locking clip

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CRS

Senior Community Member
I don't believe they have expiry dates(? could be wrong ?) but I'd probably be inclined to replace them after a ten year period at the most.
 

southpawboston

New member
it's a solid piece of metal!!! and it doesn't withstand much force, as it only functions in a pre-crash manner. it doesn't actually do any restraining of the seat in a crash. i would inspect it to see if it has any obvious signs of corrosion, and possibly replace it if it does (more to save the seatbelt than of a safety concern for the clip itself).

the reason behind the expiration dates for carseats is mostly because of deterioration of the plastic shell, which supports the harness. exposure to heat and cold extremes, as well as UV irradiation from the sun, can weaken the plastic. also, it's assumed that after six years there may be missing parts, missing manual, etc, which may also compromise proper use of the seat. those things all together are why the industry arrived at a pretty standard "shelf life" for carseats as an entire unit.

for those who are fanatical about using old and potentially compromised parts, i would focus attention more on the car's safety parts... who knows how safe the belt systems on a car are after 10 years??? yet no one seems to want to be bothered with that question... i've raised it a few times and few people comment.
 

LuvBug

New member
They dont expire, just need to be replaced after a crash. Id say if it looked obviously warped then I wouldnt use it... but beyond that it is just a prepositioner and as long as it locks the belt in place it is ok. Now I did have an old one I found in my garage that must have been played with by monkeys because it wouldnt keep the belt tight, kept letting slack in when I shook the seat lol! I have a bazillion of the things though...
 

broken4u05

New member
That os what i tought. thanks. I found one and was wondering if i needed to toss it but if not i could use it on my godchildren's seats. their belts dont lock and they are not using a locking clip
 

broken4u05

New member
yeah i saw that. I am going to try to go to there house this friday and see if i can put in all their seats right and not let them move it
 

Patriot201

Car-Seat.org Ambassador
for those who are fanatical about using old and potentially compromised parts, i would focus attention more on the car's safety parts... who knows how safe the belt systems on a car are after 10 years??? yet no one seems to want to be bothered with that question... i've raised it a few times and few people comment.


I wish I knew. I have no idea. I used to drive an 11-year-old car and always wondered about that. :confused:
 

joolsplus3

Admin - CPS Technician
it's a solid piece of metal!!! and it doesn't withstand much force, as it only functions in a pre-crash manner. it doesn't actually do any restraining of the seat in a crash. i would inspect it to see if it has any obvious signs of corrosion, and possibly replace it if it does (more to save the seatbelt than of a safety concern for the clip itself).

the reason behind the expiration dates for carseats is mostly because of deterioration of the plastic shell, which supports the harness. exposure to heat and cold extremes, as well as UV irradiation from the sun, can weaken the plastic. also, it's assumed that after six years there may be missing parts, missing manual, etc, which may also compromise proper use of the seat. those things all together are why the industry arrived at a pretty standard "shelf life" for carseats as an entire unit.

for those who are fanatical about using old and potentially compromised parts, i would focus attention more on the car's safety parts... who knows how safe the belt systems on a car are after 10 years??? yet no one seems to want to be bothered with that question... i've raised it a few times and few people comment.


Oh, I wonder it, too (seen some pretty nasty seatbelts out there... is that gallon of spilled coke as innocuous as it seems, or has it eaten that webbing???)...but... there's also the issue that seatbelt standards haven't changed in decades (carseat standards change every couple of years), they are thick polyester bolted to metal frames with metal buckles...no plastic except the cosmetic casings, really, and I don't think we're seeing any rash of failing old seatbelts that would arouse the suspicions of the safety fanatics. Of course, if your belt is broken, literally, or chewed through or has been in a crash and the little label down on the side is saying 'replace me, I don't work anymore', then of course it should be replaced :). There might be something in FMVSS 208 (or 209? The seatbelt standard...) that says something about how it has to be a durable enough piece of equipment to last the life of the car? I dunno, I should read it... :D
 

Patriot201

Car-Seat.org Ambassador
Oh, I wonder it, too (seen some pretty nasty seatbelts out there... is that gallon of spilled coke as innocuous as it seems, or has it eaten that webbing???)...


I have to laugh at this because I had that happen!!!! A 2-liter bottle of Diet Coke spilled ALL OVER my old car's seatbelts. I called Honda and asked them what to do. They told me to soak the seatbelt in a bucket of warm (not hot) water and to blot dry. I was SO upset and always worried about those seatbelts after that...
 

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