Seat install in third row of Pilot

[momof3boys541]

Hi. I have a 2004 Honda Pilot. I am trying to get a seat installed in the center seating position in the 3ed row. I have a GN that we tried and could not get tight at all. In the middle position, 2row , we were able to get our EFTA tight using a locking clip but this is not working with the GN in the 3ed. Is there a way to install it there? Or maybe a Frontier, I am thinking of getting one to see if it will fit. Thank you.

[Maedze]

You shouldn't need or be using a locking clip in a 2004 vehicle. All cars have been required to have locking seatbelts since 1997.

When you install the seat, get your knee in the seat, snug the belt as much as possible, then pull the shoulder belt all the way out feed it back into the retractor. The clicking noise is the belt locking :cool:

Keep in mind for your Nautilus that Graco requires that 100% of the seat be on the vehicle seat. You cannot have any overhang. As the third row of the Pilot is a little on the tiny side, you may want to double check to make sure you've fulfilled that particular requirement.

Is the EFTA forward facing or rearfacing? If forward facing, are you using the tether anchor with both seats.

How old and what are the weights of the children in each seat?

[Maedze]

Um, just checking, do you live in western MA? I'm suddenly wondering if I know you. :cool:

[momof3boys541]

The EFTA is RF for my 28 lb 32 1/2 in and 13 1/2 inch torso 22month old and ff for my 4 yr old who is 41 1/2 inch tall and 17 torso. 5 yr old 17 in torso 44 1/2 tall in GN. I do use top tether with both ff seats. And we have to use the clip because it is the only way to get a seat tight in the middle position of Pilot, maybe because on the seat belt coming from ceiling? We do not have to use locking clip on the other seat positions, but it is impossible to get a tight fit without it in the middle.

[momof3boys541]

Um, just checking, do you live in western MA? I'm suddenly wondering if I know you. :cool:
Oh yeah, I live in Georgia.

[Maedze]

Ok, I don't think I know you after all unless you are slightly fudging your youngest's age for anonymity's sake. Very close though :p


In any case, unfortunately, that's not an appropriate use of the locking clip and could actually be quite dangerous. A locking clip is a precrash positioner for a seatbelt without an automatic locking mechanism and is NOT designed to hold a seat in position during a crash. All you're doing there is creating a false sense of security.

Some seatbelt systems are incompatable with some child restraints. In other cases, it just takes some 'tricks' to get an install. If you could post pictures of the seats in your car we might be able to walk you through a step-by-step to get a safe installation. In any case I do encourage you to see a CPST in person :)

[Maedze]

Oh yeah, I live in Georgia.

Too bad, we could have fixed this with a 15 minute car drive :D

[momof3boys541]

Thank you I had thought the locking clip would hold the seat in place. I will try again to see the CPST, I have been trying but every time I go to the Sheriff Office they send someone with no training who just says that is tight enough ( way more than an inch at belt path) I can try to get pictures tonight. Again thank you so much

[Maedze]

http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=59135

This is a list of all 'our' CPSTs. I promise you, we know what we're doing :p

Scroll down to see who's available in Georgia :D

[LISmama810]

I also have a 2004 Pilot and have never had any problems getting a seat tight in the center position, though I know some people have. (In all fairness, I haven't tried in the center of the third row, just second.)

First, I agree with Maedze that you need to make sure the entire base of the Nautilus is on the seat.

Then, if you're having problems, the issue is probably the longish belt stalks (two, not just one) of the funky middle seatbelt. To help get the buckle stalks (the "female" end that you buckle the belt into), you can twist them up to three times. (There's some debate about whether that's three total for both stalks, or three times PER stalk... Different technicians will tell you different things. I'm a believer that less is more, but at the same time, you do what you need to do.)

I've never needed to twist down the stalks to install in the 2nd row center (including for the Nautilus), but that might help you out.

Finally, when you check for tightness, make sure you check only at the belt path and give a mild-moderate tug with your non-dominant hand. Don't check anywhere else on the seat or use lots of force. That will make it seem loose and can loosen a previously good install.

[UlrikeDG]

I had a hard time with the 3rd row of the Pilot, because the seatbelts are forward of the bight (seat crack). I never tried to install in the center, but for the outboard seating positions, the only way to get an acceptable install was to tighten the belt, tighten the tether as tight as it would go, then retighten the belt. The tether pulls the top of the seat back and levers the bottom of the seat forward. I have to confess I don't understand they why, but I was assured by several techs and instructors that this is indeed an appropriate use of the tether (usually you must get a good install first before attaching the tether).

Because of the funky seatbelt in the center, you may find that your seat is just plain incompatible with the center position. Have you tried it outboard? The nice thing about putting it outboard is that you can lay down the other side of the split rear row and the child can climb in through the back hatch.

[2 blueberry eye girls]

I have 06 Pilot and the GN fits in all positions except passenger 3rd row, because the car seat base is to wide for the seat. How I install it is I kneel my knee in the seat, pull back the car seat cover, and pull out all the extra slack I can then retract it, check at the belt path for movement, if none, i then tether it, if some I go back and do it again.

[UlrikeDG]

I just remembered that the 3rd row has a slight recline option. If you recline the vehicle seat, install the child restraint tightly, then unrecline the vehicle seat, you may find you get less movement.

[rodentranger]

I just remembered that the 3rd row has a slight recline option. If you recline the vehicle seat, install the child restraint tightly, then unrecline the vehicle seat, you may find you get less movement.

How do you recline the 3rd row? I don't think mine reclines. It's an '03.

[UlrikeDG]

The lever you lift to fold the seat down flat (not into the cargo area, but just to fold it flat on top of itself), lift that, and pull back on the seat instead of letting the seat fall forward.

[momof3boys541]

I had not thought of trying to recline the seat first, I'll try that tomorrow, if the bad weather is gone, thanks for the suggestion.

[momof3boys541]

I just tried to install my Como in the middle of the 2nd row with the seat reclined then pulled it up after install, this is the FIRST time since we got this Pilot that we got one of our seats tight with seat belt only!!! Thank you so much!!! Now I am sure my oldest can ride center of 3ed row because it reclines also.

[UlrikeDG]

Now I am sure my oldest can ride center of 3ed row because it reclines also.

Seats do fit differently in the 3rd row, so don't assume compatibility just because it fits in the 2nd row. (But I do think it will fit.)