Please help with installation of RF Britax Marathon

mamatoalex · Nov 12, 2006

I need help installing a Britax Marathon into a 1999 Cadillac Catera. This is my mom's car, and even though I have taken it to the police station to have the car seat installed (because I didn't seem to get a good fit on my own), I am still worried that it doesn't fit well.

The Marathon is rear-facing in the center. I am using the lap belt and the tether.

The police officer used a noodle, but the seat (to me) does not seem to be very stable. The base does not move very much, but the top of the seat seems to move a lot, and the whole seat doesn't seem that stable.

I also have a Britax Marathon for my 2000 Honda Accord, and the fit seems to be much better - just much more secure. Perhaps because I am comparing it to this, I am very unhappy with the fit in my mom's car.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

wendytthomas · Nov 12, 2006

mamatoalex said:
I need help installing a Britax Marathon into a 1999 Cadillac Catera. This is my mom's car, and even though I have taken it to the police station to have the car seat installed (because I didn't seem to get a good fit on my own), I am still worried that it doesn't fit well.

The Marathon is rear-facing in the center. I am using the lap belt and the tether.

The police officer used a noodle, but the seat (to me) does not seem to be very stable. The base does not move very much, but the top of the seat seems to move a lot, and the whole seat doesn't seem that stable.

I also have a Britax Marathon for my 2000 Honda Accord, and the fit seems to be much better - just much more secure. Perhaps because I am comparing it to this, I am very unhappy with the fit in my mom's car.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

As long as it's moving less than an inch AT THE BELT PATH then it's safe. If the top is wiggling too much for your enjoyment tighten the tether down more. But as long as it's not moving more than an inch at the belt path then you're good to go.

Wendy

skaterbabs · Nov 12, 2006

Adding on to Wendy's post:

If tightening the tether more causes the seat to be too reclined, remove the pool noodle and reinstall without it, then use the tether to adjust the recline.

gwenvet · Nov 13, 2006

Is it correct that RF it can be installed in the 'upright' position in order to get less of an incline when tethered? My BV manual says that FF it HAS to be in the upright position (above 33lbs) but does not say that it MUST be in the reclined position for RF, although it does say to put it in the recline mode for rf installation. KWIM?
Anyway, I mention this because if it is in the upright position you can pull tighter on the tether to stabilize it.

my3girls · Nov 13, 2006

Are the seats leather?

wendytthomas · Nov 13, 2006

Britax seats have to be reclining in the RFing mode. If that makes it too reclined, let me know.

Wendy

gwenvet · Nov 13, 2006

wendytthomas said:
Britax seats have to be reclining in the RFing mode.
Wendy

This got me really worried because I have my seat installed this way (for a 1yr old) and swear that I have seen others recommending it on this board. So, I called Britax, and they say that (obviously) for infants it needs to be installed RF in the 'recline' mode, but that for older infants and toddlers, it's ok to install it in the 'upright' mode and to use the tether to adjust the recline angle. I asked if this applied to RA, MA and BV, but forgot the DC...oops!

I also asked about my recalled BV and if I could exchange this clip for the tether clip from an expired Britax seat. Nope.

mamatoalex · Nov 13, 2006

wendytthomas said:
As long as it's moving less than an inch AT THE BELT PATH then it's safe. If the top is wiggling too much for your enjoyment tighten the tether down more. But as long as it's not moving more than an inch at the belt path then you're good to go.

Wendy

I'm sorry - I don't understand what AT THE BELT PATH means - does that mean the base doesn't move more than 1 inch? The base doesn't move more than 1 inch, but the top of the seat seems very unstable, even with the tether in place. It's just such a difference from my Accord, so it makes me uncomfortable.

When I installed it without the noodle myself, it seemed even less secure. Sorry for my ignorance - but what the purpose of the noodle? My mom's back seat seems awfully angled compared to my Accord back seat, and I just assumed the noodle was to try to compensate for the angle. I don't know whether this makes a difference either, but the noodle is not long enough to fit across the entire base, and I don't know whether this seems to contribute to the instability either.

The cadillac's seats are leather and the Accord are not - does this make a difference? (my3girls question)

Thanks. I just want to make sure the seat is safe for my ds.

wendytthomas · Nov 13, 2006

mamatoalex said:
I'm sorry - I don't understand what AT THE BELT PATH means - does that mean the base doesn't move more than 1 inch? The base doesn't move more than 1 inch, but the top of the seat seems very unstable, even with the tether in place. It's just such a difference from my Accord, so it makes me uncomfortable.

When I installed it without the noodle myself, it seemed even less secure. Sorry for my ignorance - but what the purpose of the noodle? My mom's back seat seems awfully angled compared to my Accord back seat, and I just assumed the noodle was to try to compensate for the angle. I don't know whether this makes a difference either, but the noodle is not long enough to fit across the entire base, and I don't know whether this seems to contribute to the instability either.

The cadillac's seats are leather and the Accord are not - does this make a difference? (my3girls question)

Thanks. I just want to make sure the seat is safe for my ds.

At the belt path means where the seatbelt goes through the seat, or where the LATCH attaches to the seat. If it moves less than an inch front or back or side to side there then you're good. With the tether tight it shouldn't allow the top to move.

The noodle is used to get a better angle for a RFing seat. Normally Britaxes don't have this problem, with the recline and the tether, but some cars have very angled rear seats and need a noodle.

Wendy

my3girls · Nov 13, 2006

Leather seats can be tricky to install on. My in-laws vehicle has leather and mine does not. I know how to install my seats GREAT in my van, but always have to work and work to get a good install on theirs. You can use 1 layer of rubber shelf liner, that stuff that sort of feels a little sticky. The thinner the better, just enough to make them stick together a little.

mamatoalex · Nov 14, 2006

Sorry - I'm really a novice here. I always think shelf liner is that wax-paper like stuff to line cabinet shelves - does it come in rubber as well? I'll have to look at the store ... But where exactly would I put the shelf liner? Between the seat and the base of the car seat? What about the noodle? Would it go on top of the liner and underneath the base?

Please excuse the ignorance.

Thanks.

Please help with installation of RF Britax Marathon

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