Seatbelt question for those who know seatbelts!

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thepeach80

Senior Community Member

• Apr 7, 2008

• #1

Were there ever lap/shoulder belts w/ heavuweight locking latchplates? Our neighbor (who I love just b/c they have a ffing Scenera flanked by 2 backless boosters in this tiny car w/ older kids) has what appears to be this. Is that right? The car looks fairly old and I don't want to just sit there and stare at their car, but I parked next to them and this is what it looked like. So do they lock at the lap belt AND in the shoulder during crashes? I'm assuming when installing a carseat using these it's just a lap belt install then?

 

crunchierthanthou

New member

• Apr 7, 2008

• #2

yes. An Aurora's van has them in the third row (2001 venture?). I think there were other GM vehicles of that time period with them. I believe all l/s belts with locking latchplates (generally lightweight ones) also lock at the shoulder belt in a crash. In fact IIRC, I think Anna's are even switchable retractors.


edit: here's a link to the thread about Anna's van

http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=34628

 

Defrost

Moderator - CPSTI Emeritus

• Apr 7, 2008

• #3

My Astro van has "heavy-weight" locking latchplates on the lap/shoulder belts. They're identical to the latchplates on the lap-only belts (in the same vehicle.) Is that what you mean? Yes, in a crash the retractor locks, and the lap-portion of the belt is already locked by the latchplate. But the retractor isn't switchable.

I have read on this forum about at least one vehicle that had both locking latchplates and switchable retractors on the lap/shoulder belts. I forget specifically what vehicle it was, I just remember it was a van.

 

joolsplus3

Admin - CPS Technician

• Apr 7, 2008

• #4

Watch any old 80's movie, you can see lots of cars have them...because the actors are never wearing them, and the latchplates are just dangling there by their heads (I think they hadn't invented the 'little plastic button' to keep latchplates up where people could reach them...?). I also got to use one in a 90's cadillac (backseat)

 

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thepeach80

Senior Community Member

• Apr 7, 2008

• #5

Thanks guys. You guys make it sound so common, lol, and I've never had one come to see me before.

 

Defrost

Moderator - CPSTI Emeritus

• Apr 7, 2008

• #6

Just for grins & giggles, here's a pic. This one's missing the plastic cover:

 

An Aurora

Senior Community Member

• Apr 7, 2008

• #7

Dang, Crunchy, you have a good memory

Yes, I have a 2001 Chevy Venture, and you can see in those pictures that Crunchy linked to that my 3rd row has the heavy-duty locking latchplates, and switchable retractors.

 

skaterbabs

Well-known member

• Apr 7, 2008

• #8

My '93 Suburban has heavy weight locking latchplates on the rear outboard lap/shoulder belts.

 

scatterbunny

New member

• Apr 7, 2008

• #9

My 01 Windstar has heavyweight locking latchplates, too.

 

CRS

Senior Community Member

• Apr 7, 2008

• #10

Wow I've never seen that either!

 

snowbird25ca

Moderator - CPST Instructor

• Apr 7, 2008

• #11

I posted on the other thread too, but my dad's 08 chevy pickup has heavy weight locking latchplate on his backseat center position lap/shoulder belt and it also has a switchable retractor.

Older cars typically only had ELR retractors combined with the locking latchplates though.

 

bobandjess99

Senior Community Member

• Apr 7, 2008

• #12

My van has them in allthe seating positions, 92 gmc conversion van.