catchthewind
New member
My husband just bought a 1991 Honda Civic for commuting. Prior to that we just had a 2003 Kia Sedona, but he commutes to work about 75km each way twice a week so we needed something that doesn't use as much gas. It's not meant to be a car for driving the kids around much, but we figured if our older daughter wanted to go along for quick trips to the nearby grocery store she could.
She asked to drive in it tonight, and I went out to see if I could get a car seat in the back rear facing. Our TFP seemed like it was going to fit fine, but I couldn't quite get it in tight. I twisted the buckle stalk and tried again, and the buckle of the seat belt came right off! I have read that seat belts can expire, but for some reason it never even occurred to me until this happened. I moved to the driver's side rear seat and tugged on the buckle, then gave it a quick yank, and it pulled out too. Then the middle buckle (which is just a lap belt anyway) I noticed wasn't even sewn in at all, the webbing was just threaded through and folded over. I don't think the person who sold us the car knew, since the middle was likely rarely sat in and the side ones did require me to yank them a bit to get them off. But it certainly wouldn't have been safe in an accident.
So I'm curious, how long are seat belts supposed to last before you have to replace them? And can we still use the front seats (obviously not with the kids)? They're a different type of stalk (not flexible). We plan to get new seat belts put in asap (well, I doubt we'll replace the lap belt in the back, but the other four), but it might have to wait until he gets paid again.
She asked to drive in it tonight, and I went out to see if I could get a car seat in the back rear facing. Our TFP seemed like it was going to fit fine, but I couldn't quite get it in tight. I twisted the buckle stalk and tried again, and the buckle of the seat belt came right off! I have read that seat belts can expire, but for some reason it never even occurred to me until this happened. I moved to the driver's side rear seat and tugged on the buckle, then gave it a quick yank, and it pulled out too. Then the middle buckle (which is just a lap belt anyway) I noticed wasn't even sewn in at all, the webbing was just threaded through and folded over. I don't think the person who sold us the car knew, since the middle was likely rarely sat in and the side ones did require me to yank them a bit to get them off. But it certainly wouldn't have been safe in an accident.
So I'm curious, how long are seat belts supposed to last before you have to replace them? And can we still use the front seats (obviously not with the kids)? They're a different type of stalk (not flexible). We plan to get new seat belts put in asap (well, I doubt we'll replace the lap belt in the back, but the other four), but it might have to wait until he gets paid again.