Frontier seatbelt install in an Impala

[Mom2twins]

Hello,

I have a Chev Impala I think it's a 2003. I had 2 Frontiers installed outboard using latch but since the carseats were taken out to clean the car I thought I would try to install them using the seatbelt. My boys are about 34# and 36# clothed based on the last time they were weighed which was a few weeks ago before breakfast. I figured they're getting close to 40# and maybe I should just reinstall the seats using the seatbelt.

From the manual it seems like I should install using the long belt path but I couldn't do it. Now it was getting late so I only tried for maybe 20 minutes. My problems were how to keep the belt from locking and retracting while putting it through the correct path. Do I have to use the long belt path? Is the long belt path harder?

Thanks for your help!

[Mom2twins]

Nobody?

[mommycat]

Hope you get some responses - I am not very familiar with either the Frontier or the Impala. My initial thought/question would be - are you sure that it says to use long belt path, and if so, why? My understanding was that you can use either short or long belt path, depending on what gives you a good intsallation. In some vehicles LBP is not possible as the seatbelt is too short - I have no idea if that would be an issue for you. LBP can be a little confusing as well unless you have tried it/seen it - or at least I found it a little confusing at first go. There is a thread somewhere here with pictures showing how to do LBP install.

As for keeping the belt from locking, assuming you have lots of belt, you could try to pull out a bunch of slack, and then put a clothespin or tie on a scarf or something to keep the belt from retracting while you thread everything the way you need it to go. Then when you are ready to tighten just remove the place-holder so the shoulder belt can retract freely.

[Mom2twins]

Thanks Mommycat I'll try again on the weekend with a friend. For now I've reinstalled the seats using latch. From the manual it seems that if your seatbelt stalk is away from where the carseat sits you shoulduse the long belt path. I'm at work but I think I have my manual with me. I will look it up a little later.

[munchkin]

Thanks Mommycat I'll try again on the weekend with a friend. For now I've reinstalled the seats using latch. From the manual it seems that if your seatbelt stalk is away from where the carseat sits you shoulduse the long belt path. I'm at work but I think I have my manual with me. I will look it up a little later.

Use whichever path you can get to work. According to the manual, I should try the short belt path first for my Focus. Way too loose. I have *jut enough* seat belt to get the long belt path to work (I use my teeth to hold the belt all the way out while I'm working, but a friend would work better!). So if you can get an acceptable install with the short go for it.

I don't think either path is harder than the other, but I am used to installing a Husky (with the long belt path), it is just something you get better at with practice. Good luck and let us know if you get it.

Does the Impala have a 'sister' car? Here is the thread (http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=51520&highlight=successful+frontier) about successful installs that might help.