Fraying rear seatbelt

[Eric91Z]

OK, those of you that have used rear facing, center car seats for infants or children up to 1 year of age (or so, depending on your state laws), have you had any problems with the edge of the seatbelt starting to fray a little?

Since I started my new job after the first of the year I have begun taking our 7 year old to day care in the mornings, so the base for the car seat has pretty much stayed put in the rear seat of the car. Now and then, especially on the weekends when the Marauder stays parked, I either unbuckle the belt or take the base out all together.

Well, last week I noticed that one edge of the seatbelt is starting to fray a little along where it rubs a little on the edge of the slot that the seatbelt goes through on the base mounting part for the car seat. Should it be doing this? It doesn't seem to be doing it in the wife's Ford Five Hundred and the base has been left mounted in there since the day we brought her home from teh hospital. And they are the same bases.

Now, I know the base in my car gets moved around a little more because of the leather seats. Not sure if that is contributing to that or not. Just wondering if this is something I can get replaced under warranty since seat belts usually have a lifetime (or longer warranty period) or if I am screwed since it is wear and tear that was put on there by the child seat? Shouldn't it be strong enough to handle that wear and tear without fraying like this? Isn't is a safety item that Ford should take care of? The car only has 17,600 miles on it, so it is still in factory warranty.

Any thoughts or input? Anyone else had this problem?

[fastblackmerc]

I think the factory should cover it under warranty since the owners manual says you can put infant/child car seats in the car. A fraying belt is a hazard....

[FlyinMerc]

Does your child safety seat have the L.A.T.CH. system? If it does, I suggest using it until you get the fraying problem straightened out. I have used rear facing seats secured by seatbelt in the center position in other vehicles with no problem. The seatbelt was a lap belt only however, and could be locked down tight with no seat movement. Some lap and shoulder belts need a locking clip just aft of the seat belt latch, not sure if the MM is one of those vehicles. As far slipping on the leather seats, I used a washable mat placed under the car seat to protect against spills, etc and it also helped with sliding movement on slippery leather.
-Kam

[Eric91Z]

I am using the clip that actually came with the child seat to lock the 3-point belt in place to help with slipping. And I, for the life of me, can not figure out how the LATCH system is supposed to connect and actually be of use.

I have looked at pictures, looked at Graco's website, and tried to attach it all and it does not seem to do much - unless I am going it completely wrong, which is possible. I only need this to get through another month or so until she goes to a forward facing Simpson child car seat with 5-point harness.

[FlyinMerc]

The LATCH system should consist of a webbed belt and hook on each side of the car seat. The hooks connect to hardened ring anchors located between, and down in, the seat cushions. My '04 MM has a small sticker near where the seat cushions meet showing the aproximate location of the anchors. Also, when looking where the seat cushions meet, you should notice a semi-circular cutout on the bottom of the rear seat back cushion, one on each side of the pleated area. Reach into the cutouts and feel around for the anchor point. The LATCH anchors in the MM are meant to be used in the outer seating positions, not the center. However, it is possible to use the center seating position and a LATCH hook in the nearest anchors on each side of the car seat. When you are ready to go front facing, the child car seat should have a tether strap near the top that connects to an anchor point on the rear parcel shelf, underneath a small plastic lid that opens to reveal the anchor point. Please wait until your child is approximately 30 lbs. before going front facing. Their little bodies cannot handle the stress of deceleration of the belts against their ribs/shoulders. Keep them rear facing as long as possible and keep the stress on the car seat and tethers/belts instead of on the child. A trick I learned a while back is to put my knee into the child seat to compress the seat cushion, then tighten the straps before releasing compression. This will help make the belts even tighter and reduce sliding/slippage. Check the owners manual, I believe there is a section covering child seating. I hope this helps and will be happy to assist further with your childs safety if needed.
Good Luck.
-Kam

[Eric91Z]

The LATCH system should consist of a webbed belt and hook on each side of the car seat. The hooks connect to hardened ring anchors located between, and down in, the seat cushions. My '04 MM has a small sticker near where the seat cushions meet showing the aproximate location of the anchors. Also, when looking where the seat cushions meet, you should notice a semi-circular cutout on the bottom of the rear seat back cushion, one on each side of the pleated area. Reach into the cutouts and feel around for the anchor point. The LATCH anchors in the MM are meant to be used in the outer seating positions, not the center. However, it is possible to use the center seating position and a LATCH hook in the nearest anchors on each side of the car seat. When you are ready to go front facing, the child car seat should have a tether strap near the top that connects to an anchor point on the rear parcel shelf, underneath a small plastic lid that opens to reveal the anchor point. Please wait until your child is approximately 30 lbs. before going front facing. Their little bodies cannot handle the stress of deceleration of the belts against their ribs/shoulders. Keep them rear facing as long as possible and keep the stress on the car seat and tethers/belts instead of on the child. A trick I learned a while back is to put my knee into the child seat to compress the seat cushion, then tighten the straps before releasing compression. This will help make the belts even tighter and reduce sliding/slippage. Check the owners manual, I believe there is a section covering child seating. I hope this helps and will be happy to assist further with your childs safety if needed.
Good Luck.
-Kam

Kam,

Thanks for the input. I guess that is where the confusion comes from since our rear facing base does not have those straps to work with the lower mount points. And I coldn't understand how hooking the rear facing base to the upper rear shelf mount could help that setup at all.

My little baby girl is 7 1/2 months and weighs just over 20 pounds. I was originally under the impression that the time to switch was right around 20 pounds, but the wife informed me this morning that the state law for Iowa is now rear facing until 1 year AND 20 pounds. So another 4 1/2 months, at least. I will need to figure out a couple things:

1) How to help keep the base from sliding around some on the leather (and I do push the base down when attaching the seatbelt - it is VERY tight).
2) "Soften" the corners of the base where the seatbelt is rubbing (tape or something similiar on the plastic)
3) Then a towel or something through there to help protect the seatbelt some more.

Lastly,

4) Get the car in and get the seatbelt replaced ASAP for safety sake

Thanks for the input, all.

[King Fubar]

a couple things:

1) How to help keep the base from sliding around some on the leather (and I do push the base down when attaching the seatbelt - it is VERY tight).
2) "Soften" the corners of the base where the seatbelt is rubbing (tape or something similiar on the plastic)
3) Then a towel or something through there to help protect the seatbelt some more.

Lastly,

4) Get the car in and get the seatbelt replaced ASAP for safety sake

Thanks for the input, all.

You can use a shelf liner in the back seat under the base, one of those rubberized web things. They stop the sliding.

As far as the belt fraying I would use a dremel or something to round that edge out a little.

[Eric91Z]

You can use a shelf liner in the back seat under the base, one of those rubberized web things. They stop the sliding.

As far as the belt fraying I would use a dremel or something to round that edge out a little.


We are going to try something like that. My wife has some of that rubber mesh stuff that she used under a cusion she made for our front bay window. I will try some of that down and then the base of the baby seat. Maybe go without the towel in there. I always had a towel between the seat and the base to try and help save the leather some. So, I will try those and get the Dremel out to work those corners a little.

[gpfarrell]

I've found these match the light-flint interior quite well:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00081L2R6/qid%3D1139257664/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/002-1142480-9510444

It also works great...I've had one for almost two years... and just bought a second about 2 weeks ago for our second son.

The Simpson seat comes with the LATCH system too. If you look around you might find the seat for substantially less than list price.

The Latch is frustrating at first, but now that I've figured it out I really prefer it over seatbelts. Basically, the main LATCH strap runs through the base of the car seat just as the seatbelt would. Feel around your seatbelt buckles and you'll find the "U" shaped anchor between the seat base and seat back. Click your strap on and cinch it as tight as you can... and your Latched. With the forward facing seats - like the Simpson - there's another strap that comes from the upper portion of child seat and can be fastened onto the mounts by the rear speakers... it just helps to tighten the whole thing up.

Good luck.

[Eric91Z]

Thanks for the input. Finally got home tonight and had the time to work with it a little. Ended up putting layers of Duct tape on the corners that are wearing the seatbelt. Help soften it a little there. Tought about taking the Dremel to it, but didn't want to take a chance of decreasing the effectiveness of the car seat or anything like that.

Then took the towel out and put down the rubbery mesh stuff we had to hold the pillow in the bay window of the house. Seems to hold the seat more firmly in place. And for $10 I think I will like in to the item posted above. That seems pretty cool. Will help protect the back of the seat from her feet, too, while she is facing backwards.

Now, on to the next question. I have always wanted the Simpson Child Seat (http://www.simpsonraceproducts.com/products/product_detail.aspx?cat_id=134&prod_id=1909&showFeatures=1). I thought it looked cool, has the neat 5-point harness, and, of course, the Simpson name. But after checking the site again, it does not look like it comes with the LATCH setup.

So, any of you proud parents out there have a recommendation on a nice forward facing car seat that is safe, looks good in the Marauder, and has the LATCH system? Any and all suggestions welcome. I figure mine as well use the latch system since both of our cars have the setup and it can help save the seatbelts.

Thanks for your time.

[gpfarrell]

"Meets or exceeds all applicable motor vehicle safety standards." = LATCH.

I actually have two of them... both have the LATCH goodies.

Btw, the $139 price looks good too... they were $179.

[Eric91Z]

"Meets or exceeds all applicable motor vehicle safety standards." = LATCH.

I actually have two of them... both have the LATCH goodies.

Btw, the $139 price looks good too... they were $179.

You would think for it to be legal for them to sell that it should have the LATCH setup since it is supposed to be on all car seats and cars newer than September 2002. I have sent an email off to them and will see what they say.

[Eric91Z]

Good news. I seem to be going blind...

Actually, I decided to call Simpson today to verify if their child seat is LATCH equiped or not. Especially since all child seats and cars since September 2002 should have that option. Well, while I was waiting on hold I was browsing the information on the website again for the child seat and there, in small print, it does say "Latch equipred for easy installation". Guess that car seat moves back up to #1 on my short list. And the price directly from Simpson seems to be the best I have found so far.