The case of the tipping carseats (forward facing)

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sixmaybemore

New member
I have an '04 Suburban. I have two in harnessed seats. I am having a continuing battle of keeping seats installed within safe parameters.

It doesn't matter if I use the lock on the seat itself, or if I am locking the belt and engaging the retractor. I will install the seat and lock it. Within the day, it is tipping over towards the middle. By the next day, it's loose enough to pull the bottom out from under it, and there is visible slack in lap belt portion.

Yes, the tether is being used. No, it's not happening with one brand of seat. It's happened with:

Radian
Safeguard CS (not Go)
FR85

Both harnessed seats are installed on the middle seats (bench), outboard. I am so frustrated with this that I am ready to scream. If it was just the retractor, I would think that the retractor is broken. It isn't, though, it's happening with the built in lock off on the SGCS, too. It's like a lock off conspiracy. Hmph.

WTH?
 
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ADS
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sixmaybemore

New member
Judi said:
Ok, so am I reading correctly that you have switchable retractors?
Click to expand...

Yep, and I am locking them in at install, feeding excess into the retractor, and then checking. At the time of install, it is tight, less than one inch of movement, no slack. I'm pulling from the latchplate side, and there is no slack when viewing it when standing at the door.

seriously. this is driving me nuts. It's why I took the FR85's out, and put the SGCS's back in, thinking that if I used the lock off in the SGCS that it would solve the issue. And nooooo. It did not.
:mad:
 
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sixmaybemore

New member
I also thought, well, you know, maybe it's from the way the kids are climbing in that it's tipping. But that doesn't explain why it's LOOSE, when hours before, it wasn't. :scratcheshead:
 
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sixmaybemore

New member
Judi said:
I think it is the installer. :duck:
Click to expand...

LOL

Ask KQ. I know how to install a seat. I put hers in her rental in Phoenix. I've never had this happen in any other vehicle I've owned.

Now, if you tell me it's b/c I rolled over to 200K miles, I might believe you. Heh.

I'm almost positive the retractor slips. I don't have ANY confidence that an install will hold. Trying to figure out why the lock off on the SGCS slips is another matter. The way the belt is angled in the vehicle? Gnomes? TROLLS? I'd try a locking clip but I can't get one on there with the angle of the locking clip, and then the LATCH mechanism placement when not in use.
 
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