Is this normal for middle seat buckle to be this long? Trying to install car seat

i don't know but to me it looks broken

 

That's not normal, I would try to find a replacement buckle.

 

The Radians also come with the other clips? I always call them cig lighters, forget what they're actually called.

They're the PREFERRED connection method. Feel in between seat and backrest, for strategically located u-bolts, that those snap onto. There's ideally a little button on seatback to show their location.

When cinching the seat down, put a knee in the seat and put all your weight on it, get it as tight as possible.

Not seeing buttons in your pic, but check.

 

Go see the Dealership if it's broke. Look it up...Toyota has a Lifetime Warranty on seat-belts.

 

Perhaps the middle position is not designed for a child safety seat. What advice does the manual give?

 

Yeah you're right.



I'm pretty sure we had three Radians in there (for grandkids), at least once or twice, and I seem to recall using only the "LATCH" (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren). I had a look at ours and yes, there's only U-bar latch points at the two outside seats. BUT: they're quite wide, about 1.5 inch, and I believe what I did was double up on the inside ones, use the LATCH connectors from two seats.

 

Toyota doesn't recommend using LATCH in the center position. Most manufacturers don't as well. The anchors are spread farther out if used in the middle than if used on the sides. This decreases the strength of belts attached to anchors in the middle seat. I use the middle seat belt for the middle position. Only use the middle anchors if there is a dedicated pair of LATCH anchors for the middle position.

I suspect the middle seat belt got misrouted underneath the rear bench seat. Seat belts are one of the toughest components in a car. While possible, it's unlikely to be faulty.

 

I was thinking that too. I went out and measured, the centre-to-centre dimensions are 11", 16", 11". Still, in practice using LATCH for three abreast Radian seats (they are quite narrow), the angle of the centre seat straps didn't seem too splayed out.

You're right, but still: it was solid as heck (technical engineering term, lol). Especially if you put your knee and all your weight on the seat while cinching the slack out of the LATCH strap.

 

I doubt the difference will make-a-lick-of-a-difference (also an engineering team) considering the mass of a toddler and the car seat. I really think it's just a CYA exercise for the lawyers. I use three seats abreast with a Diono Radian in the middle. Since you can't double up on a LATCH anchor, the only way is to use the middle seatbelt for the center position and LATCH on the sides.