How do I use the latch system for my convertible baby seat? I have the car seat in, but don't have a owners manuel that tells me how to use it.

if you have a vert .. you font have those latch system hooks ,,,

Your car will only have the LATCH hooks if it's a 2003 or newer. There should be a special strap included with the seat for this application. The hooks are kind of buried in the crease where the back of the seat meets the bottom.

If you don't have the manual for the child seat, you should call the manufacturer and get one. Most seats have some instructions included right on them - but if not, you shouldn't guess. You'll probably have to use the top tether hook as well. I didn't have the luxury of the LATCH system in the car when my kids were little - and belting in some of those seats was a PITA! I'm just glad I've only got one still using a booster seat, and that's not for too much longer either.

You might even be able to download the seat instructions from the manufacturer if necessary - worth checking. Most aren't actually all that bad once you've done it a couple of times. Don't mind the indents the seat leaves in the seat of your car either - they do eventually come back out when you're done with the child seat - although it may take a couple of months of warm weather.
John

I was actually talking about the top hook thing for the rear. I have the car seat in, but the belt doesn't stay tight like in my old car and my wifes.

How does the top hook thing work?

On any seat I had, I would belt the seat into the car first - using one knee on the seat to press it in as tightly as possible while buckling it up. At that point it SHOULD stay tight - if not, you can get a clip that you install onto the belt near where the buckle is, that will prevent it from loosening. Most seats sold here come with this clip as an accessory - often clipped into the back of the seat. The shoulder belt will always stay "loose" at this point - because it's the lap portion that's actually holding the seat in. My car didn't seem to need the extra clip, but earlier years could be different.

Once it's belted in securely, take the top tether strap and lengthen it so that you can easily connect it to the car. Once connected, simply adjust it so that it's tight, and you should be done. The top tether just keeps the upper part of the seat from moving. They're required here in Ontario by law for all forward facing seats up until they're over 40 pounds. At least my car came with those hooks installed from the factory.

Hope this helps.
John

Brandon Hunt wrote:How do I use the latch system for my convertible baby seat? I have the car seat in, but don't have a owners manuel that tells me how to use it.

some seats have a strap built into the back of the seat with a metal snap hook on the end, some dont have one built in but have a hole through the top head rest you can get one to put through the hole and connect to the rear deck tether like the pic below


I have a 98 cav that didnt come with a top tether installed so when i removed the third breaklite from the rear deck I got one from the junkyard and installed that .

I found when i put the car seat in after that it was easier to latch the top tether first then the center seatbelt while kneeling on the child seat itself,after that thing wont budge..