Having trouble tightening your radian? See if this is the problem!

[myfairbabies]

After 6 months and several installs, I suddenly couldn't tighten the harness straps enough after the latest install for my Radian R120. I'd never had this problem, so I knew something was wrong. Before I posted asking for help, I tried re-installing it and figured out the problem! In case anyone is having a lot of problems with this, check it out! I looked where the latch strap goes through the car seat (rear facing) and discovered this-

It should look like this (but not twisted)-

That's the base of the harness strap wrapped around the latch strap, and it's what was keeping mine from tightening. When dd was not in the seat, I would tighten it but it was still not easy. I wonder if a lot of other people are having this problem. Hope it helps someone!

Edited by myfairbabies - 3/5/13 at 1:00pm

[brigala]

Wow! Thanks for sharing!

That could potentially be a serious safety problem, too.

Have you contacted Diono about it? They might want to see those pictures. I wonder whether there's a way that can be prevented. 

[myfairbabies]

Yes, I thought the same thing about safety, scary! I read about so many people having trouble getting the straps tight around their dc but that has never been my experience, I always wondered why the difference. Now I wonder if this is why.