snugride in 1998 volvo v70 wagon--what is wrong?

[margaretborden]

i have tried many times to get my snugride to stay firmly in place but it doesn't, and slides around easily if i give it a tug. it just doesn't seem that it would protect my baby in the event of a collision.
i read somewhere about using a rolled up towel under the end where her feet are, but that doesn't help and even seems to make it less secure.
what am i doing wrong?
is the carseat supposed to be in the center of the backseat or on one of the sides? in the center there is a raised area and that seems less secure since the carseat is sort of balanced on it, whereas in the seats at least it is not going to slide off.
help! i just feel like the seat can't possibly protect the baby!
could it be that the graco just doesn't fit my car well, i would buy another brand if that is the answer.

[crunchierthanthou]

It sounds like you're not locking the seatbelt. You can use the locking clip that came with your snugride, but all vehicles since 1996 have been required to have locking seatbelts. Check your vehicle owner's manual to see how to lock the seatbelts in your car. It's likely that they have a switch on the latchplate to turn it to locking mode. It's a rare system, but often found in volvos of that era. Here's a site with great info on both how to use a locking clip and different types of seatbelt locking systems.

http://www.carseatsite.com/lockingclips.htm

Statistically, the center is safest, but that is negated if you can't get an appropriate install there. An acceptable install will move less than 1" in any direction at the beltpath (the front of the Snugride base will still lift up)

[Jenifer]

Many of the older Volvos have switchable latch plates. Check your owner's manual for sure, but if you turn the latch plate (the piece that goes into the buckle), you would see a red button and two pictures. Slide it to the picture of the kid. This will lock the seat belt. Once you tighten it, it stays tight until you switch it back. They worked like a dream.