You need to check for movement at the beltpath. Grip with one hand and tug- no extreme force necessary. It should move less than 1" in any direction.

Your MA can tether rf (Britax is one of only two manufacturers that allow this). Make sure the seatbelt is tight before you tighten the tether, but once the tether is done, the seat will be rock solid. You don't need to make it so tight that it affects the recline- just taut so all the slack is out.

[daycaremom2002]

A rear facing seat will have movement at the top of the seat. You only want to check for movement at the beltpath and only using your weaker hand to push and pull gently. You do not need to rank on the seat.

The nice thing about your new Marathon, is that it has built in lockoff on the side of the seat and it has the ability to be tethered rear facing. Only one other manufacturer currently allows for rear facing tethering.

When using the built in lockoff, you do not want to lock the seatbelt at the retractor. You leave that alone. You open the lockoff farthest away from the buckle before you put the seatbelt through the belt path. Then route the seatbelt like normal. If you need more recline for a younger baby, then push down where the babies bottom would go while you tighten the belt. After it is tight, then you position the shoulder portion of the belt through the lockoff with the lap portion, and close the lockoff over both portions of the seatbelt. This will hold the seat in tightly.

After you have a tight install with the seatbelt, then you can attatch the rearfacing tether. There is a strap that came with the seat(possibly in the pocket on the back of the seat used to hold the tether). You want to wrap this strap around a non moveable part of the frame of the seat in front(toward the front of the vehicle) of the carseat. You want the tether to go down to the floor towards the front of the vehicle. Once you have a good spot, then you pull the d ring through the loop at the other end of the strap and pull it tight. You attatch the tether hook to the d ring and pull out the slack. You do not want to pull it too tight. Just enough to get rid of the slack. This will help the top of the carseat not move.

[daycaremom2002]

Wow, I must type slowly, when I started there were no other replies!! LOL....Looks like we both said the same thing though!! :thumbsup:

[catchthewind]

Thank you both. We were using the lock offs but we were using them both (on both sides of the seat). And I think I didn't explain clearly about where we were checking for movement. We checked at the belt path, and it was tight. We then moved the back a bit, and then when we checked at the belt path again it had loosened. The next time we installed it, it loosened at the belt path after it had been tight a few minutes before even though we didn't move the back part at all. Also, to clarify, if we use the lock offs we shouldn't also lock the seat belt?

As for the tether, I don't have the manual in front of me, but I thought it said not to tether it to any part of the front seat? Am I remembering that wrong?

I can post pictures, I'm just not sure what, if any, would be helpful.

[daycaremom2002]

If you are using the lockoffs, you do not want or need to lock the seatbelt at the retractor. The lockoffs are doing that job. I am not sure why you are getting movement. The slack must be coming from somewhere. You may just not be push down quite enough to fully compress the vehicle cushion under the carseat.
Here (http://www.britaxusa.com/safety/default.aspx) is a link to the Britax installation videos. Click on the rearfacing lap shoulder belt installation on their convertibles, and it will show you the basics. They also show how to use the tether rear facing.

Page 24 and 25 in your manual show how to tether rear facing. You want the tether to be attatched to a non moving part. A seat leg or a fixed seatbelt anchor works well.

If you post a picture of you installation from the side while standing outside the vehicle looking directly at the seat, we can look and see if anything jumps out.

[catchthewind]

I just watched that video and I think I see where we were going wrong. We hadn't been tightening the lap belt first and then the shoulder belt. And of course, that seems obvious to me now that I watched them do it that way, but it was never necessary with the SafeSeat.

I'm going to go try and install it again and I'll post some pictures if I still can't get it in. Though it may have to wait until tonight when my husband is home so one of us can get it in while the other watches our daughter.

[daycaremom2002]

I am glad the video helped. I am glad that Britax has done those. They seem very thorough.

Definately post back and let us know how it goes.

[catchthewind]

Okay I gave it a shot. I couldn't get it tight enough with an 8 month old in the seat next to it trying her best to help out, but I did get some pictures. I did actually manage to get it fairly tight, and then the locks wouldn't close over that part of the seat belt. (I've put a picture below to show what I mean.) I might have been able to get it closed but I didn't want to force it. In the pictures, the base is not flush with the bottom of the seat, I'm assuming that's the big reason it wasn't tight this time. Once my husband gets home I'll try again minus the 8 month old's help, but I figured I'd post these pictures just to see if anything jumps out at anyone as being obviously a problem.

Also, I've pointed an arrow in the following picture. That part isn't something we need to worry about rf right? We couldn't find it in the manual but we only glanced through the ff part.
http://www.grumpywizard.net/images/right.jpg

http://www.grumpywizard.net/images/left.jpg

I circled the part of the belt that was in the lock when I had it pulled tight. It's doubled there and sewn so is much thicker. Should we just forget the locks and stick with the seat belts auto lock?
http://www.grumpywizard.net/images/lock.jpg

This is how we have the belt threaded in the seat. Does that look right? Is it okay that it's not sitting flat?
http://www.grumpywizard.net/images/beltpath.jpg

[catchthewind]

Oh I also wanted to ask, is there a reason not to use both the lock off on the seat and the seat belt locks? Wouldn't that give better protection in case one fails?

[catchthewind]

Oh one last question. A friend of mine told me we should get rid of the little neck protectors on the straps because they're unsafe. Our daughter HATES having the straps pinch her neck, so that was something we really liked about the Britax seats. I thought if it came with the seat it was safe?

[Mama!]

If it came with your seat, it is 100% ok:thumbsup:

[daycaremom2002]

yup, the strap covers are 100% ok to use.

To get the install tighter, you need to twist the female buckle stalk down a couple of turns. You will need to undo where the seatbelt attaches on the drivers side and twist that one down. Then re-attach the seatbelt and install like normal. This will move the sewn part down and out of your way. When you tighten the seatbelt, make sure the base of the seat is flat on the vehicle seat. As you pull the slack out of the lap portion of the belt, push down into the carseat partway between the butt and the feet. This way you don't lift the front of the base off of the seat. It needs to stay flat. Then lock the seatbelt off. It should be tighter.

[catchthewind]

Thanks so much! I did that and it is in there pretty solidly now and we got the locks closed over the belt by twisting the attachment. I couldn't see anywhere to tether it to that doesn't have moving parts, but I take it that's optional and can wait until a tech looks at it?

I am a little concerned that it is too upright, but my husband thinks it's around 30 degrees and we're just used to the recline on an infant seat. She has great head support so I don't think it will be a problem, but will make sure to ask about that when I get it checked.

[crunchierthanthou]

Your seatbelt is routed correctly. It needs to be between the buckle and the child. If it's in front of the buckle, then it pushes the crotch strap down and makes it so it's too short.

That lock-off with the arrow is the forward facing lock-off. You don't need to worry about it yet. :)

The issue you are running into with the stitching is why Britax usually recommends using the lock-off farther from the buckle rather than the near one, but it's usally the main seatbelt buckle that is interfering. Most vehicles don't have a second buckle on the seatbelt, but that's common in SUV/wagon center seats (as with your vehicle). If you can't close that one, you can use the lock-off closer to the buckle. Technically, you can use either one or both- whatever gives you the best install. Another fix is like the pp mentioned- you can twist the buckle stalk (the piece of webbing connecting the female end of the buckle to the vehicle frame) up to three full twists of 360 degrees each. By twisting it you move the buckle lower and hopefully out of the way of the lock-off.


edit: I'm glad you got it in okay. The rf tether is optional. It should be reclined at least 30 degrees- you'll know if it's too upright if her head slumps when she sleeps.

[catchthewind]

That lock-off with the arrow is the forward facing lock-off. You don't need to worry about it yet. :)

The issue you are running into with the stitching is why Britax usually recommends using the lock-off farther from the buckle rather than the near one, but it's usally the main seatbelt buckle that is interfering. Most vehicles don't have a second buckle on the seatbelt, but that's common in SUV/wagon center seats (as with your vehicle). If you can't close that one, you can use the lock-off closer to the buckle. Technically, you can use either one or both- whatever gives you the best install. Another fix is like the pp mentioned- you can twist the buckle stalk (the piece of webbing connecting the female end of the buckle to the vehicle frame) up to three full twists of 360 degrees each. By twisting it you move the buckle lower and hopefully out of the way of the lock-off.

Oh that is good to know too, thanks! The twisting doesn't compromise the webbing at all?

[crunchierthanthou]

not in the long term. there is a known reduction in strength with each twist- which is why three is the maximum. However, it's only as long as the webbing is twisted. It goes back to full strength when untwisted for future use. There has been some discrepancy as to wether it's three full twists per buckle stalk, or per seatbelt system (in regard to seatbelts like yours with two separate buckles). It doesn't look like you'll need to twist the other side anyway, but I'd probably not do more than three total.

[daycaremom2002]

Thanks so much! I did that and it is in there pretty solidly now and we got the locks closed over the belt by twisting the attachment. I couldn't see anywhere to tether it to that doesn't have moving parts, but I take it that's optional and can wait until a tech looks at it?

I am a little concerned that it is too upright, but my husband thinks it's around 30 degrees and we're just used to the recline on an infant seat. She has great head support so I don't think it will be a problem, but will make sure to ask about that when I get it checked.

I am glad you got it in tighter. It will get easier with practice.

If you want the seat a little more reclined, try pushing the base closer to the bight(crease) of the seat and pushing a little closer to the butt of the seat when you install it. You just want to make sure that the base remains flat on the vehicle seat.

Tethering rear facing is optional. It is fine until you can have a tech look at it. Some techs may not have a lot of experience with a rear facing tether, so make sure you have your manual with you.

If you post another picture, we might be able to tell you if it is too upright. Just stand outside the vehicle and take a straight on shot of the carseat. This way we can see how it sits in relation to the vehicle and have a reference point to what is level.

[Sceason1972]

You mentioned that you got the seat in tighter already, so this may be unnecssary now. I just wanted to verify that you know that the entire base of the seat must be touching the vehicle seat. In your photo, it appears that the front of the MA is raised off the vehcile seat. That alone will cause the loosening you were experiencing. I personally put enough weight into my seats that they begin to dent the vehicle seat padding.

Also, to do the rf tehter you might need to remove some plastic pieces to find a bolted down spot. You may or may not find a tech knowledgeable in rf tethering.