getting a tight install - radian and scenera

[ProudMomof5]

I do know the rule of the seat not moving more than an inch at the belt path... but I do have some questions.

I have a scenera RF, with seatbelt. I was using a rolled towel to get a good recline, I went and got a pool noodle and reinstalled the seat. Now I can't get it in right, I don't think. If I lift the back of the carseat, like toward the seat of the car, I can lift it completely up.... I can't remember if I could do that before.. not even sure if I tried.
It just doesn't feel secure in there. I also can't get it as secure at the belt path and I am doing the exact same things.... getting in the car seat and bouncing... I think its just as tight.. just not as secure. Its so tight that the seat is tipping from the shoulder belt (it did that before, but not quite as bad, I am doing all the same things).. what I am doing wrong!
Not only that but I am 27 wks pg and I am flat worn out from this thing.

now the radian,
its installed FF in the outboard position, 3rd row, with a seatbelt. I thought I had a rock solid install, but then I noticed after a couple days it seemed that the front of it (where her knees hang over) was tilted slightly up. So, I went back there and pushed it back, it easily slid back. I was like Whoa that can't be good. So I got in the seat again and was able to get one more click out of the retracting seatbelt. It moves less than one inch at the belt path side to side... a little more forward to back. Not sure if its an inch, more than an inch.. or what. Is that normal? I have had this radian for like 3 days so I am new to it all.
Oh and it is not tethered either, we don't have latch or tether anchors in our vehicle. Not sure if that even makes a diff. but I thought I'd throw it out there.

[BW1426]

What vehicle are you driving?

[ProudMomof5]

98 Ford Expedition

[BW1426]

First off, Ford will put at least some tether anchors in for free :thumbsup: I would have that done. I find that I get a better fit with the radian ff with a lap shoulder belt and rf with a lap belt. With that said check out my post on your other thread regarding a seat with a base that could be used in between the radian and vivo.

[crunchierthanthou]

here's what I have to do to get a good rf Scenera install with the seatbelt in my vehicle-

I've never been able to get an appropriate recline without at least 1 pool noodle. I have cheap ones with holes, so it takes a pyramid of 3. I haven't tried a rolled towel in my vehicle, but it should be about the same. The back of the Scenera will be able to lift up to some degree.

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z157/crunchierthanthou/rf%20scenera/IMG_3563.jpg

pull the cover back over the beltpath. I like to climb in behind it and push forward with my hips so that I have both hands free to work with the belt. buckle the seatbelt, but don't lock it yet. feed the lapbelt into the buckle while pulling the shoulder part tight. Tighten the lapbelt across the whole beltpath- not just right next to the buckle. A rf Scenera is prone to tipping and just cinching it on one side will contribute to that.

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z157/crunchierthanthou/rf%20scenera/beltpath.jpg

When you have the lap belt as tight as you can (and the seat move less than 1" in any direction at the beltpath), lock the shoulder belt without feeding any additional webbing into the retractor. Doing this last should also help keep it from tipping.

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z157/crunchierthanthou/rf%20scenera/IMG_3568.jpg

also, remember to store your LATCH hooks. You don't want anyone getting hit in the head with them in a crash.

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z157/crunchierthanthou/rf%20scenera/IMG_3564.jpg

[crunchierthanthou]

First off, Ford will put at least some tether anchors in for free :thumbsup: I would have that done. I find that I get a better fit with the radian ff with a lap shoulder belt and rf with a lap belt. With that said check out my post on your other thread regarding a seat with a base that could be used in between the radian and vivo.

Ford will retrofit tether anchors free of charge. Refer to program R7C.

There are three drill dimples in your vehicle where TAs can be added. They are all for the middle row. The part number for each position is F75Z 78613D74-AA. Actually, one can be added behind the front seat as well. That may be helpful if you ever intend to have a rf Britax or Sunshine Kids convertible. The third row cannot have TAs added.


What type of seatbelt does that position have? Is the latchplate pushing against the beltpath and making it so you can't get it as tight as you need? A couple of tips for installing a ff radian are to lower the adjustable foot (it only moves about an inch, but helps more than you would think) and to push down into the vehicle seat bottom as you tighten the belt, rather than back into the vehicle seatback.

[ProudMomof5]

There are three drill dimples in your vehicle where TAs can be added. They are all for the middle row. The third row cannot have TAs added.


What type of seatbelt does that position have? Is the latchplate pushing against the beltpath and making it so you can't get it as tight as you need?


See that is the thing, the radian HAS to be in the 3rd row. The 3rd row is the REASON we got the radian in the first place.... we need narrow seats.. in fact I will probably have to buy another radian here soon.

The type of seatbelt is a lap/shoulder locking seat belt.... the latchplate MAY be in the way.. its hard to say because the seatbelt is really scrunching to one side of the buckle because its in there so tight... so I don't know if I can't tighten it anymore because of that. I haven't tried to twist the belt stalk though... that may help.
Thanks for the tips... I may try those things, I haven't tried lowering the base/foot thingy yet.
thanks.

[ProudMomof5]

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z157/crunchierthanthou/rf%20scenera/IMG_3568.jpg



Hmmmm..... that is EXACTLY how my scenera looks... same place in our vehicle and everything. Its just not as stable as it was with the rolled towel and I really thought the pool noodle would be better. I have one Big noodle and the seat is way more reclined than it was with the towel. With the towel she was at 30 degrees - I have no idea what it is now though.

I can pick up the back quite a bit... more than I would like. I just wasn't sure how much it CAN move and still be safe.... but just the fact that it is moving more than it was before really bothers me.

Thanks for the help. Guess I'll just have to keep messing with it. I'll probably just put my towel back... darn I really wanted to use the noodle too.

[Defrost]

I can pick up the back quite a bit... more than I would like. I just wasn't sure how much it CAN move and still be safe.... but just the fact that it is moving more than it was before really bothers me.


You need to check the install only at the beltpath. If you grab the top of the shell and push it towards the back of the vehicle, it will move, and it's normal. What you are looking for is less than an inch of movement when you grab the carseat at the beltpath (specifically where this is varies - grabbing sides above the beltpath on the Scenera is okay, for example). Push it side-to-side, then front-to-back to check for movement. As long as there is less than an inch of movement when you check that way, it's acceptable. :thumbsup: