Frontier owners.... recline block question

[mamabear]

I'm putting my newly washed cover back on, and installing the seat back in my car. I'm noticing the recline block doesn't click/or lock in the forward position ( I don't remember if it did that fresh out of the box). If I put the recline block forward, and pick the seat up it just flings downward, it won't stay forward. Is it supposed to be like that???

[Jeanum]

Going from memory when I installed DD2's Frontier, I think the recline block does swing around like you're describing rather than lock into the forward position (the position the recline block is required to be in for harnessed use). Placing the Frontier on the vehicle seat with the recline block forward is what keeps it positioned forward, if I'm remembering correctly.

[HEVY]

Your ARE remembering correctly, there are no locks.

[Judi]

Yes, you are remembering correctly. I wish it would lock in place. I have had it move on me, while getting the car seat into postion.

[mamabear]

Thanks!:D
Well, since it does lock into the back position for booster mode I wasn't sure if it was broken or what. I wish they would note that in the manual.

[courtfrog2]

How did you wash your cover? I'm afraid to wash mine! LOL.

[mamabear]

Oh boy...before you do that you may want to read this thread. (http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=55134)

[Judi]

I sure hope they come out with some NICE frontier covers soon!

[Gypsy]

I sure hope they come out with some NICE frontier covers soon!

Me too!

I'll be buying one for ds during the February sale, and I hope they have better covers by then!

[nlmom]

I actually like the covers. Having had microfiber furniture for a few years now.. i'm well used to it. Easiest wy to clean is just to vaccum and then wipe down with a wet cloth. I like microfiber wash clothes for this. I also have a little bissel green machine... works dandy for this too!

[essnce629]

My recline block locks in the forward position. I've been moving my Frontier from car to car several times a week and have never had the recline block move out of the forward position. I have to pull it out of position to move it and when I put it back it does snap and lock in place. Odd that others don't do this. Maybe you should call Britax.

[joolsplus3]

I actually like the covers. Having had microfiber furniture for a few years now.. i'm well used to it. Easiest wy to clean is just to vaccum and then wipe down with a wet cloth. I like microfiber wash clothes for this. I also have a little bissel green machine... works dandy for this too!

Yeah, but the many of the FR's are actually a really funky mesh stuff that washes up horribly....I'd kill for a good pink microfiber cover!

[mamabear]

My recline block locks in the forward position. I've been moving my Frontier from car to car several times a week and have never had the recline block move out of the forward position. I have to pull it out of position to move it and when I put it back it does snap and lock in place. Odd that others don't do this. Maybe you should call Britax.

Hmmm...that's strange. I would think this is how it's supposed to be, it seems odd to me that it *wouldn't* lock forward, but since no one else's does (well, but yours:p) I guess it's normal. Just out of curiosity, why do you pull it out of position to move it? Are you changing it form booster mode to harness mode? When I move my seat I wish it would just stay forward since that's where I'm keeping it. Just trying to clarify.

[mamabear]

Yeah, but the many of the FR's are actually a really funky mesh stuff that washes up horribly....I'd kill for a good pink microfiber cover!

me too.
BTW I called again and told them they need plush covers. Got a different CS agent and they "will be passing that along".

[Starlight]

The ones I've played with locked into place as well.

[mamabear]

OK, off to call..........

[Judi]

Well dang, going to have to go out to the car and play.

[mamabear]

Judi
Since Britax is closed until tomorrow, will keep us posted on what you find??
Thanks!

[Judi]

Ok, running out to the car now. BRB

[Judi]

Loading pics now.

[Judi]

Ok, my answer. Yes, it should lock into place. Here is a pic that shows the little notch that should hold it.

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m216/DallasOregon/Frontier/100_0324.jpg

Here I show it "locked" into place.

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m216/DallasOregon/Frontier/100_0325.jpg

Mine just pops out.

[mamabear]

OK
I have those notches too, but mine doesn't click in, or maybe it does, but just pops out SUPER easily. Like, with no effort at all. It's installed now, do you think it's a problem??

[Judi]

Personally, no. The pressure of the install will keep it in place. Let us know what Britax says though, oh unless it is Helen. We shuold email Sarah.

[mamabear]

...Let us know what Britax says though, oh unless it is Helen.
Ha!
I'll just keep hanging up until I get someone else!!

[essnce629]

Just out of curiosity, why do you pull it out of position to move it? Are you changing it form booster mode to harness mode? When I move my seat I wish it would just stay forward since that's where I'm keeping it. Just trying to clarify.

No, I didn't mean that I change the recline block all the time from booster to harness mode. I've only used the Frontier for Conner who's only used it in harness mode, but I have changed the recline foot a few times to play around with the seat and to take pictures, and since I've moved the Frontier from car to car several times I always check to make sure the recline block is in the right postion (since others have said it moved). Mine has never moved out of place and it actually takes a good hard pull to unlock it and move it. I'm also curious what Britax says. It seems like those that don't lock in place are faulty.

[zactayaus]

Mine locks into place too, but it didn't at first. It just kept flipping back every time I moved it and I assumed that was the way it was supposed to be. Then the last time I took it out of the car I noticed that it didnt' flip back. So then I pulled on it and it unsnapped. Now it snaps in easily and stays in place.:shrug-shoulders:

[mamabear]

Maybe I still need to give them a call?????

[jlginsb]

Did anybody call and get an answer to this question regarding the recline block locking in harness mode?

I just got my Frontier today and just started playing with it. The DOM is 7/08and my manual does state on page 15 the recline block will lock into place when moved to the harness position. However that statement is suspiciously missing if I got to the online manual on the Britax website. :confused:

Of course Britax CS is closed and I am anxious to try an install with the carseat. I assume its okay since so many say they don't have it lock for them either. But I just want to make sure before I actually do the real install.

So did anybody get an answer?

[mamabear]

Just an FYI update.
My recline block now "clicks" into the forward position.
I don't really know what's different. I changed my cover, and now it does.:shrug-shoulders:

[Jeanum]

I also discovered the recline block on our Frontier clicks and stays in the forward (harnessed) position when I was checking on the harness straps and splitter plate.

[jlginsb]

Just an update while playing with the Frontier last night and checking the harness splitter plate, I discovered why my recline block won't lock into place (at least most of the time). Maybe others can tell me if they have the same problem.

There are 2 "clips" on either side of the recline block that should catch on the bottom of the carseat. Problem is only one side comes close to touching in order to sometimes catch. The other side is way to off (by 1/2 inch or so) to catch. I'll try to take a picture to show what I am talking about, but does anybody else notice that? Does that even make sense?

I'm going to call Britax this morning to see if this is a problem or not.

[Judi]

Yeah, those are the pics I posted.

[jlginsb]

Oh yeah, sorry I saw those pics yesterday then promptly forgot about seeing them. :whistle:

Okay, so one side of mine is close to clicking in like that, but the other side has a significant gap and couldn't touch even if it wanted to. Like I said before, I imagine it's fine, but it just seems strange to me to have tabs on both sides if only one side can touch to click in. Anyway, off to call Britax now. Maybe I'll probe them about the splitter plate issue as well (although mine isn't having that issue, so I don't exactly know how I'll bring it up).

[Judi]

Let us know what they say! Hang up, if you get Helen.

[jlginsb]

Okay, I just got off the phone with May (spelling?) from Britax and basically she said there was a recent design change regarding the recline block. Due to misuse by consumer, they changed it to a spring loaded design (which mine is) so it would flip back in the booster position when uninstalled. She said to many consumers weren't moving the recline block into the correct position. They have since changed the manual to reflect this change which is why the online manual doesn't have the same sentence about locking into place that the manual that came with my carseat did (strange-I got a new design carseat, but not a new manual).

Anyway, what she said kind of made sense to me for parents who were misusing the recline block for booster mode, but what about those who forget to (or don't due to lack of reading the manual) flip it forward for harness mode since now due to the spring it wants to be in booster mode?

[Judi]

yeah, that is what I was thinking. Without reading the manual, I left it be. Didn't use it, of course. I read the manual, and then chenged it.

[jlginsb]

Just out of curiosity, does anybody know if they own an earlier Frontier that supposedly doesn't have the spring loaded recline block? What does it do if it isn't locked into place? Does it just flop around loosely?

[mamabear]

Just out of curiosity, does anybody know if they own an earlier Frontier that supposedly doesn't have the spring loaded recline block? What does it do if it isn't locked into place? Does it just flop around loosely?

yep. if you hold the seat up, it will just hang there. At least that's what mine did.

[essnce629]

Just out of curiosity, does anybody know if they own an earlier Frontier that supposedly doesn't have the spring loaded recline block? What does it do if it isn't locked into place? Does it just flop around loosely?

I have one of the earlier Frontiers (manufacture date 5/16/08) and if mine is not locked in place it will hang down when you pick up the entire seat. Mine has never had any problems clicking and locking in place though so I've never had a hanging recline block.

[zactayaus]

Mine has a DOM of 5/8/08 it locks into place and it is spring loaded. When unlocked it flips into booster mode all by itself.:shrug-shoulders:

[jlginsb]

Well all this is doing is making me more confused and making me wonder about my decision to go for a Frontier. :confused:

One with a DOM of 5/8/08 spring loaded and one with a 5/16/08 that is not spring loaded? Some lock, some don't lock. What's the deal? :scratcheshead:

If a design change came along wouldn't it make sense that all after a certain date (i.e. 5/8/08) all would have spring?

Makes me wonder about the explanation I was given by Britax today. :(

[Sarah Tilton]

Here’s the scoop-

Looking at the pivot “bar” of the recline block you will see one spring – all recline blocks are spring loaded.

Is it an issue my recline block does not snap into position? No – snapping into position is a convenience factor, not safety related. The important thing about the recline block is that it is in the correct position for the mode of use – towards the front for harness mode and towards the back for booster mode. Once the recline block is placed in position, the installation or positioning of the CRS keeps the recline block in position. If you are going to carry it any distance, fold the recline block towards the back, attach the tether hook to the designated location (this will hold the recline back) and use the tether strap as a carry handle.

Upon pre-production, Britax Child Safety immediately noticed that a variation in the tolerance of the grey cup holder housing was resulting in a situation where recline blocks were not consistently locking into place. Britax was prepared to delay the product launch but Consumer research indicated that there was no preference for the ability to lock the bar recline block in the harness mode position. As a result, our customers and consumers preferred that we launch the product on- time to meet the market place need and thus we elected to properly remove the reference to the feature from the manual. The current manual posted on-line is part number P319300_R2:07.08. The date on the user guide indicates when the printed material was released internally to be used at Britax. This was a running change – meaning we used all inventory of revision 1 before we switched to revision 2. User guide P319300_R2:07.08 was implemented in production around September 4, 2008.

I hope this information helps address your concerns.


Sarah Tilton
Child Passenger Safety Advocate

[Jeanum]

Thanks Sarah. :)