Help installing a Recaro Proride, latch belts will not tighten

[taktix1]

I have just installed a Recaro Proride in our 2011 Lexus RX350. After connecting the latch buckles, the manual says to pull on the loop end of the latch belt to tighten. These belts will not budge to allow me to tighten them. My husband tried also, still won't tighten at all. Any suggestions? I'm assuming we either installed wrong or are doing something wrong in general. Thanks!

 

[CMeMeC]

I have just installed a Recaro Proride in our 2011 Lexus RX350. After connecting the latch buckles, the manual says to pull on the loop end of the latch belt to tighten. These belts will not budge to allow me to tighten them. My husband tried also, still won't tighten at all. Any suggestions? I'm assuming we either installed wrong or are doing something wrong in general. Thanks!

I would first check to make sure the strap isn't twisted or hung up on something in the belt path.

I would then check to make sure you are using the right belt path and an appropriate LATCH location.

Otherwise, I would try installing with the seat belt.

 

[happiness-and-balance]

Can you take a picture of the part you're having difficulty with?

 

[taktix1]

I would first check to make sure the strap isn't twisted or hung up on something in the belt path.

I would then check to make sure you are using the right belt path and an appropriate LATCH location.

Otherwise, I would try installing with the seat belt.

Checked the belt path, it's not twisted. I am not sure if I'm using the correct belt path but attached are pictures of what I'm talking about. The circled part is the part you have to pull in order to tighten the latch belt. Pictures are of both sides. We have a pool noodle underneath the seat.

thanks for all your help!

 

[CMeMeC]

Checked the belt path, it's not twisted. I am not sure if I'm using the correct belt path but attached are pictures of what I'm talking about. The circled part is the part you have to pull in order to tighten the latch belt. Pictures are of both sides. We have a pool noodle underneath the seat.

thanks for all your help!

Try the angle you are pulling from. I find it easier to pull following the belt path. For example, I lean I'm from the opposite side of the belt I'm trying to tighten, and pull back towards the belt path running the tail back through the belt bath and lifting the cover if necessary. I hope that makes sense.

 

[thepote]

Try putting some weight in the seat like a knee and then pull the tail. As the poster above is explaining, the angle you pull matters. Keep the belt parallel to the part in the belt path. With some seats you can feed the belt back into the belt path and pull it from there, but it doesn't look like you can with this seat.

The seat should move less than one inch at the belt path, shaken with your weak hand. It doesn't need to be solid as a rock or anything.

 

[taktix1]

Try the angle you are pulling from. I find it easier to pull following the belt path. For example, I lean I'm from the opposite side of the belt I'm trying to tighten, and pull back towards the belt path running the tail back through the belt bath and lifting the cover if necessary. I hope that makes sense.

I don't think I quite follow what you're saying. What I have been doing is basically trying to pull the latch strap towards the outside of the car door nearest to it. I've tried lifting the strap straight up also, won't budge at all.

Try putting some weight in the seat like a knee and then pull the tail. As the poster above is explaining, the angle you pull matters. Keep the belt parallel to the part in the belt path. With some seats you can feed the belt back into the belt path and pull it from there, but it doesn't look like you can with this seat.

The seat should move less than one inch at the belt path, shaken with your weak hand. It doesn't need to be solid as a rock or anything.

What do you mean by the "part in the belt path"? I will try tomorrow morning to put a knee in the seat and pull. The manual says to push one of the arm rests down while pulling (and of course that did nothing..). The seat is not rock solid for sure and moves a bit. It moves a lot more than my NextFit does in our other car so I'm pretty sure it's moving too much.

 

[lgenne]

I think CMeMeC was trying to say this: rather than pulling out or up, put the free end of the latch strap back through the belt path, and pull from the other side of the seat. It improves the angle the belt is pulling through the locking latch plate. (Is it called a locking latch plate on the LATCH belt?)

 

[ketchupqueen]

I think CMeMeC was trying to say this: rather than pulling out or up, put the free end of the latch strap back through the belt path, and pull from the other side of the seat. It improves the angle the belt is pulling through the locking latch plate. (Is it called a locking latch plate on the LATCH belt?)

No, it's just the lower anchor strap adjuster. But this advice is usually quite helpful.

Make sure you are in a designated LATCH position; non standard spacing can cause angle difficulties as well.

I have heard that recaro adjusters have been quite difficult lately for some users. The seatbelt is definitely a viable alternative.

 

[CMeMeC]

I don't think I quite follow what you're saying. What I have been doing is basically trying to pull the latch strap towards the outside of the car door nearest to it. I've tried lifting the strap straight up also, won't budge at all.

I was pretty much saying to do the opposite of this. Go with the angle of the belt. Pull it back the same way you put it through. pulling it straight up or towards the door likely will not help.

 

[nannykates]

Also try little tugs instead of cranking with all your strength, that often makes it easier for me.

 

[happiness-and-balance]

Try this: Move the passenger seat (or driver's seat, whichever is in front of the car seat) forward all the way and fold it down. Stand behind the car seat facing the trunk and lean over it so that your pelvis is touching the top of the car seat shell. Grab onto the latch strap and pull up while pushing, with your pelvis, into the seat aiming for a "down and back" motion of the car seat. This may help.

 

[taktix1]

Try this: Move the passenger seat (or driver's seat, whichever is in front of the car seat) forward all the way and fold it down. Stand behind the car seat facing the trunk and lean over it so that your pelvis is touching the top of the car seat shell. Grab onto the latch strap and pull up while pushing, with your pelvis, into the seat aiming for a "down and back" motion of the car seat. This may help.

So I think doing this worked. Right now, if I put my hand on just the seat base and try to move it, there is very little movement. If I put my hand on the arm rest part of the seat it does move a little more. This is normal right?

 

[happiness-and-balance]

So I think doing this worked. Right now, if I put my hand on just the seat base and try to move it, there is very little movement. If I put my hand on the arm rest part of the seat it does move a little more. This is normal right?

The only place you need to check for movement is at the belt path. Grab it with the force of a firm handshake using your non-dominant hand. If it moves less than an inch side to side and front to back, you're golden.