split bench seat and center position

[fastdogs]

I have a 2001 pontiac aztek with a split bench seat in the rear. It's got latch at each outboard position, but none in the middle. I have my son in a touriva right now, passenger outboard, but would like to move him to the middle of the car for safety. Is it safe to put a seat over the split in the bench seats? The center position has a lap belt, with a shoulder part that can come down from the ceiling and attach to the lap belt. The lap belt adjusts by pulling the end of the strap. There's maybe 1/8" daylight between to the two halves of the bench seat.
vickie

 

[becca011906]

pull out your manual to the aztek and see what it has to say is where i would start!

 

[fastdogs]

thanks becca, I missed the simplest solution. The manual is pretty complete, and apparently it's fine to use the center position, using only the lap belt. There are no latch, but there is a top tether attachment for the center position as well as both outboard positions. I have another regent coming when they come back in stock, and wanted to put it in the middle.
vickie

 

[becca011906]

great! good luck with the install in the middle. you could use the outside latch to get it as tight as possible then use the seat belt to tighten it then un hook the latch straps and put them up if that helps with the install.

 

[Splash]

I LOVED my Aztek, but hated installing seats in the middle!

What I did was attach the two outboard anchors and get the seat as tight as humanly possible. Then buckle the lap belt (don't use the shoulder portion), get it as tight as I could, and release the anchors. This cut install from 30 minutes with two people to 5 minutes alone.

I could also fit three across with a Regent, which is pretty impressive.

 

[Victorious4]

I heeded Splash's advice on this a while ago in my friend's Aztec & it worked out just lovely!