Omega Owners Forum
Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: webby23 on 16 June 2009, 22:06:43
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Hi Y'all
Bought our almost 3 yr old lad a new car seat yesterday, its a lovely Ferrari one (from Argos)
Just been in the back of our MV6 for the last hour trying to get the bloody thing secure, and I am still not happy with it.
The other seat, a Britax, felt nice and snug in there, nice and firmly fitted but with this new one I just cant seem to get it tight.
Our lad is just old enough for us to remove the 5 point harness and have it as a booster style seat with back and head support, in which case the 3 point belt just goes through some slots in the seat and thats that.
But it still feels loose !!!
Do you think I am doing something wrong ???
Is it normal for a seat like this to be a little loose and then lock up in the event of an accident as it should??
Is there anywhere I can go to have it fitted properly?? I tried Halfords already but they wont touch it as it isnt a seat purchased from them.......despite it being brand new!!!
Any advice, as always, greatly appreciated
Martyn
:y
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We also had probs fitting kids seats in the car. they seemed a little loose but if you give them a good yank they only came forward as far as the belt would let it.
as long as youve followed the destructions and tryed giving it a good yank then it should be ok.
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Soz, can't help, obviously.
But I do remember that better time before child seats, booster cushions and so on, not to mention all the other guff that parents are bullied into buying now...
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No I agree TB, I remember many a time when i was stood on the transmission tunnel of my Dads Marina between the 2 front seats......
What were my parents thinking.......!!!
lol
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Guessing you have
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/0984401/Trail/searchtext>CAR+SEAT.htm
we have something not dissimilar, does the belt just slip through some holes in the back with nothing to actually grip it?
If so, will never feel as solid as the other type that clamps onto the belt.
Clamp or not, its the seatbelt mech that would hold it in an accident anyway.
I think its ok, providing a snug fit on the seat.
Most the other retailers check them in your car before purchase to avoid it doesnt fit arguments.
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i used to sit on a cushion in a car with no belts when i was a kid, how times have changed!
i had a bmw 540 sport last year and the rear seats popped up as boosters. other omegas, you have to tug the belt, dont always feel secure but if the belt inertia stopper cuts in and seat holds, it should be fine
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It's a very long time now since we had need of car seats, but I used to find that in the Senator, Omegas being similar design, with two sculptured seats in the back, the frames would tend to lean towards the centre of the car. Lower spec cars, where the seat bases & backs were flat ie like my estate Astra, the kiddies seat would fit better. ;)
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Guessing you have
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/0984401/Trail/searchtext>CAR+SEAT.htm
we have something not dissimilar, does the belt just slip through some holes in the back with nothing to actually grip it?
If so, will never feel as solid as the other type that clamps onto the belt.
Clamp or not, its the seatbelt mech that would hold it in an accident anyway.
I think its ok, providing a snug fit on the seat.
Most the other retailers check them in your car before purchase to avoid it doesnt fit arguments.
Yes Jimbob, thats the one mate
:y
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In a crash there are three imapcts, or 'decelerations'
1- The vehicle hitting the thing you've crashed into(or the thing that's crashed into your vehicle)
2- You impacting the interior/airbag/seatbelt
3- Internal organs impacting your insides eg:Lungs hitting ribcage
If your childseat is not properly restained because of a loose seat that increases the forces of 2 and 3 by a factor of, well, alot. If I wanted to be pedantic, you're actually adding a 4th impact - the childseat 'snatching' against the car seatbelts; before the child impacts childseatbelts, then internal organs.
Any childseat should be tight against the car seat, to eliminate these forces, or atlest reduce them to a minimum.
I know I sound like a scaremonger, but these are just well-documented industry facts, you could contacts NCAP, or MIRA who would tell anyone the same. If the childseat isn't working for you, then it's try another seat. Halfords and Mothercare (i think) show you how/fit them for free.
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No I agree mate, thats not scaremongering thats the facts....
Annoying thing is that NO retailer we have tried (Halfords, Mothercare or Toys R Us) will touch the seat because they havent sold it, which I understand but its bloody annoying......!!!
>:(
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It intrigues me how hard to fit alot of seats are to fit 'webby' i did have a thought, perhaps some members with more experience of facelift Omegas could enlighten us...what about the feasibility of retro-fitting ISOfix?? I found a link to someone who's attempting such a thing on a BMW MINI, link below...
http://www.mini2.com/forum/interior-ice/135992-isofix-retrofit.html
Not sure if Omegas ever had ISOfix as an option, Vectra Cs did, Im sure...Food for thought, certainly.
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Well if I cant get it fitted its going back to Argos under their refund policy and i will go to Mothercare and get the job done properly with one of their seats.....
Our 3 yr old loves Ferraris though and adores his new seat already so it will be a shame to return it.....
:-?
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Just read that Mini2.com thread regarding retrofit of Isofix and to be honest its sounds dodgy as hell to me and I would not even for a second risk our Little One for that......but thanks anyway for the lead mate
:y
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Oh, absolutely. I'm not even for a second suggesting anything 'dodgy'.
In years gone by, of course, you'd have pre-drilled holes for rear seatbelts, and there was nothing 'iffy' about retro-fitting rear belts. But that was then, I mean, we had a Labour government and rising unemployment!
I don't think anyone wants to insult your intelligence by saying the words 'are you sure you're doing it properly' but is there anything you might have missed, accidentaly done something in the wrong sequence? It does sound like a design that places form very much over function, though.
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lol
Thanks for not insulting my intelligence or lack of......
:y
No mate, seriously I have followed the instruction manual to the word, but just cant get it tight.
With the 5 point strap removed it flops about with just the Omega seatbelt through it.
Found a place in Ilkeston that may be able to check and properly install it for me, failing that I am taking back and going Halfords.
:y
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Just a quick update
Found a relatively local baby store (StorkTalk in Ilkeston) that are happy to fit it professionally and give me advice and show me how to fit it again properly myself.
Only want £5 for doing it too.
:y
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Just a quick update
Found a relatively local baby store (StorkTalk in Ilkeston) that are happy to fit it professionally and give me advice and show me how to fit it again properly myself.
Only want £5 for doing it too.
:y
Good stuff mate, let us know how you get on :y
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Very glad to hear it!
Since this thread started most of my mates have been cursing the 'childseat industry' for their lack of professionalism in all of this. Halfords / mothercare / whoever are happy to keep their hands off an incorrectly fitted childseat, for liability issues. Apparently their consciences are clear knowing someone could be about to sit their kid in an unsafe seat. Mine wouldnt be.
Best fiver you've ever spent, i think, Mr. Webby!
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Well, we went up earlier this morning to get it fitted.
Took him literally 90 seconds, and it is rock solid tight now.
The secret it turns out was to get it as tight as possible then activate the inertia reel lock on the Omega seatbelt by giving it a sharp tug.
Brilliant service and highly professional service.
Thanks StorkTalk of Ilkeston
:y
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Good stuff :y
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I bet you feel like the Almighty has come down and told you the meaning of life.
"...and that's about it"
"Oooohhh, riiight, It's so simple, now I get it!! Thanks God!"
"No problemo, my son. Oh, and you'll trip over a loose bootlace in 24 years near a cliff edge, on a thursday, you might try wearing sandals instead that day, know what I mean?"
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lol
:y
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I was just getting round to saying what you have now found out, you have to be quite brutal to put most of them in safely ::) ::) ::)
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Agreed. All i can remember from years ago, when my dad was fitting seat in for my sister was much grunting and some rather new words to a 6-year old's ears ;D