A few questions about TF installs

I spent some time playing with DD's True Fit today to practice different installs (I start my CPST course on the 15th and wanted to practice). I am left with a few questions. If it matters, I have a 2 door cavalier, '04.

1) What do you do with the lower anchor straps when installing with the seatbelt either forward or rear facing?

2) Do you have to do anything special with the shoulder strap after installing using the seatbelt? I seem to remember her infant seat specifying where to run it and all, but I saw nothing in the TF manual.

3) I ran into a problem trying to install rear facing in the center position. (She's been outboard). The belt has a little plastic knob on it and that prevented me from being able to get it tight enough. I took a picture (wow, sorry the pic is so huge, I'm not sure how to resize)....

4) I also had a problem installing it rear facing in an outboard position with the seatbelt. I'm not as worried about this one since there's really no reason I can't use the lower anchors like I've been doing, but I'd like to know if there's a solution. The whole seatbelt locking mechanism seems to just be too tall. It got in the way and I couldn't get a tight install. I tried tightening it as much as I could and locking the left lock off, then moving the seatbelt away and pulling to tighten the right side, but when I was done I had at least three inches of movement. Here's a pic...

I found forward facing to be a breeze to install. Though I did not try ff in the center position, so I don't know if that knob would get in the way or not. Any help would be greatly appreciated! thanks!

Anne said:

1) What do you do with the lower anchor straps when installing with the seatbelt either forward or rear facing?

Click to expand...

I believe there are pockets under the cover, behind the bum, where the LATCH connectors are stored.

2) Do you have to do anything special with the shoulder strap after installing using the seatbelt? I seem to remember her infant seat specifying where to run it and all, but I saw nothing in the TF manual.

Click to expand...

It goes through the lockoffs with the lapbelt.

3) I ran into a problem trying to install rear facing in the center position. (She's been outboard). The belt has a little plastic knob on it and that prevented me from being able to get it tight enough. I took a picture (wow, sorry the pic is so huge, I'm not sure how to resize)....

Click to expand...

You can pop that piece of plastic off. It's just there to keep the latchplate from sliding and hiding when it's unbuckled. It's not a safety feature.

4) I also had a problem installing it rear facing in an outboard position with the seatbelt. I'm not as worried about this one since there's really no reason I can't use the lower anchors like I've been doing, but I'd like to know if there's a solution. The whole seatbelt locking mechanism seems to just be too tall. It got in the way and I couldn't get a tight install. I tried tightening it as much as I could and locking the left lock off, then moving the seatbelt away and pulling to tighten the right side, but when I was done I had at least three inches of movement. Here's a pic...

Click to expand...

You can twist the buckle stalk up to three full times to lower it down. That should get the buckle out of the way so you can close the lockoff and have the belt tight.

Wendy

wendytthomas said:

I believe there are pockets under the cover, behind the bum, where the LATCH connectors are stored.



It goes through the lockoffs with the lapbelt.



You can pop that piece of plastic off. It's just there to keep the latchplate from sliding and hiding when it's unbuckled. It's not a safety feature.



You can twist the buckle stalk up to three full times to lower it down. That should get the buckle out of the way so you can close the lockoff and have the belt tight.

Wendy

Click to expand...

Thank you! And I'm glad I asked about the shoulder strap, I was not running that through the lock-offs.