Clarification on Locking Seatbelt

ajay

New member
I feel like every question I ask here is so stupid, so here's another one to add to the mix! :)

I've never installed with a seatbelt (always used latch) so when installing a Triumph in my husband's car the other day, I wasn't sure how the seatbelt is supposed to be. What does a locking seatbelt mean?

When installing the car seat, I pulled the belt out as far as it could go, buckled it, then pulled it tight. The carseat is rock-solid, but if I tried to pull on the seatbelt itself from the top (the point where it comes out of the side of the car) it will give me slack. Is this okay? What do I do?

Thanks in advance!
 
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Defrost

Moderator - CPSTI Emeritus
Some seat belts lock where the belt ratchets in - those are the kind that you can lock by pulling them all the way out, and then they "switch" and you can't pull them out again until you release the belt all the way.

Other seat belts lock at the latchplate - also known as the "male" end of the buckle. With this kind, the shoulder portion of the belt will still move freely, but lap portion will be locked.

Your owner's manual should say which you've got, but an easy way to tell is to buckle the seat belt with no seat or person in it. Then grab the lap portion of the belt and pull slowly but firmly (don't jerk it). If it's got a locking latchplate, you won't be able to pull it very far at all. If it moves freely, pull the shoulder part out all the way, then let it slide back in a little bit. It should making a slight "clicking" noise, and once again, if you pull on the lap portion of the belt, it will "lock."

So, it sounds like you've got a locking latchplate!
 
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