How to Install a Car Seat Tether With an Anchor Bolt
Tether anchors, used to secure a child's car seat, have been installed in vehicles since 2000. Most vehicles manufactured from 1989 to 1999 (and some older models) can be retrofitted with tether anchors. The tether anchor or anchor point is in the vehicle. The top tether strap comes on the upper back of forward-facing car seats. Some rear-facing seats and belt-positioning boosters also have top tether straps. While the car seat is installed tightly through the seat belt path, using a tether will help prevent the forward movement of the top of the seat, reducing the potential for injury.
Things You'll Need
- Tether anchor kit
- Drill
- Screwdriver
- Wrench
- Sealant
Instructions
Installing Tether Anchors in Older Vehicles
Place the child safety seat into position within the back seat of a vehicle. Consider who else will be riding in the vehicle, the amount of space needed for the safety seat, whether the seat belt can be used to secure the seat in this position and ease of use. Buy the correct tether anchor hardware from the vehicle manufacturer. If not available, buy the generic tether anchor from the child safety seat's manufacturer. Read the installation instructions. Make sure you have all of the necessary parts and tools. Locate the anchor point in the vehicle by consulting the vehicle owner's manual. Remove any material to expose the anchor point. If there's no hole, drill one. Prior to drilling a hole, ensure there's nothing on the other side of the tether anchor point that could be damaged. Install anchor hardware following manufacturer's instructions. Seal the hole if it's outside of the vehicle. Installing the Car Seat using Tether Anchor
Thread the seat belt through the seat belt path of the forward-facing seat or thread and attach the two car seat lower anchor straps to the vehicle's lower anchors. If using lower anchors, review the vehicle and car seat owner's manuals to ensure appropriate seating position for car seat. Many vehicles don't allow the use of lower anchors in the middle seating position. Don't tighten the straps. Attach the top tether strap according to the instructions of the car seat manufacturer. There's a specific way to install the tether strap. Be sure the strap is flat from the car seat to the tether anchor, with no twists in it. Tighten the seat belt or lower anchor straps so the car seat does not move more than 1 inch in any direction. Lock the seat belt per instructions in the vehicle owner's manual. Push down on the seat at the same time as you tighten the seat belt or lower anchors. Tighten the top tether strap until it is taut, keeping the top of the seat secure. Grab the car seat with one hand at the seat belt path. Move the seat from side to side to check if it's tight. If it moves more than 1 inch in any direction, tighten the seat.