TruFit vs. 98' VW Golf

[canmom]

I was just helping a couple with a TF install in their 98 Golf. It is installed in the centre position, rfing, with the lap-only belt. I did get it in tight enough so that there is less than 1" of movement but it is not 100% rock solid. I twisted the buckle stalk 3 times but like many of us have seen, those darn TF lock-offs are fighting with the buckle. I just wondered if anyone has installed this seat with this vehicle and if so do you have any tricks to get a tighter install? The other issue is the TF seems to have a bit more space between it and the edge of the vehicle seat on one side... does that make sense? It is very, very slight but I wasn't sure if that was and issue or not. The TF is slightly touching the drivers seat but it is touching below the head insert... I'm thinking thats fine but she asked me to check. We couldn't find anything in the vehicle manual in regards to touching and my understanding is the TF is allowed to touch when the head-rest is in (not when it is off??) so long as the vehicle allows it.

Now, I have a question on the TF (sorry, if it has already been discussed). The manual says that you need to use the infant padding on the 1st harness level. The little guy came in on the 2nd slot with the padding but they didn't like the padding so we took it out which then dropped him back down to the 1st slot... in that situation is it ok not to use the infant insert?

[Pixels]

To get the buckle away from the lock-offs, you can try to scooch the seat over toward the side the belt comes from (away from the buckle). This will move the buckle away from the lock-off a bit.

The issue about more space on one side than the other, probably means either that you have the seat slightly off-center, or that it's slightly tilted. Neither is an issue as long as you have less than one inch of movement at the belt path.

The TrueFit is allowed to touch the vehicle front seatback as long as the upper seatback is installed (which you say it is) and the vehicle doesn't forbid it. That vehicle is too old to have the advanced airbags with sensors that touching would cause a problem for. You already said you didn't find anything in the vehicle's manual, but you should check again in the airbag section for information about "cargo" touching just to be sure. But I think it's not an issue in this vehicle.

If the padding is required on the first slot, and he doesn't fit the second slot without the padding, then he needs the padding until he can fit without it. I haven't checked the TF's manual, but it's not disallowed on the second slot, is it?

[flutie128]

The padding is allowed until the child is 22 pounds.

[Defrost]

Are the buckle stalks cable or webbing?

[canmom]

Gee, they are cable... are those allowed to be twisted? I just assumed they could be but now I'm wondering :confused:

[Defrost]

Gee, they are cable... are those allowed to be twisted? I just assumed they could be but now I'm wondering :confused:

I did the same thing with our Golf - why wouldn't you be allowed to twist them? But no, they're not allowed to be twisted. :(

Apparently it's okay for webbed seatbelts because they've tested to see how much the twisting decreases the amount of force the seatbelt can take, but they haven't tested the cable-style buckles (or they did and found it reduces the forces too much.) I just know I asked around and everyone said "no," including several instructors and an engineer from VW.

[canmom]

Wow... I will call them right away, I had no idea.... thanks for pointing that out for me! I was wondering yesterday about that and to be honest I'm not even sure how much tighter it even got.

[Defrost]

Oh don't thank me! I'm cringing, I hate having to tell people that! :p

[snowbird25ca]

To clarify about the infant padding, it is mandatory until a child's shoulders are even with position 1 with it removed. So if you take out the padding and the child's shoulders are underneath position 1, it has to be used. If you take out the padding and the child is at or above position 1, it can stay out.

Once the child reaches 22lbs, the padding must be removed.

HTH. :)

[canmom]

Thanks for the help everyone! Just thought I would update, canadiangie and I went to take another look at it this afternoon (I was paranoid I didn't get it in as good as it could be :o) even though there was less than 1" of movement. The rolled towel worked better as his head was slumping when he slept... it also allowed it to be a bit off from the buckle stalk. It is touching the seats in front but there isn't much we can do... it's just simply not a big car.