Does this look okay - Britax Frontier installed in 2000 Buick LeSabre

[chucksusanb]

Thanks in advance for looking. The seat seems very very tight. We used every bit of our seatbelt to install it this way. We installed using the long belt method. I'm just worried about the locking clip. Is it okay to touch the red part of the car seat????

Here is a front view and we want to know did we do this correctly?:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y28/chucksusanb/DSCF1738.jpg

Here is the side view of the long belt method. We have the shoulder seat belt:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y28/chucksusanb/DSCF1737.jpg

And the last one is our locking clip, we were however able to twist the belt stalk two times since taking this picture, but it is still touching the red part, is that okay????
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y28/chucksusanb/DSCF1736.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y28/chucksusanb/DSCF1734.jpg

Thanks a million for looking. We sincerely appreciate it.

Chuck & Sue, and of course Gracie too!

[crunchierthanthou]

you shouldn't need a locking clip on that seatbelt. All vehicles after 1996 are required to have locking seatbelts for carseat installations. Your seatbelts will either lock at the latchplate or the shoulder retractor. Read your vehicle owner's manual to know for sure which kind you have. If at the latchplate, you shouldn't be able to pull the lap portion when it is buckled (either around a person or a carseat). If at the retractor, you should be able to slowly pull the seatbelt all the way out and switch it to locking mode where it will ratchet back in without you being able to pull it back out.

are you routing the seatbelt all the way to the back of the shell for the LBP? It looks like you are, but you want to be sure that you're not just going behind the cover, and that it completely behind the seat.

[chucksusanb]

Yes, it was routed all the way around the back of the shell!

When we read the britax frontier manual, it made it sound like you needed a locking clip.... hmmmm

The long belt method pretty much took ALL of the seatbelt.

But I am still curious if the locking clip is okay to have in this position!

[joolsplus3]

Wow looks good (I can't see the cover popping way forward, so I guess you did put it behind the plastic seat shell?).

Yeah, I'm sorry you went to all the trouble to do such an excellent job of the locking clip, you definitely don't need it :o (I *think* you have lightweight locking latchplates...they hold the lapbelt tight even if the shoulderbelt is always loose, at least that's how my 2002 Buick was).

:)

[joolsplus3]

Nope, you really don't need it, your seatbelt really does lock on it's own. (The latchplate does appear to be 'free sliding' but it actually has a little bar that clamps it in place).

[Defrost]

To answer your question, IF you needed the locking clip, it would be okay in that position because you're using the long-belt-path.

But since you don't need it, no worries. I'd recommend you take it out, though.

I'm guessing that doesn't sound like fun after you clearly went through a lot of trouble to get it on there. I can't imagine trying to get the locking clip correctly positioned on a seat belt with no slack! Good for you both for putting that much effort into it. :thumbsup:

[Mama!]

I just want to say WOW at the hard work you put in to installing that. And you will be pleasantly surprised when you figure out how to install it without that locking clip. Good job!

[crunchierthanthou]

Yes, it was routed all the way around the back of the shell!

When we read the britax frontier manual, it made it sound like you needed a locking clip.... hmmmm

The long belt method pretty much took ALL of the seatbelt.

But I am still curious if the locking clip is okay to have in this position!

-I thought it was probably routed correctly, but just wanted to be sure.

-Good for you for reading the manual. You clearly did a thorough job. I can see how you would get that from their statement on seatbelt types-

Lap and Lap-shoulder vehicle belts
which only lock during a sudden
stop or crash (Emergency Locking
Retractor-ELR belts).
* Unless a locking clip is used.

However, your belts do lock other than in an emergency.

-It's fine if LBP uses the whole length of the seatbelt. That's not uncommon and is okay as long as the seat moves less than 1" in any direction at the beltpath.

-Yes, the placement is okay as long as the locking clip isn't pushing against the rigid edge of the beltpath- especially if you were able to twist the belt stalk and get it just a bit lower.

really, it looks pretty good and like you put a lot of effort into it. The locking clip is just an added inconvenience that isn't necessary for your vehicle.

:)

[BookMama]

I may be wrong (and no time to read the manual online - gotta make the kids' lunches) but doesn't the Frontier NOT allow the use of a locking clip? :confused:

[Defrost]

I may be wrong (and no time to read the manual online - gotta make the kids' lunches) but doesn't the Frontier NOT allow the use of a locking clip? :confused:

Uh... it better not, or else it will be completely incompatible with any vehicle that's old enough not to have locking seatbelts! :thumbsdown:

[crunchierthanthou]

I may be wrong (and no time to read the manual online - gotta make the kids' lunches) but doesn't the Frontier NOT allow the use of a locking clip? :confused:

I had thought that to be the case as well (I know I've read it here), but the quote above is directly from the Frontier manual (http://www.britaxusa.com/support/documents/Frontier_P241400_R1.pdf). It's also the only mention of a locking clip in the whole document. I'm taking that to mean that a locking clip is not prohibited, but allowed.

[BookMama]

Uh... it better not, or else it will be completely incompatible with any vehicle that's old enough not to have locking seatbelts! :thumbsdown:

Oops, my error :o - page 19 of the manual says not to use ELR belts "unless a locking clip is used." So I guess that means a locking clip can be used.

I need to get some sleep!

Edited to add: Crunchy, I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought that - at least I know I wasn't making it up!

[crunchierthanthou]

Oops, my error :o - page 19 of the manual says not to use ELR belts "unless a locking clip is used." So I guess that means a locking clip can be used.

I need to get some sleep!

Edited to add: Crunchy, I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought that - at least I know I wasn't making it up!

You don't even need to blame sleep deprivation this time. Jools mentioned as recently as June 7 that Britax was still working on approving a LC for the Frontier. :)

http://www.car-seat.org/showpost.php?p=465072&postcount=2

[chucksusanb]

Thank you everyone who took the time to respond to my installation question. :)

This site is awesome and always feel confident that I will find someone to respond quickly and accurately! :D

You all rule ;)

Thanks again!

Chuck, Susan and Grace