Do lock-offs stretch seat belts?

I had ds's SS1 base out over the weekend and put it back in the next day and noticed there was still a line from where the lock off indent was. Granted I had that seatbelt as tight as possible and it had been hard to close the lock-off, but I'm just wondering if seatbelt webbing stretches as a result of being in a lock-off for an extended period of time?

I had to remove the plastic button that holds the buckle from sliding down when I reinstalled it because it was blocking the lock-off now when I tightened the belt as tight as I could.. I didn't have that interference when I first installed the base...

So, I'm just curious. After a seat belt is used extensively with a lock off, will it eventually need to be replaced?

Not unless it develops major visible fraying or 'runs' like cheap pantyhose. It's just a dent, really, because there is some air in that seatbelt, between the threads, if you look at it with a microscope, there's just space for things to dent and wrinkle. It'll go away after the lockoff is off the belt for some time.

I noticed the dent in my sil's seatbelt where I installed the Safeseat base also. I think it's really just a dent. Just to add though, when I reinstall any seat it's always tighter than the first time. I think it's because the seat is already compressed so it's easier to compress it a little more.

snowbird25ca said:

I had to remove the plastic button that holds the buckle from sliding down when I reinstalled it because it was blocking the lock-off now when I tightened the belt as tight as I could.. I didn't have that interference when I first installed the base...

So, I'm just curious. After a seat belt is used extensively with a lock off, will it eventually need to be replaced?

Click to expand...

No, seatbelts used extensively with lockoffs generally do not need to be replaced. However, YOUR seatbelt might need to be replaced if you removed the little plastic button. Did it leave a hole in the seatbelt? What does it look like now? The seatbelt could be seriously weakened by removal of the button. Car manufacturers do not want you to remove it. Car seat manufacturers will tell you to move the seat to another seating position if the button interferes with installation.

griffinmom said:

No, seatbelts used extensively with lockoffs generally do not need to be replaced. However, YOUR seatbelt might need to be replaced if you removed the little plastic button. Did it leave a hole in the seatbelt? What does it look like now? The seatbelt could be seriously weakened by removal of the button. Car manufacturers do not want you to remove it. Car seat manufacturers will tell you to move the seat to another seating position if the button interferes with installation.

Click to expand...

Emily, SBS says to take the button off if it interferes.

"Button on lap-shoulder belt webbing

A button is often attached to lap-shoulder belt webbing to keep the latchplate from falling down out of reach. If this button prevents the belt from retracting far enough to secure the CR firmly, the button may be clipped off, taking care not to cut the belt"


Though, of course if the belt is actually cut or holey it should be replaced.

Julie,

I concur with SBS on this. However, the ways I've seen it done it never seems to "clipped off," rather they seem to be "dug out" with a screwdriver leaving a big hole!

I do know Britax does not want you to remove anything from the seatbelt. I've called Sarah several times on this issue and she always suggests moving to another seating position.

Take care.

griffinmom said:

Julie,

I concur with SBS on this. However, the ways I've seen it done it never seems to "clipped off," rather they seem to be "dug out" with a screwdriver leaving a big hole!

I do know Britax does not want you to remove anything from the seatbelt. I've called Sarah several times on this issue and she always suggests moving to another seating position.

Take care.

Click to expand...

Ok, makes sense, Thanks!

Thanks guys.

I was sure I had read that it was fine to remove the button if it interfered with installation when I read through a manual put together by our province. I removed the button by putting a flat piece of thin plastic between the belt and the button so that it didn't dig into the belt. The button itself could spin freely before anyways. There was a plastic point on one side of the button that went through the belt to secure it to the other side of the button, but it was in between the webbing fibers, when I took it out and tugged on the belt in a few directions, you couldn't tell where it had been and there was no indentation where it was attached.

I could've honestly kept it installed and worked around the button just by changing the angle on the base or allowing a tiny bit of wiggle room, but I wanted it more upright for ds now that he's older and since I'd read it was acceptable, I figured that was the way to go.

So does it sound like my belt is ok then?

FWIW, on our first Saturn the belt got closed in the door one time and the button came off... the dealership said they could replace the seatbelt if we wanted to have the button on the belt, but we never did. (They couldn't just put on a new button, they had to replace the belt if I remember right... but they had no worries about us using the belt without the button.)