Booster seat in 2001 Dodge Ram problem

[mclurelab]

We have a 2001 Dodge Ram 2500. We currently have our two carseats secured in the back seat. We are looking at installing a booster seat in the back and discovered that the shoulder belt does not lock when pulled briskly!? We have tried everything to make them lock on impact, and they just don't! We have contacted the dealership to replace the belts with proper locking belts. They state that this is not possible and that year of truck just does not have those kind of belts. I do not believe this.

They do not lock when pulled all the way out and retracted slowly either. They do not click when retracting. They do not lock when clicked into lap belt, nor when the brake is applied. Is there anything else I can trouble shoot? It seems very strange to me that both shoulder belt do not function? The front seat belts lock immediately lock when pulled briskly.

Any ideas how we can safely transition to booster seats? Or for that matter...safely transport adults?

Thanks in advance!

 

[aeormsby]

Pulling them out quickly doesn't always engage the emergency locking retractor IME. Maybe a tech or someone with more vehicle knowledge can comment on that more.

Dodge/Chrysler belts of that era don't lock by pulling them out all the way (not sure when they switched, I was surprised that my sister's dodge van locked at the retractor, I think it's a 2009). They lock at the buckle with a lightweight locking buckle - basically it's the same way a lap only belt locks, when the belt is buckled the angle of the buckle locks the belt. We have a 2004 Dodge truck and I don't think I've ever tried the quick pull on the back seatbelts. This has more info on the different ways seatbelts can lock: http://csftl.org/lock-it-up-how-to-lock-a-seat-belt-for-car-seat-installation/

 

[Judi]

I have the same truck. You can't always "test" to see if the they work. They just do, due to the year of your truck. For the car seats that are using the seat belt to install, the latchplate is what locks.

 

[mclurelab]

Thank you so much for your help