All you CPSTs or owners of a Prius...

marigold

New member
I had to swap vehicles for a short period of time and have a prius in my possession for 24 hours. I went to install my babys carseat and is it my imagination or is there are huge round bar in the crack of the back seat that runs the length of the backseat and prevents me from getting to the lower anchors down there (which I did eventually find, but really had to dig for)?? I actually had to do a belt install on my keyfit 30, which I can do but admit to being out of practice for (mental note: go practice!).

Also, as I was trying to get the belt locking mechanism to engage (you know like it would in a sudden crash to prevent you from flying forward, it seemed like it was not all that sensitive and didn't engage all that readily or reliably.

Can anyone talk to me about these two issues? I want to take the car out again for an errand, but don't love the install I have right now. Also, this happen's to be my BIL and SIL's car, and I suspect that when they get around to having a baby (if that happens) they will not be the type to overly care about a great install, so I'd like to research how to best handle carseats (and which ones) in a Prius so I can be ready with info and good recommendations for them if they are willing to accept it. Thanks!
 
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ketchupqueen

CPST and ketchup snob
Staff member
I don't know about a huge round bar, but the Prius can be difficult to access lower anchors in.

Luckily the keyfit install is easy with the base! You don't need to lock the belt. Just pull the shoulder portion through the lockoff on the base once you have tightened. :) if you're having difficulty getting it tight because the buckle hits the belt path, you can twist down the buckle stalk up to three full turns.
 

oakster

New member
We drove an older Prius for years and rent newer ones often--you do have to dig for the LATCH anchors but they are definitely there and should be straightforward to use once you locate them. I was amazed that our new car had access points cut out of the foam, though! :) The belt should lock like normal--never had an issue there, so that could be their particular car (and worth getting checked out if it really doesn't lock). The only issue we ever had was making sure to get compact car seats that fit well depth wise--otherwise I found it a pretty easy car to work with for seats. HTH!

ETA: We've used a Britax Marathon G3, Cybex Aton, and Combi Coccoro--all fit well with room to move front seats back.
 

FedBaby

New member
I'm pretty sure our middle seatbelt in the 2006 Prius does not ratchet in after you get to a certain point -- I mean I tried to make the seat belt lock with no one in it (to prevent kids from playing with it) and at a certain point while feeding the seatbelt back in, it stopped ratcheting and just went back in... I tried again and same thing. (Now it's just tucked behind a side of carseat so it's not too accessible...)

Could that be what you're talking about?
 

1mommy

New member
I'm pretty sure our middle seatbelt in the 2006 Prius does not ratchet in after you get to a certain point -- I mean I tried to make the seat belt lock with no one in it (to prevent kids from playing with it) and at a certain point while feeding the seatbelt back in, it stopped ratcheting and just went back in... I tried again and same thing. (Now it's just tucked behind a side of carseat so it's not too accessible...) Could that be what you're talking about?

Did you buckle it? I kept trying to ratchet mine in (Avalon tho, not a Prius) until I realized that unless it's buckled it will just go back to normal! Duh! Mommy brain!
 

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