what am i doing wrong?

[starbuck8088]

Hi! I've been lurking here for quite a while, and I think I've posted here a few times. I've learned a lot in my time here, and I plan on taking the CPST course sometime in the near future.

A couple of weeks ago I picked up an expired Evenflo On My Way at a garage sale for 2 bucks, and an expired Evenflo Express out of someones yard during clean up days. I plan on destroying these seats, but I thought I'd play with them for a while first.

The On My Way I can get a fairly good install with. But the Express is confusing me. I get the seat in as tightly as i can, and it moves less than an inch side to side. But... if i pull it forward, it comes wayyy out into a recline. I've sat on this seat, kneeled in in, and did my best to STAND on it and I still can't get it to not pull forward.

Is it me? The seat? My car? (A 97 Chevy Monte Carlo, btw). I just want to get this installed correctly, just to prove to myself I can do it.

Any advice?

[MustangMama]

Hi and welcome!

Sounds to me like maybe you need to make sure you pull the lap belt portion of the seat belt tighter before you retract the seat belt back in maybe?

I have this problem in my car so I am kind of convinced it can be from a car as well. I drive a sports car too if that explains anything. I have no problems in my moms minivan getting a perfect install.

I also have this problem with my daughters seat in my Mustang. I have to do an install and tighten it multiple times. Then I walk away and leave it for a while and come back and tighten it one last time with all my strength. I think it works for me After tugging for 20 minutes I get tired and lose strength so it is good to refresh your energy!

[Splash]

Your car is revolting against you and wants you to take that horrid thing far, far away from it. It fears that if it allows a successful install, you might be tempted.

But other than that, I dunno. Do you have forward of the bight belts? If so, it's horrifically hard to work car seats. You could try pulling the seat about 2 inches from the bight (crease) and lean it back against the back and then tighten, pushing DOWN instead of BACK.

[disbugsmomma]

I'm guessing it's just an incompatibility between that seat and that car. If your backseat is anything like a 97 Lumina (which I'm guessing it is, since they are basically the same car) most installs are a pain in the butt.

[zeo2ski]

Originally Posted by Splash

Do you have forward of the bight belts? If so, it's horrifically hard to work car seats. You could try pulling the seat about 2 inches from the bight (crease) and lean it back against the back and then tighten, pushing DOWN instead of BACK.