You're welcome Markus! Glad that seemed to work for you. I know car seats
can be a pain sometimes! It was fun when we had 3 at the same time. ;-)

~Annie

On Sun, Feb 14, 2010 at 6:20 PM, Markus Benne <mbenne@m-bass.com> wrote:

> Thanks Annie!
>
> Using the instructions you supplied on the use of the I-clip for seatbelt
> shortening
> as inspiration, I was able to shorten the length of the female part of the
> seatbelt.
>
> Unfortunately not as short as those instruction (I was missing about 3mm
> of length in order complete maneuver 4; I might be able to stretch the
> belt overnight) but in step 2, instead of feeding it through again, I
> just looped it over the ends as is done in step 4.
>
> That took over 2" out of the length and that is enough to tighten the
> belt securely.
>
> Upshot is nothing cut or relocated or fabricated, although I think all
> of those done properly would have been ok too.
>
> Thanks a lot!
>
> ...Markus (and Emma)
>
> Annie wrote:
>
>> Here are instructions on using the I clip as a belt shortener:
>>
>> *To use a belt-shortening clip*
>> First, push the vehicle seat all the way back on it's track if possible.
>> Apply weight to the child safety seat, buckle the belt and pull the
>> webbing all the way out of the retractor
>> Make a loop of ALL the excess belt, and either hold it tightly or mark
>> the loop to know where the belt-shortening clip should go.
>>
>>   1. Unbuckle the belt and thread the loop up through the bottom of
>>      one side of the clip, then down over the other side.
>>   2. Double-back the loop over the second set of "arms" on the clip.
>>   3. Place the *inside* webbing of the loop back in the first side of
>>      the clip.
>>   4. Pull the *inside* (underneath) webbing tight.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Place the clip anywhere on the belt so that it lies flat, is not close
>> to the child's face or body, and is convenient for the belt path and
>> easy for the installer to install.
>> Rebuckle the belt and test the child safety seat to be sure it's
>> tight. If not, repeat steps 2-6.
>> For the tightest fit, move the vehicle seat forward on it's track.
>>
>> ~Annie
>>
>> On Sun, Feb 14, 2010 at 11:09 AM, Markus Benne <mbenne@m-bass.com
>> <mailto:mbenne@m-bass.com>> wrote:
>>
>>    Hi,
>>
>>    Sorry, the issue is kind of hard to describe.
>>
>>    Yeah, the male part can be tightened no problem, but that does not
>>    change the location of the buckle and that is what interferes with a
>>    corner on the car seat.  The buckle is in exactly the wrong spot.  A
>>    shorter strap on the female side would help.  Most modern cars
>>    have the
>>    buckle right near the base of the seat where the seat base meats the
>>    backrest.  The bus has the buckle about 4" past the seat base/backrest
>>    location.
>>
>>    Annie, I think the I-piece is to keep the shoulder strap in a fixed
>>    position to the lap belt, but in the rear of the car, there is only a
>>    lap belt so I don't think the part would help (happy to be wrong
>>    though).
>>
>>    I'm thinking of having a bracket made that would relocate the female
>>    section down a couple inches where it fastens to the body of the bus.
>>    It would be cheaper than a new car seat.
>>
>>    Thanks for hints so far.
>>
>>    ...Markus
>>
>>    Bob Stevens wrote:
>>
>>        I may not be getting the full picture, or even getting the
>>        picture at
>>        all, but ....
>>        does the male-belt strap have any adjustment to it so you can just
>>        tighten or
>>        loosen to suit your needs?
>>
>>        bob
>>
>>        On Sun, Feb 14, 2010 at 11:42 AM, Markus Benne
>>        <mbenne@m-bass.com <mailto:mbenne@m-bass.com>
>>        <mailto:mbenne@m-bass.com <mailto:mbenne@m-bass.com>>> wrote:
>>
>>           Hi,
>>
>>           I'm having a problem installing the baby seat.
>>
>>           The buckle is at a very awkward location relative to the baby
>>           seat.  The
>>           problem (really my poor choice of seat, I guess) is that
>>        the Vanagon
>>           buckle is about 10" long and extends past the seat a long
>>        way.  By
>>           buckle I mean the female part of the seat belt with the
>>        push button
>>           clasp.  I guess I could look at a generic.
>>
>>           Does anyone know where I can get a shorter buckle (6" or
>>        8") that
>>           would
>>           work with the vw parts?
>>
>>           Any other ideas?
>>
>>           I'm using the gowesty tether which appears to be pretty good.
>>
>>
>>           Thanks,
>>           ...Markus
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>