Can you check this install quickly?

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stacie78

New member

• May 10, 2008

• #1

I just installed my Costco Scenera into the rental car... not sure if i did it right. We have a Britax in our regular car and this install looks pretty much like that, but I didn't install that one. We're going to be using this in the morning, so I want to make sure it's right!
I pulled the shoulder belt all the way out and then let it "click" it's way back in. Then I stood in the seat and tightened it a little more. It started to lift up on the shoulder belt side. Does that mean it's too tight?
Thanks!

 

An Aurora

Senior Community Member

• May 10, 2008

• #2

Is there less than an inch of movement at the belt path?

Are you using a towel to acheive the recline?

 

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stacie78

New member

• May 10, 2008

• #3

no towel... should I put one in?

 

An Aurora

Senior Community Member

• May 10, 2008

• #4

It's hard to tell in the pictures, but is the front of the car seat (the part under the baby's feet) on the vehicle seat or is it smushed into the seat back? You want the plastic to be resting on the vehicle seat itself.

 

BW1426

Well-known member

• May 10, 2008

• #5

Your rental car should have LATCH and that should help with the tipping issue. Also, a locking clip really helps out when you have a RF seat tipping with a lap shoulder belt.

 

Patriot201

Car-Seat.org Ambassador

• May 10, 2008

• #6

The unused LATCH connectors need to be hooked to those little holes on the side of the seat (near the child's head).

If it isn't already, the tether needs to be connected to the little clip on the reclining foot (on the underside of the seat).

 

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stacie78

New member

• May 10, 2008

• #7

The car manual says that I can't use LATCH in the center...

I'll put a towel in for the base - right now it is kind of jammed into the seat. I forgot about the towel! The picture in the manual looks like this and i just didn't think about it! Thanks!!

 

An Aurora

Senior Community Member

• May 10, 2008

• #8

Yes, I would rather a towel be under there, since it looks like there is a gap. Vehicle seats will compress in a crash, and that is just more slack in the belt

You are right, no LATCH in center, so if you wanted to use LATCH you would have to move it outboard. I would leave it in the center as long as you get a secure install.

 

Patriot201

Car-Seat.org Ambassador

• May 10, 2008

• #9

THis is a terrible picture of the tether hook, but this is what you are supposed to hook the unused tether to:

This is also not a great picture, but here are the hooks for the unused LATCH hooks:

(Please ignore the bags on the seat next to the seat. I had temporarily set them down before taking the picture. The bags DID NOT stay there! ).

 

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stacie78

New member

• May 10, 2008

• #10

Ok, I'm going to go put a towel under the base and attach the unused LATCH hooks to the top. Anything else while I'm out there? Do I need to start over to put the towel in or just slide it under?

 

An Aurora

Senior Community Member

• May 10, 2008

• #11

You need to uninstall. Roll up the towel, put it in the seat bight (crease of seat), set the front plastic part on it and re-install.

 

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stacie78

New member

• May 10, 2008

• #12

ok, thanks for your help!!

 

crunchierthanthou

New member

• May 10, 2008

• #13

stacie78 said:

I pulled the shoulder belt all the way out and then let it "click" it's way back in. Then I stood in the seat and tightened it a little more. It started to lift up on the shoulder belt side. Does that mean it's too tight?

Click to expand...

rf sceneras can be a little tippy, especially with a locking shoulder retractor. There are a couple of things you can try so that it doesn't tip as much. First would be to use a locking clip instead of locking the seatbelt. If you don't have yours along or don't want to use it then you can try this-

pull the cover back over the beltpath. I like to climb in behind it and push forward with my hips so that I have both hands free to work with the belt. buckle the seatbelt, but don't lock it yet. feed the lapbelt into the buckle while pulling the shoulder part tight. Tighten the lapbelt across the whole beltpath- not just right next to the buckle. Cinching it on just one side will contribute to the tipping. Get the lap portion as tight as you can (so there is less than 1" of movement at the beltpath) and lock the shoulder belt as the very last step. Allow it to retract naturally and don't force any additional webbing into the retractor.

I also second the suggestions to store the LATCH straps and use a rolled towel (I've never been able to get an acceptable rf recline on a scenera without a towel or pool noodle).

What kind of car are you renting and how old is the child?