Can I use a locking clip??

[Kristy00]

I currently have DS's seat (Graco Platinum cargo) installed in the middle of the 3rd row in our Montana SV6. I have automatic locking seatbelts (no latch in this position, and DS is 40lbs so at the latch limit anyway I think) but it doesn't seem to retract enough to get a tight install on the car seat. I've tried twisting the buckle stalk (it is a long one) but within a day or two, the seat is loosening up. I am thinking that there is something wrong with the seatbelt. In this situation, can/should I use a locking clip? Or should I just find another configuration for my seats?

[cpsaddict]

You may use a locking clip as long as the seatbelt is a lap/shoulder combination. If it is just a lap belt, you will need to move the seat to another location. It is also possible that the car seat is just incompatible with that location in the car.

[unityco]

Just so we're on the same page... your seat belts are the ratcheting type - the kind that you pull all the way out, then feed back to lock, right?

If that's the case, and you're having problems getting the seat to stay tight you can try installing the seat as normal, locking the belt, then unbuckling the seat belt and letting retract a few more "clicks". It will be difficult to get the buckle done back up, but that should help you get a tighter install.

If those aren't the kind of belts you have, and you have the style that has a buckle attached to a locking latch plate (on this type, the shoulder portion remains loose,) you can try flipping the male end (the part you put IN to the buckle) one half-turn. It may be that once you're installing your seat the belt is slipping because the webbing isn't parallel. Flipping the male side should stop the slipping.

If either of those don't work, you can use a locking clip, but that should be a last resort. If you need to, you would not use the seat belt's locking mechanism as well.

HTH! :)

[Misty-Bug]

what kind of belt is it?

I had that issue with my belt in my Taurus. It turned out that it was a light weight locking latchplate. So I was told to twist the female end (buckle receiver end) an extra half a turn then turn the belt upside down HALF a turn. That way it locked the belt better because there wasn't enough of an angle when it wasn't twisted to have the belts lay flat against one another in order to lock.

Does that make sense? But like the PPer said if you can not get a proper install then you may have to try another location.

Here is a picture of the finished product.
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f12/Misty-bug/carseats/october26018.jpg

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f12/Misty-bug/carseats/october26014.jpg

[MissAllyLou]

Cargo's only have a 40 pound harness limit though, so you need to either get a new seat anyway, or take the harness off and use this seat as a booster.

[Kristy00]

Just so we're on the same page... your seat belts are the ratcheting type - the kind that you pull all the way out, then feed back to lock, right?

If that's the case, and you're having problems getting the seat to stay tight you can try installing the seat as normal, locking the belt, then unbuckling the seat belt and letting retract a few more "clicks". It will be difficult to get the buckle done back up, but that should help you get a tighter install.



Sorry, yes I have the ratcheting type of belt. I have tried to unbuckle the belt and let it go back a few clicks, but it won't click back any further, does that make sense? That is the problem.

[Kristy00]

Cargo's only have a 40 pound harness limit though, so you need to either get a new seat anyway, or take the harness off and use this seat as a booster.

The platinum cargo harnesses to 48lbs in Canada. :thumbsup:

[MissAllyLou]

The platinum cargo harnesses to 48lbs in Canada. :thumbsup:

Ooh, I didn't know you were in Canada! Sorry!

[unityco]

Sorry, yes I have the ratcheting type of belt. I have tried to unbuckle the belt and let it go back a few clicks, but it won't click back any further, does that make sense?

Yes, that does make sense. :) It's possible (but I don't know how likely) that the Cargo's belt path is just too short and when you tighten the belt to where it needs to be, you end up disengaging the locking mechanism. Hopefully a tech will chime in for a more definitive answer, but I think you could use a locking clip there instead of the seat belt lock.

[Kristy00]

Yes, that does make sense. :) It's possible (but I don't know how likely) that the Cargo's belt path is just too short and when you tighten the belt to where it needs to be, you end up disengaging the locking mechanism. Hopefully a tech will chime in for a more definitive answer, but I think you could use a locking clip there instead of the seat belt lock.

This is what I think is happening. With the long buckle stalk, and a short belt path, it just doesn't fit.

[scatterbunny]

Long buckle stalk=twist it up to three full twists to bring it down lower, and see if that allows the locking mechanism to engage. :)

[Kristy00]

Long buckle stalk=twist it up to three full twists to bring it down lower, and see if that allows the locking mechanism to engage. :)

I've already twisted it twice - I don't know if a third twist will make that much of a difference. I'll give it a try when DD gets up from her nap!

[scatterbunny]

Sorry, I missed that part. And just to clarify, you've done two FULL twists (as opposed to half-twists)?

[Kristy00]

Sorry, I missed that part. And just to clarify, you've done two FULL twists (as opposed to half-twists)?


I did 3 full twists and it seems to be staying. :) It is still not quite as tight as I would like, but within the 1 inch of movement. I also had to move the seat that was beside DS's to a captain's chair (I think it was pushing DS's seat to the side), which will be inconvenient but it is a doable configuration. Thanks ladies!

[joolsplus3]

That car and that seat have 48 pound LATCH limits, don't they? It's only Honda and the newest Britaxes that have 40 pound limits, I think.

[Kristy00]

That car and that seat have 48 pound LATCH limits, don't they? It's only Honda and the newest Britaxes that have 40 pound limits, I think.

I don't know. I don't have the owner's manual for the van, so I couldn't check its limits, and I have misplaced my seat manual and can only look up the US version online. I figured I'd just follow the 40lb guideline to be safe. Besides, I don't have latch in that location anyway - only the 2 2nd row captains chairs have latch.