Honda Car Forum

I just purchased a 2000 Acura TL and I'm trying to install my child's car seat, but the back seat does not fold down and the seat is still loose even with the seatbell strapped. Is there any way to keep it in place without having it move around alot in this particular car? I did not have this problem in my Celica as it had hooks behind the seat. Please help!!!

Are you locking the seatbelt? The seatbelt should lock at either the latchplate (the part you click in to the buckle) or at the retractor (the part the seatbelt feeds back into).































To check if it locks at the retractor:















pull the belt out all the way















Now slowly feed the belt back in a couple feet















Listen for a ratcheting sound















Now try to pull the belt back out again.































If you heard ratcheting and the seat belt does not come back out, you have a locking retractor. To release the lock on it, feed it all the way back in. When securing your child restraint, pull the belt all the way out to lock it. Push down on the car seat and tighten the belt just like you did when using the lower anchors and slowly feed the belt back into the retractor.































If the belt did not lock, then your latchplate should. To test the latchplate, it is easiest to buckle yourself into the seat and tighten it properly on your lap. Then grab the lap belt and pull up. Can you loosen the belt easily, or does it hold? If it holds, you probably have a locking latchplate.































In theory, this will automatically 'catch' and lock the seatbelt, but with the angle of the belt going into the car seat, it doesn't always happen. One thing you can do is get it tight and while holding it in place, unbuckle it, flip it over and then buckle it back in. This will change the angle of the belts and should lock it.































If you can't get the locking retractor to hold the seat in place well, you might have to use a locking clip. I don't want this to get too long, so if you need to do that, there should be instructions in your car seat manual. (or you can message me and I"ll send you instructions or you can look for a tech near you)































If you still can't get a good install, I would recommend seeing a car seat tech to help you. I actually recommend getting your seat checked anyway as 9 out of 10 are not installed correctly. You can go to www.seatcheck.org to find an inspection station or go to https://ssl13.cyzap.net/dzapps/dbzap...AFEKIDSCERTSQL and search for a tech near you.































I hope this answered your question and I hope you're able to get your car seat in properly!

I'm assuming your Celica had the LATCH system from your discription. Some people find that much easier to use.































But your 2000 models didn't have them. You have to lock the seatbelt. After buckling the car seat in you'll pull the seat belt ALL the way out, then slowly let it back in. Usually there is a faint clicking sound as it is retracting, meaning it is also locking. If you do not hear this when you finish letting the seat belt in pull on the child seat if it moves a lot them you do not have a seat belt that locks at the retractor. If it did lock your now going to put all your weight into the seat and pull on the shoulder belt to toghten it, make sure the seat moves less than 1in.































If it did not lock then check the latch plate. I'm not sure how they work without looking at one, I've only used a seat belt like that once. I would read your manual, it will tell you how to lock that one.































If it does not lock either way you can use a locking clip until you can get the seat belt fixed as it should lock one way or another. To install the locking clip you'll want to buckle the seat in, nice and tight. Then place the locking clip about 1 in from where you buckle it up. It may take a few tried to get it just right so there is little movement.































If your using a lap only belt you'll want to make sure after buckling the seat in you pull the seat belt very tight, it should lock automaticlly. And I have been told you are not allowed to use a locking clip on a lap only belt.































Since it sounds like you are having so many problems I would recommend you take it to a tech to have it installed and to have them show you how to do it right. Check out the Safe Kid's website: safekids.org (I believe that is right)