Locking clip

mish

New member
In my tecnician class, they did not tell us we couldn't us a locking clip on a lap only belt. I have a parent that wants to install her seat in the center and it has a lap belt with a locking latch plate, but the cover over the latch plate is broken. Can I use a locking clip on it and leave it in the center (she doesn't have latch)? Can she get her seatbelt fixed? I feel stupit no knowing this, but like I said, it wasn't covered in my class, I just read somewhere else that you can't use a locking clip on that type of belt.
 
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maipenrai

Senior Community Member
So the locking latchplate is not currently functioning, correct?

I wouldn't use it. A locking clip locks the belt pre-crash, but it isn't designed to withstand all the crash forces on its own. In this case the locking clip would be the only thing holding the seat in place. I'd have her take the car to a dealer to see if she can get the latchplate replaced, and in the meantime install the seat in a different position.
 

joolsplus3

Admin - CPS Technician
If the cover's broken off the latchplate, it may still not be broken, but check to make sure it works. Right, a locking clip is not intended to hold in a crash, it's a precrash positioner. The latchplate IS designed to hold in a crash, so it needs to be working or the seatbelt is unuseable.
 

azgirl71

CPST Instructor
Check to see if it acually functions properly and stay locked first. If it does not she should go the the dealership and have a new one installed if she want to use that seating position.
 

crunchierthanthou

New member
Locking clips can never be used on lap only belts. They are designed to hold the seatbelt tight until the ELR of the shoulder belt is engaged. If (when) the locking clip pops off in a crash, there will be nothing holding the carseat in place.
 

Ashley_R

New member
We had the plastic cover on our chevy's locking latchplates fall off and they still functioned fine. The plastic portion is just for looks and to keep fingers out.

If there is any question if the latchplate is functioning, I would move the seat to an outboard postion and replace the belt.
 

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