Chicco KeyFit 30 in a 2002 Suburban

sarahlorrain

New member
I want to install this seat in the middle seat, 2nd row of my suburban. There is a lap belt only there. In reviews I read, this seat was listed as having a lock off. There is no such thing on this seat. I don't think I can get it tight enough. I don't know what to do and I am freaking out because I should have done this sooner and now I am due to give birth any day now! I really don't want to have to put the baby next to the door; I want her in the middle seat but I can't seem to get the seat belt tight enough. Also, these seat belts like to loosen up on their own as time passes (which is why I wanted a lock off) to prevent that problem. Any tips? Ideas?

ETA: I think I got it tight enough. Problems: I had to adjust the recline foot to the highest setting. Otherwise, the seat belt buckle is up to high and won't let the infant seat latch to the base.

Also, as it is, when you put the car seat on the base, you have to make sure you push that corner down because if you don't, it won't latch.

Also, to get the right angle, I slid two of the small floor mats under the back of the base. I figured they won't move because of the no slide backing.

I also put the tail end of the lap belt into the lock off for shoulder belts. Is that ok?
 
Last edited:
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featherhead

Well-known member
Ok, you're going to have to change a couple things. You should not put anything under the base. Can you twist the buckle stalk to make it shorter? Also, you should not put the tail of the lapbelt in the lock-off. Lock-offs are only for shoulder belts. A lock-off is only designed to hold the shoulder-belt tight until the retractor kicks in in a collision. A lap belt works differently.
 

Lovatic24

Member
Your manual has instructions for installing with a lap belt only. Until you get more help installing the car seat I would move it outboard and install it there. A car seat installed in the middle is only safer if it is installed correctly. Can you describe the "floor mats" that you used?
 
U

Unregistered

Guest
Twisting the seat belt stalk is ok? I would have thought that was unsafe?

The floor mats are the car's floor mats. I'll take them out. I wouldn't have thought it was any different than a rolled towel, but whatever.

I'll make the suggested changes above and see if that helps. If the seat starts loosening up then I will install it on the outside and see if that makes a difference.
 

sarahlorrain

New member
Ok, I twisted the seat belt buckle stalk twice. That's two full turns. I've read that up to three times is acceptable but I wanted to do as few twists as possible. I was able to lower the recline foot one notch, remove the floor mats so there is nothing under it, and the seat latches to the base easily now. The bubble is just barely inside of the two indicators, but the entire bubble is in there, just barely touching one indicator on one side. Is that ok, or does it have to be right in the middle?

Oh, and the manual is practically useless for lap belt installation. It offers only the most basic of instructions, and offers no help for when certain things don't just work perfectly!!
 

featherhead

Well-known member
Ok, I twisted the seat belt buckle stalk twice. That's two full turns. I've read that up to three times is acceptable but I wanted to do as few twists as possible. I was able to lower the recline foot one notch, remove the floor mats so there is nothing under it, and the seat latches to the base easily now. The bubble is just barely inside of the two indicators, but the entire bubble is in there, just barely touching one indicator on one side. Is that ok, or does it have to be right in the middle?

Oh, and the manual is practically useless for lap belt installation. It offers only the most basic of instructions, and offers no help for when certain things don't just work perfectly!!
Sounds much better! Most manuals don't cover what to do when it doesn't work perfectly.
 

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