Buckle crunch

[panzona]

Hi,
while searching for a new car seat and after posting my questions about it in the Canadian and International Issue section I've come across the "buckle crunch" problem.
I don't know if many are familiar with it (couldn't find posts on the subject) or if it's simply not an issue because nearly no one has the problem of such long buckle stalks (thanks to Ketchupqueen for the name!).

I've started to freak out about the future seat and the actual seat, which of course, I now know, has the same installation problem.

Here are 2 pics of my car's rear seat's buckle stalks and of my actual seat installed (an infant seat with a base).

Following the pictures, some links about buckle crunch.

How can I overcome the problem? Will it occur even with the new seat, which will be baseless? I guess so...

Thanks for any advice (or :twocents:!)

http://www.giulia-michael.eu/luca/img/IMG_0732.JPG


http://www.giulia-michael.eu/luca/img/IMG_0731.JPG



Links:
Buckle crunch pic
http://www.childcarseats.org.uk/choosing/fitting.htm
Definition of buckle crunch and possible solutions (I don't see like any could help me though...)
http://www.childcarseats.org.uk/choosing/common_problems.htm


http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/products/200560-buckle-crunch-in-zafira-what-car-seat-will-fit
here they are all talking about FF seats (if I'm not mistaken) but the problem stays...

[Maedze]

The problem specifically is when the buckle rests in the belt path, not just when it touches the car seat itself. I can't exactly tell from your picture if the buckle is turning into the belt path or is resting outside of it.

Either way, there is an easy fix. You can twist the buckle stalk of the female end up to three full times. This shortens it significantly, meaning when you buckle it together, the buckle will no longer be lying anywhere near the belt path :)

[panzona]

thanks for your reply.
No, the belt path is clear, but reading about the "buckle crunch" problem I had a different understanding...

"Buckle Crunch
If the seat belt buckle lies across the frame of the child seat it will be under pressure and may spring open in an impact. Only seatbelt webbing should be in contact with the frame of the child seat."
(from my second link posted)

"Check that the seatbelt buckle is not resting on the child seat frame (this is known as 'buckle crunch)."
(from BBC - http://www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/westmidlands/series7/car_seat_choosing_fitting.shtml


Do I get it wrong? What they call "the frame" is the starting of the belt path or the structure of the seat?
Here is the pic I linked above
http://www.childcarseats.org.uk/images/graphics/CCS-13B_200.gif

I don't understand... :o (though I'm somehow reassured by your post!) :)

[Maedze]

Yes, it's poorly worded :p The buckle is going to touch the child restraint. That's NOT a safety issue, just how the seat installs. The problem arises when the buckle rests on the bend of the belt path, putting strain right on the joint. Under extreme circumstances, like a severe accident, the added strain could force the buckle open. As long as the buckle itself isn't resting on the belt path, there's absolutely nothing to worry about :thumbsup:

[ketchupqueen]

Yep. If you look at the picture, it "rests on the frame" meaning it is partly held OFF the frame.

It is actually acceptable for the buckle to be either all the way in, or all the way out of the belt path. It's only when the buckle itself rests right at the edge of the belt path so that it's not lying flat in either direction (either horizontally inside the belt path or vertically out of it) that it causes that strain. (It can also cause certain types of seatbelts not to lock when the buckle is not lying flat but I don't know if that's an issue in your case, I'm completely unfamiliar with EU cars and the logistics of their seatbelts.)

In any case, like we've said, the solution is to shorten the belt stalk by twisting up to 3 full times. This can also be done when you can't get a tight install just because the long belt stalk makes it "wobbly." :)

The reason you can't find posts on it is that we just don't use the term "buckle crunch" in the U.S. much. We simply talk about "long belt stalks causing the buckle to hit the edge of the belt path." :)

[panzona]

Yes, it's poorly worded :p The buckle is going to touch the child restraint. That's NOT a safety issue, just how the seat installs. The problem arises when the buckle rests on the bend of the belt path, putting strain right on the joint. Under extreme circumstances, like a severe accident, the added strain could force the buckle open. As long as the buckle itself isn't resting on the belt path, there's absolutely nothing to worry about :thumbsup:

got you... I wonder how BBC (and not only) can spread such alarming "wrong" messages, especially when trying to correct a widespread "wrong" behavior (according to what I read, 'buckle crunch' is among the top three installation problems experts always find)
...or maybe it's only because I'm not a native speaker, I don't know.
Anyway, I am happy that it was a false alarm!


In any case, like we've said, the solution is to shorten the belt stalk by twisting up to 3 full times. This can also be done when you can't get a tight install just because the long belt stalk makes it "wobbly."

yeah, now I fully understand! In my other post I told you this wouldn't work for me just because, even doing so, I'd have had the buckle still touching (flat) the seat's base (or side, for a new seat), and I thought this still constituted a problem... now I know I was mistaken!

The reason you can't find posts on it is that we just don't use the term "buckle crunch" in the U.S. much. We simply talk about "long belt stalks causing the buckle to hit the edge of the belt path."
*giggle* it must have been something like that...



thanks all! I already have the jitters whenever I drive because I am at the very limit with the infant seat, so clearing my mind off this other problem is really a relief!

[Maedze]

On a personal note, your English is beautiful for a non-native speaker :)