Regent install questions

[Nisha]

Ok. Got my Regent last night, have a few questions about it before I go out and try to install it!

What's the difference between pre-advisory and post-advisory regents? I keep reading this term but have no idea what you are talking about. DOM on mine is June 2007.

If I am using the top tether, I don't need the recline bar on ANY style of installation, right? (that's how I am understanding it, anyway)

Anything else I should know? (I'll be installing in a 2000 Ford Windstar)

[LISmama810]

They made the change DURING June 2007, so whether yours is pre- or post-advisory will depend on the specific date. I don't remember the exact date offhand, but I'm sure someone else does.

Pre-advisory, you can use the recline bar or not, and you can use either the long or short belt path, regardless of the child's weight. I'm not sure if/how tether use factors into that, but I don't think it does.

Post-advisory, you MUST use the recline bar no matter what. You must use the long belt path for kids under 40 lbs; short belt path for kids over 40 lbs. Tether must be used with a lap belt install over 50 lbs. Tether must be used with lap/shoulder belt over 40 lbs.

[Jennifer mom to my 7]

June what? The advisory is for seats manufactured from November 10, 2005 to June 18, 2007 with a model # beginning E9L39. Here it is:

http://www.britaxusa.com/uploads/advisory/notice/7snwsn.pdf

If your seat was made between those dates, it is pre advisory, and should have had the advisory kit installed but if it didn't you may if necessary follow the old manual. After that date it is post advisory and has the new latch and skid things, and new manual to reflect the new install directions.

With the advisory and new instructions, you must always use the recline bar. I know with the old instructions I think there was only 1 way that the recline bar was required (unless of course the child is over 50 pounds and then you must use the top tether.

[Nisha]

Ok, DOM is 6/6/07 so it's pre-advisory, right?

Other than LATCH install (not for over 48 lbs), it doesn't give any weight requirements for the seatbelt installs, except that top tether must be used for children over 50 lbs.

What's confusing me on the recline bar is how the manual has it worded. Take the LATCH instillation for example. It starts out by saying insert recline bar, and ends by saying "If tether is not used, recline bar must be installed."
And te Recline bar page says "The recline bar must be installed before using this restraint unless the tether is used."

[Nisha]

So do I need to get this kit and follow the new instructions, or is it fine to use the old instructions and not worry about the kit?

And why the heck does it have to be so confusing?! It's no wonder the majority of car seats are used wrong! lol!

[wendytthomas]

You don't need the kit or the new directions, but Britax encourages it. You can follow either set of directions.

Wendy

[NannyMom]

So do I need to get this kit and follow the new instructions, or is it fine to use the old instructions and not worry about the kit?

And why the heck does it have to be so confusing?! It's no wonder the majority of car seats are used wrong! lol!

It passed testing the way it is. But they found it passed the tests better with the new rules. If you get the kit, and use it (any part of it) you make it a post advisory seat and must follow all the new rules.

[Nisha]

Ok. Thanks for all the info!

[valleyfam]

Just food for thought - if you choose to add the recline bar and follow the new instructions the regent will be a no go SBP in your Windstar's captain's chairs if you have them. I can not get an acceptable install in the captain's chairs of my 01. The regent lives in the third row. I've read on here you can install a pre advisory in that position with no issues. Not sure if that would sway you one way or another.

[Nisha]

Just food for thought - if you choose to add the recline bar and follow the new instructions the regent will be a no go SBP in your Windstar's captain's chairs if you have them. I can not get an acceptable install in the captain's chairs of my 01. The regent lives in the third row. I've read on here you can install a pre advisory in that position with no issues. Not sure if that would sway you one way or another.

Ok, I thought I had read a post here by someone not having any luck with the SBP install in the Windstar's captain's chair, but I couldn't find it!

So what did I do wrong, because I did it and it's a super tight install. I took pictures but don't know if they're going to show it very well...

[Nisha]

Here's my pictures... I'm still trying to figure out if she's really over the second harness position or not...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v257/nisha_ru/Car%20Seats/IMG_0134.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v257/nisha_ru/Car%20Seats/IMG_0137.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v257/nisha_ru/Car%20Seats/IMG_0142.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v257/nisha_ru/Car%20Seats/IMG_0139.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v257/nisha_ru/Car%20Seats/IMG_0140.jpg

[Nisha]

Any thoughts on that last post?

[NannyMom]

It's hard to make sense of the pics, at least for me. This is what comes to mind from what I see.....

Pic1- She's adorable :love:

Pic 2- THe pencil is in a slot, and the harness is in the slot above that, right? It may be hard to tell, but it looks like the pencil is pointing down, which means she should be in that slot. Can you move the harness down, and take off the covers and take a picture with her buckled/tightened? One from the side and 1 from the front.

Pic3- Is it going under the cover for LBP, or behind the seat for SPB?

Pic4 and 5- It looks like the belt is coming out of the cover, from around the front of the seat plastic (ie- LBP).But the latchplate looks like it came out between the plastic (ie- SBP). WHat is with the belt in your hand? this is what's confusing me.

[Nisha]

It's hard to make sense of the pics, at least for me. This is what comes to mind from what I see.....

Pic1- She's adorable :love: Thanks! :love:

Pic 2- THe pencil is in a slot, and the harness is in the slot above that, right? It may be hard to tell, but it looks like the pencil is pointing down, which means she should be in that slot. Can you move the harness down, and take off the covers and take a picture with her buckled/tightened? One from the side and 1 from the front. I'll try that... it's so hard to tell because the cover doesn't line up well AT ALL with the slots :thumbsdown:

Pic3- Is it going under the cover for LBP, or behind the seat for SPB? They both go under the cover, but SPB doesn't go OVER the cover on the sides... right? It is coming through the back, behind the cover and through the back again. See new pics...

Pic4 and 5- It looks like the belt is coming out of the cover, from around the front of the seat plastic (ie- LBP).But the latchplate looks like it came out between the plastic (ie- SBP). WHat is with the belt in your hand? this is what's confusing me. The belt in my hand is the LATCH webbing... couldn't get it to stay out of the way! See previous question about LBP/SBP...

[Nisha]

Hopefully these will be a little easier to figure out...
Seat belt is under the gray foam...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v257/nisha_ru/Car%20Seats/IMG_0185.jpg

With the gray foam pulled back...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v257/nisha_ru/Car%20Seats/IMG_0179.jpg

Do I have the wrong belt path entirely?

[NannyMom]

SBP- Installs pretty much how all other FF seats do.

LBP- seatbelt can go over or under the cover. Go over the side, latchplate goes in the front of the seat, behind the back, and comes back out the front.

Looking at your pics as I write. You are doing SBP. Those pics help alot :thumbsup:

Not sure about the interaction of the latchplate with the side of the seat. Hopfully someone else will say that's ok or not.

[Nisha]

SBP- Installs pretty much how all other FF seats do.

LBP- seatbelt can go over or under the cover. Go over the side, latchplate goes in the front of the seat, behind the back, and comes back out the front.

Looking at your pics as I write. You are doing SBP. Those pics help alot :thumbsup:

Not sure about the interaction of the latchplate with the side of the seat. Hopfully someone else will say that's ok or not.

I decided to try the SPB just to see if I could do it or not, since I thought I'd read it didn't work well in the Windstar.

The latchplate is standing just as it would be if the belt path weren't right there so I felt pretty safe with it, but the front / right side of the buckle is in the belt path but it doesn't stick out the front/car seat side of the belt path, if that helps any. More input on that would be great!

[BookMama]

I think the install looks fine - correct beltpath, nice and tight, etc. I think the latchplate is probably OK.

As far as which harness slot to use, I'd go ahead and use the second-from-top, if it doesn't bother her to have them that high (doesn't look like it would). DS always seemed to fluctuate in the Regent - he'd definitely be over one set of slots, then I'd glance in the mirror on the way home from school and it would look as though he was under the slots by more than 1". I finally decided to quit worrying about it, because using the higher slots was fine. :twocents:

[valleyfam]

Not sure what you did differently but every time I got mine really tight it would loosen and move forward when I tried shaking it side to side. Maybe I was too vigorous? Not sure. Glad you managed to get a good install.

[Nisha]

Not sure what you did differently but every time I got mine really tight it would loosen and move forward when I tried shaking it side to side. Maybe I was too vigorous? Not sure. Glad you managed to get a good install.

I'm pretty vigorous... I know 1" is allowed but I don't like it on mine! lol! I've been checking it every time to see if it's been loosening but not so far. Maybe your seat back was more reclined than mine is for the install? I wish you lived close and we could "play"!