T
Trish
Guest
This is somewhat technical (the guy at the service dept at the dealership had NO IDEA what I was talking about). I do plan on taking the van in, in the next couple of days, but I'd like to know if I can use the belt until then.
Ok....if you open the passenger side sliding door, you'll see that the seatbelt for the outboard 2nd row has an attachment point (which is like a miniature seat belt buckle) on the SIDE of the seat. This is to make it easier for people to get in/out of the 3rd row. The BUCKLE is free sliding on the belt, and the female part is attached to the side of the seat.
Yesterday, my son STEPPED on the seat belt, and the female part of the buckle just completely broke off (and in pieces). I *think* that this isn't a required part of the seat belt. I *think* that buckling this is optional, though it says NOTHING in my manual (that you HAVE to buckle it, or that it's optional). There is some writing on the belt itself, but most of it is worn off, and what I CAN read seems to refer to installing a car seat.
Because this is the "safe seat" in the van, I'd REALLY like to be able to keep using it until I can get it fixed, but...of course, I won't if it's not safe. I called Lincoln/Mercury customer service, adn they were NO HELP either. I even asked if buckling that small buckle was optional (becuase if it's OPTIONAL, than it wouldn't matter if it was broken), and was just told to ask a dealer.
Any opinions?
Ok....if you open the passenger side sliding door, you'll see that the seatbelt for the outboard 2nd row has an attachment point (which is like a miniature seat belt buckle) on the SIDE of the seat. This is to make it easier for people to get in/out of the 3rd row. The BUCKLE is free sliding on the belt, and the female part is attached to the side of the seat.
Yesterday, my son STEPPED on the seat belt, and the female part of the buckle just completely broke off (and in pieces). I *think* that this isn't a required part of the seat belt. I *think* that buckling this is optional, though it says NOTHING in my manual (that you HAVE to buckle it, or that it's optional). There is some writing on the belt itself, but most of it is worn off, and what I CAN read seems to refer to installing a car seat.
Because this is the "safe seat" in the van, I'd REALLY like to be able to keep using it until I can get it fixed, but...of course, I won't if it's not safe. I called Lincoln/Mercury customer service, adn they were NO HELP either. I even asked if buckling that small buckle was optional (becuase if it's OPTIONAL, than it wouldn't matter if it was broken), and was just told to ask a dealer.
Any opinions?