help with expiration dates

I'm looking at my convertible seat to check for the expiration date but it's not so clear. I bought it in March or April 03'. Other carseats I've seen will say don't use after "insert date" but this what mine has: it's etched in the bottom, it has a 03 (which could be the manufactured year) then it's follow by a dial with twelve numbers (assuming is the month) with the arrow pointing at 3 and the next thing (the one that puzzles me) is a two digit number which look like a 10 but the 1 is upside down (or it could be a 01 that they put it totally backward). So assuming it's 03 - dial pointing at 3 - 10 I can interpreted it two ways one: 03' March 10 being completely the manufactured date or two: 03' March 10' being the manufactured year at the left (03') and the expiration one at the right (10'). Or assuming it's 03 - dial pointing at 3 - 01 the only way to interpreted is 03' March 01 being only the manufactured date. If it's the first (03'-10') that means that they're giving a life span of 7 yrs. If the latter is the case (03' March 01), I've read 6 yrs is the usual life span of a carseat, so would my expiration date be 09' March 01'?

Hope someone can help me out

wow thats confusing lol! What seat is it?

Sorry ! You guys might have to grab a piece of paper and a pencil and while reading my explanation write down so you could get a picture of what I see.

The seat is a convertible Cosco Eddie Bauer.

did you find an area where it says 'do not use...'? and that is what it said? Try taking the entire cover off lol! There should either be an area embossed that says 'do not use...' or a sticker on it with the model and serial and DOM. Does it still have its base on it? It might be under that, between the base and seat, or it might be on the base.

I look everywhere and that's all I can find. The 03 and the 10 (or 01) are etched, the dial is embossed, it doesn't have any phrases or words around, and there's no sticker either, it doesn't even have the serial # anywhere.

Our old Eddie bauer seat, there was a do not use after.. under the cushion/foam under the cover. Where the childs bottom would be.

mine doesn't. what year did you buy yours?

Really old seats. They were purchased in '98 for my nephews to use when they were with me. One has it under the cusion. The other is embossed on the back of the seat. If I were you I might would call cosco, they could at least tell you what the dial with numbers and all mean.

Where does Britax put that info on their carseats?