No top tether anchor in 2003 skoda fabia (UK)

[Unregistered]

Hi,

We've bought the Jane Exo group 1 seat for our little boy, which reuires the use of a top tether when it's installed using the isofix (UK name for LATCH, I think) fittings. My husbands car has anchor points behind the rear seats for the top tether but mine does not - it is a Skoda Fabia 2003 reg. Does anyone know whether I can get an anchor point fitted? I would rather do this and use the isofix fittings than use the 3 point belt as I feel this is the safest option. I can't get hold of anyone from Skoda UK at the moment so I thought I would ask in here :)

Thanks,

Lynne

[lenats31]

Hi,

We've bought the Jane Exo group 1 seat for our little boy, which reuires the use of a top tether when it's installed using the isofix (UK name for LATCH, I think) fittings. My husbands car has anchor points behind the rear seats for the top tether but mine does not - it is a Skoda Fabia 2003 reg. Does anyone know whether I can get an anchor point fitted? I would rather do this and use the isofix fittings than use the 3 point belt as I feel this is the safest option. I can't get hold of anyone from Skoda UK at the moment so I thought I would ask in here :)

Thanks,

Lynne

Top tether anchors cannot be retrofitted in EU cars I´m afraid.

Lena

[Unregistered]

Oh dear - do you know why that is?

I guess I will just have to put the seat in with the seatbelt instead of the isofix fittings. Can anyone tell me why this means I don't need to use the top tether?

Can I use the 3 point belt AND attach the seat with the isofix rings that are down the back of the seat?

Thanks,

Lynne

[chickabiddy]

I'm sorry that I don't know anything about retrofitting tether anchors in that car, but I do know that installing seats with vehicle belts is every bit as safe as using anchors and tethers.

[Unregistered]

Thanks for that, I will just use the seatbelt and get it checked to make sure we've put it in properly :)

[lenats31]

You can use the Isofix system without the top tether unless the car seat user guide states otherwise. Car manufactorers are not allowed to alter the cars in this way. This is what Peugeot has told me. I think that top tether anchor points have become manadatory in Eu cars produced from summer 2008 onwards. Not 100% sure tough. By that I mean new models and not just newer versions of older models.

The funny thing is that as far as I know, Isofix points can be retrofitted.

Lena

[lenats31]

I would not use both the seatbelt and the isofix at the same time. If you are in a crash and your baby needs to be removed from the car ASAP. Paramedics will need to go through one removal procedure. This could be pushing the isofix buttons to release the car seat OR cutting the seatbelt. Not sure if this is the reason, just a guess.

If you really do not like to use an FF seat without some anti forward rotation device such as a top tether. Then swap the seat for an isofix seat with a foot prop. The foot prop does the exact same thing as a top tether. In this way, you can install your seat with a different kind of anti forward rotation feature.

Lena