radian install question

[Unregistered]

Hello,

I am trying to install a radian rf in my 2002 Pathfinder for my 18 month old on the driver's side with the seatbelt.

I had in installed, but not sure if it was really tight enough.

It hits the headrest of the front seat. I can't just move the seat forward because every time the car is turned off, the seat automatically move back. I did adjust the recline of the driver's seat so it doesn't hit, but it is very upright for the driver. Is it safe for the driver if I take the driver's headrest off?



But also, it hits the headrest of my front seat.

[Mommy0608]

Hi there! Welcome to the board. :-)

First of all, I'm so happy to hear that your 18 month old is still RF! :thumbsup::thumbsup:

To check for tightness, only check right at the belt path (where the LATCH strap or seatbelt - whichever you used - goes through the car seat). Make sure it moves no more than 1" at the belt path. Some movement at the opposite end (near baby's head) is normal. Did you use the top tether? The Radian is one of few convertibles that allow RF tethering. It is optional though.

It's okay for the seat to touch the vehicle seat in front of it, but not so much that it adjusts the recline angle of the car seat. Removing the driver's head rest is not a safe option; everyone in the vehicle needs head support at least to the top of their ears.

Would it be possible to put the car seat in the center? Not sure what kind of seating this vehicle has but if there's a center seat, maybe the top of the car seat would fit between the two front seats?

I've never seen a vehicle with seats that automatically move like you described, so I don't really know a good solution to that. Hopefully someone with experience with this vehicle can help.

[ketchupqueen]

Did you read your car manual's section on installing car seats? It may have information on how to fix the problem with the seat moving back.

[Misty-Bug]

what if you move the front passenger seat forward, install the Radian on that side, make sure there is no movement at the belt path. If you use the top tether tether it loose, as in just slack out and not tight. Then turn off the car, see what it does? then When the front passenger seat moves back check the belt path movement. If it doesn't move I would say you are fine.

my radian sat just below my head rest on the passenger side but it didn't impeed with the install. What I did was move the seat all the way forward and then when I was done installing the radian I moved it back.

Not sure if that makes sense. Not sure if you can see it here but this is a picture of my three across. It is not like your car but it shows how it sat in conjunction with the head rest.....the head rest was as high as it could go. (we are taller so that was better anyway)
hope I didn't confuse you or anything

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f12/Misty-bug/carseats/Feb221005.jpg

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f12/Misty-bug/carseats/Feb221004.jpg