Installing snugride for a freind...help!

[bethng]

Ok, A freind has asked me to help her get her snugride base tighter. Its been a while since I have installed an infant seat. She has a grace snugride model #8465HEA. About 4 years old as it was used for her older son. She bought it new. She says it does not have latch. Could this be true? Anyway...we will be installing in a

2004 Subaru Outback

2006 Ford F150

Anybody have any helpful BTDT words of advice on how to get the base rock solid?
thank you so much! My tech class is just 3 weeks away!

[crunchierthanthou]

Judging by the manual here (http://www.gracobaby.com/customerservice/instructions_category.aspx?catID=1), that model number would have had LATCH. If it truly didn't come with LATCH, then the seat is likely expired or will be by September.

The manual is probably a good place to start. Here's a link to the specific one for her model number (though they are all pretty much the same).

http://www.gracobaby.com/assets/pdfs/instructions/ISPC021BB.pdf

How old is the child? Do you know which position?

I don't know about the Ford, but it's probably fairly straightforward. I do have a bit of experience with an Outback. Make sure the adjustable foot is all the way down. LATCH would be super easy, but the seatbelt isn't hard. You'll probably want a locking clip (http://carseatsite.com/lockingclips.htm) because the locking shoulder retractor will more than likely cause the base to tilt. You'll probably also have to twist the buckle stalk a few times so that there's room for the locking clip without having it pushing against the shell. The center position is nearly impossible to get a good fit with a rf seat, but she probably isn't using it if she has a 4 yo as well.

[bethng]

[QUOTE=crunchierthanthou;420627]Judging by the manual here (http://www.gracobaby.com/customerservice/instructions_category.aspx?catID=1), that model number would have had LATCH. If it truly didn't come with LATCH, then the seat is likely expired or will be by September.



How old is the child? Do you know which position?

. I do have a bit of experience with an Outback. Make sure the adjustable foot is all the way down. LATCH would be super easy, but the seatbelt isn't hard. You'll probably want a locking clip (http://carseatsite.com/lockingclips.htm) because the locking shoulder retractor will more than likely cause the base to tilt. You'll probably also have to twist the buckle stalk a few times so that there's room for the locking clip without having it pushing against the shell. QUOTE]



baby is 2 months. I would be willing to bet she is outboard. But I cant swear by that. If she is in the middle then that may be the problem. So you can use a locking clip even if your belts lock after pulling them all the way out?

[crunchierthanthou]

So you can use a locking clip even if your belts lock after pulling them all the way out?

Yes, you use it instead of locking the retractor. Otherwise, the locked shoulder belt will probably pull up and cause the base to tilt.