Cosco Scenera installation question

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Lillian

New member

• Feb 7, 2007

• #1

I tried to install my Scenera last night in my 2001 Pathfinder with leather seats and I could not get a tight install. I am installing it rear facing, on the passangers side (not in the middle, due to the bump from the split bench seat). In my car I have a Britax Marathon and I can always get a tight install in there. I put all my weight in the seat and pulled the belt as much as I could. I also hand my husband pull the belt too and we still couldnt get it as tight as my Britax. The seat moves more than 2 inches to the side if we really put force on it and push it hard. So, the inch rule...is it suppose to be if I put hard porce on it or if I put light force on it? Any suggestions on how to get a tighter install?

 

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becca011906

Senior Community Member

• Feb 7, 2007

• #2

what kinda seat belts do you have??? Do they lock by pulling them all the way out? or do they lock at the latch plate (part that's on the seat belt)???

 

scatterbunny

New member

• Feb 7, 2007

• #3

There are some installation videos here: http://www.carseatsite.com/videos.htm#rear-facing with LATCH

Hopefully someone familiar with that vehicle+seat combo can help soon.

 

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Lillian

New member

• Feb 7, 2007

• #4

becca011906 said:

what kinda seat belts do you have??? Do they lock by pulling them all the way out? or do they lock at the latch plate (part that's on the seat belt)???

Click to expand...

The seat belt lock when you pull them all the way out. Also, we are having to twist the buckle part of the belt. How many times can you safely twist full that part?

 

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becca011906

Senior Community Member

• Feb 7, 2007

• #5

you can safely twist the seat belt stalk of the buckle up to three full twists.

 

scatterbunny

New member

• Feb 7, 2007

• #6

Three full twists is the maximum allowed.

Is the belt pulling the seat "up" or tilting it at all? That sometimes happens with those kinds of belts and rear-facing seats.

If that's not the problem and it's just general looseness, I'm not sure what to say to help.

 

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Lillian

New member

• Feb 7, 2007

• #7

Yes, the belt is pulling the seat up making it tilt to the side. Thats not what is bothering me so much, its the fact that I am not getting a tight install.

 

scatterbunny

New member

• Feb 7, 2007

• #8

You can use a locking clip instead of engaging the vehicle belt's own locking mechanism, that will take care of the tilting. It may or may not help with the install tightness.

Have you tried pushing the front seats all the way forward and standing behind the carseat, pushing down and back towards the vehicle seat at the same time, while someone else tightens the belt? I have found that standing behind/leaning on top of a rear-facing seat helps!

 

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becca011906

Senior Community Member

• Feb 7, 2007

• #9

if it's pulling up to one side and tiliting you will need to use the locking clip that should have came with the car seat... have you used one before?

 

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CatSanders

New member

• Feb 7, 2007

• #10

Hey Lillian...its me Here is a thread where I asked about the recline for Carson's seat.

http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=11454

Cathy

 

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southpawboston

New member

• Feb 7, 2007

• #11

by chance, do the pathfinder's rear seats recline? if they do, you can recline them a bit, get as tight an install as you can, then un-recline them to push up against the carseat, thus providing even more tension.

 

scatterbunny

New member

• Feb 7, 2007

• #12

southpawboston said:

by chance, do the pathfinder's rear seats recline? if they do, you can recline them a bit, get as tight an install as you can, then un-recline them to push up against the carseat, thus providing even more tension.

Click to expand...

Yes, that's another great trick. It helps immensely with forward-facing seats, I hadn't even thought about it for rear-facing seats.

 

CrabbyBunchX3

New member

• Feb 7, 2007

• #13

scatterbunny said:

You can use a locking clip instead of engaging the vehicle belt's own locking mechanism, that will take care of the tilting. It may or may not help with the install tightness.

Have you tried pushing the front seats all the way forward and standing behind the carseat, pushing down and back towards the vehicle seat at the same time, while someone else tightens the belt? I have found that standing behind/leaning on top of a rear-facing seat helps!

Click to expand...

If you do use the locking clip, install the seat tightly without it, then when you release the seatbelt to install the locking clip, take just a little more slack out of the seat belt(then place your clip). You will probably need a good bit of muscle to get the belt buckled again, but the seat should be in there really tight.
HTH

 

scatterbunny

New member

• Feb 8, 2007

• #14

Yes, good point, Jessica! I had to really learn how to use a locking clip. They frustrated me for a long time, but by doing what you said (shortening the belt up a smidge after getting it to the right length, then putting the locking clip on), it almost always works perfectly. It does take a bit more muscle to buckle the belt, but then it is rock solid.