pontiac/toyota allow center tethering?

bobandjess99 · Apr 17, 2008

I tried to search but am search challenged or something, because I could not find what I need to know, and I'm sure someone here knows...and my LATCH book is at a friends house who just moved so she has no clue where it is...

Are you allowed to center LATCH in the pontiac vibe? (it's basically a toyota matrix if that helps..) I assumed NO, since most vehicles do not allow borrowing of LATCH anchors, so I advised a lady at work who is having a baby to install her seat in the rear middle with seat belt, but if I'm wrong, I want to tell her so she can do it with LATCH.
Thanks!

azgirl71 · Apr 17, 2008

The quick pages for the LATCH maual say

Follow CR instructions

. Complete LATCH to 48 lbs. It will depend on the car seat. It will not hurt for her to install in the center with a seabelt. Infact if she gets used to it she may prefer it.

bobandjess99 · Apr 17, 2008

but there aren't any actual anchors in the center, she would be borrowing one from each outboard position, and my understanding was that most vehicles do not allow that? Does pontiac allow the borrowing of anchors?

Mae · Apr 17, 2008

I have an '04 Pontiac grand am and I'm not allowed center install with LATCH... Don't know if that helps any.

azgirl71 · Apr 17, 2008

bobandjess99 said:
but there aren't any actual anchors in the center, she would be borrowing one from each outboard position, and my understanding was that most vehicles do not allow that? Does pontiac allow the borrowing of anchors?

This is directly from my LATCH manual:

Lower anchor use with non standard bars in center position: GM advises consumers to follow child restraint manufacturer instructions in all cases, including whether the inboard lower anchors can be used to secure a CR in a center position. Some center positions in GM vehicles are designated LATCH positons with thier own set of lower anchors.

So what this translated to is IF the car seat manufactuer allows the use of non standard spacing lower anchors then GM says it is fine. I KNow Britax allows the use of non standared spacing.

What kind of car seat does she have? She needs to read the manual to see if it allows the use of non standard spacing. As you know lower anchors are equally as safe as a seatbelt. I would just have her use the seatbelt in the center even if the car seat manufacture allows the use of non standard spacing to be used. :twocents:

southpawboston · Apr 17, 2008

but the problem is that the OP's car is really a toyota that's just *branded* a GM, and i don't think the LATCH manual takes exceptions like these into account. so, the anchor system and supporting frame is identical to that found on the toyota matrix, not other GM vehicles. so, in this case, i would defer to what toyota says, which is NO center LATCH usage.

azgirl71 · Apr 18, 2008

southpawboston said:
but the problem is that the OP's car is really a toyota that's just *branded* a GM, and i don't think the LATCH manual takes exceptions like these into account. so, the anchor system and supporting frame is identical to that found on the toyota matrix, not other GM vehicles. so, in this case, i would defer to what toyota says, which is NO center LATCH usage.

I see what you are saying and do agree. I personally do not like that some vehicles allow the use of non standard spacing. I feel if there is not a set of lower anchors designated you just should not do it even if it is permitted by the car seat manufacturer. It is easy to do a seat belt install once you have done it a few times.

crunchierthanthou · Apr 18, 2008

my advice to the coworker would be to check her vehicle owner's manual and only use a seatbelt for center installs unless it clearly states borrowing is allowed. Which carseat is she using? Not all manufacturers allow for non-standard spacing, so it may be a non-issue anyway.

The LATCH manual is somewhat unclear about the Vibe. For the 06-07, it says that there is only a TA for the center position (which I believe is correct). However, the notes say "Can use all 3 LATCH at the same time" (which I believe is an error).

pontiac/toyota allow center tethering?

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