Combi Victoria 8850, Victoria 8850 Series Instruction Manual

Victoria™8850 Series

Instruction Manual

Victoria

™

Convertible Car Seat

Correct installation and use can be
a matter of Life or Death! Read and

understand these instructions before

using this car seat.

• Certified for use in motor vehicles and
aircraft.

• Meets or exceeds all applicable
requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standard 213.

Para instrucciones en Español,

llamar al: 1-800-992-6624.

WARNING

5 to 40 lbs.

(2.3 to 18 kg)

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Combi USA • 1962 Hwy 160 West, Suite 100 • Fort Mill, SC 29708 •

Customer Service Telephone [phone] • Se Habla Español 1-803-548-6633 •

Fax [phone] • www.combi-intl.com •

10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time • Monday - Friday

© 2004 Combi USA 8850B-06/04 (EN)

Keep this instruction manual for future use.

Store instruction manual in harness

shield on back of seat.

PRESS

1

Section 1 - Table of Contents

Section 1. Table of Contents....................................1

Section 2. Warnings..............................................

2

Section 3. Proper Use Check List............................3

Section 4. Victoria™ Car Seat Parts.........................4

Section 5. Use Recommendations...........................5

Section 6. Selecting A Vehicle Seating Location......

7

Section 7. LATCH System.......................................

9

Section 8. Rear-facing Installation

8a. Rear-facing Set-Up

And Adjustment....................................10

8b. Rear-facing Installation

With LATCH..........................................11

8c. Rear-facing Installation

With Vehicle Seat Belt...........................

14

Section 9. Forward-facing Installation

9a. Forward-facing Set-Up

And Adjustment....................................

16

9b. Forward-facing Installation

With LATCH..........................................

17

9c. Forward-facing Installation

With Vehicle Seat Belt...........................

21

Section 10. Securing Child In Car Seat....................

24

Section 11. Operation and Adjustments

11a. Harness Use and Adjustment............26

11b. Changing Shoulder Harness

Positions............................................27

11c. Infant Insert........................................31

11d. Recline Position Adjustment..............

31

Section 12. Vehicle Seat Belts.................................

32

Section 13. Rear-facing Belt Lock-off......................

35

Section 14. Additional Information

•Certification...................................

36

• Aircraft Use...................................

36

•Warm Weather..............................

36

•Vehicle Seat Protection.................

36

• Car Seat Useful Life......................36

• Instructions Manual Storage.........36

Section 15. Care and Cleaning................................

36

Section 16. Registration Information.......................37

Section 17. Re-Use After A Crash............................37

Section 18. Limited Warranty...................................

38

Keep this instruction manual for future use.

Store instruction manual in harness shield on back of seat.

Section 2 - Warnings

• Failure to follow these instructions and car seat
labels can result in injury or death to a child from
striking the vehicle’s interior during a sudden stop
or crash.

• Use only in a rear-facing position when using this
car seat with an infant less than one year old and
weighing less than 20 pounds (9 kg).

• Use only with children who weigh between 5 and
40 pounds (2.3 and 18 kg) and whose height is
between 19 and 40 inches (48 and 102 cm).

• Discontinue use when child’s weight exceeds
40 pounds (18 kg) or shoulders are above the top
shoulder belt slots.

• Snugly adjust harness provided with the car seat
around child.

• Harness covers MUST be used when
forward-facing.

• For proper harness fit:

- Infant insert must be used with small infants.

- Shoulder belts MUST be through shoulder belt
slots in infant insert.

- Discontinue use of the infant insert when
shoulder belts become too short to fit infant.

•To prevent loose harness and risk of ejection,
harness shield must be in place during use.

WARNING

DEATH or SERIOUS INJURY can occur

• Secure this child restraint with the vehicle’s LATCH
System if available or with a vehicle seat belt as
shown in this manual.

•LATCH System or vehicle seat belt MUST stay
tightly adjusted around car seat at all times.

• Secure the top anchor strap provided with this child
restraint as specified in this instruction manual.

• Securely belt this car seat in vehicle, even when not
occupied. An unsecured car seat can injure other
occupants in a crash.

• Never leave child unattended, even when sleeping.

• Strangulation Hazard: Child can strangle in loose
harness straps. Never leave child in car seat when
straps are loose or undone.

•DONOT use accessories or parts other than those
provided by Combi USA or Strolee. Use of
accessories or parts from other manufacturers
could alter the performance of the car seat.

•DONOT allow any re-use of this car seat after a
crash unless crash and car seat meet ALL
conditions in “Re-use After A Crash” section of this
manual.

•DONOT use this car seat if it is damaged, missing
instructions, or missing parts.

• Register your child restraint with the manufacturer.

2

•

Proper use is required. Read and understand
instructions and car seat labels.

•

Securely install car seat with LATCH System or
vehicle seat belt and top tether strap.

•

Snugly adjust harness around child.

•

Harness covers MUST be used when forward-facing.

•

Infants less than one year old and 20 lbs. (9 kg)
must use car seat rear-facing.

•

Do not use car seat rear-facing in vehicle front
seating location with an air bag.

•

Secure children in back seat whenever possible.

•

Never leave child unattended.

•

Do not allow anyone (babysitter, relatives, etc.) to
use car seat without first reading and understanding
all instructions and car seat labels.

3

Need help installing your infant car seat?

Contact one of the following sources to locate a child
safety seat inspection station in your area:

•Your vehicle dealer.

• Call 1-866-SEAT CHECK (1-866-732-8243).

•Visit www.nhtsa.dot.gov and select “Child Seat
Inspections”.

•Visit www.seatcheck.org.

• Contact a certified child passenger safety technician
in your area. To locate a certified “Child Passenger
Safety” Technician in your area visit
www.nhtsa.dot.gov and select “Child Passenger
Safety” and then select “Technician Contact Locator”.

Section 3 - Proper Use Check List

Proper Use Is Required:

No car seat can guarantee protection from injury in every situation, but proper use helps reduce the risk of
serious injury or death.

4

Section 4 - Victoria™Car Seat Parts

Chest Clip

Buckle Tongues

Harness
Adjuster

Lever

Crotch

Strap

with

Buckle

Harness

Adjuster

Strap

Shoulder Harness

Recline Lever

(Red handle under

front of seat)

Harness Cover

Infant Insert

Forward-facing

Shoulder Belt Lock-off

Rear-facing

Belt Path

Forward-facing

Belt Path

Top

Tether

Strap

Top Tether

Hook

LATCH

Lower

Anchor

Belt and

Connector

LATCH

Connector

Storage

Seat Pad

Tummy Pad

Rear-facing

Belt Lock-off

Base

Harness Shield

(Secured To

Back Of Seat)

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Instruction

Manual

(Store In

Harness Shield)

Rear-facing

Belt Lock-off

Seat

Seat Pad

Rear-facing

Belt Lock-off

Storage

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5

Section 5 - Use Recommendations

Height and Weight Limits:

This child restraint is designed for use only by children whose:

-Weight is between 5 and 40 pounds (2.3 and 18 kg) and,

- Height is between 19 and 40 inches (48 and 102 cm).

Infants With Special Needs

A preterm infant or low birth weight infant may be at special risk traveling reclined in a vehicle or aircraft. According to the
American Academy of Pediatrics, these infants may be at increased risk of suffering breathing or other difficulties if
improperly reclined or positioned in a car seat.

Have your physician or hospital staff evaluate your infant in this car seat before you and your infant leave the hospital. If
your infant is not able to travel in a reclined position, DO NOT use this car seat. Use a car bed for your infant.

• Children less than one year old and 20 lbs. (9 kg) must use this car seat rear-facing. Serious crippling injury
or death can result if infant faces front of vehicle.

WARNING

DEATH or SERIOUS INJURY can occur

6

Rear-facing Use: 5 to 30 lbs. (2.3 to 13.6 kg)

• Infants less than one year old and 20 lbs. (9 kg) MUST be rear-facing.

• Infants or toddlers 20 to 30 lbs. (9 to 13.6 kg) may be rear-facing.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends keeping children over 1 year of age rear-facing as long as possible.

IMPORTANT: This car seat is certified for use rear-facing with children up to 30 lbs. (13.6 kg). However, some children
approaching 30 lbs. (13.6 kg) may be too tall to fit comfortably rear-facing. When child can no longer comfortably fit and
knees remain bent, child can use car seat forward-facing only if child is over one year old and 20 lbs. (9 kg) and can sit
upright unassisted.

Forward-facing Use: 20 to 40 lbs. (9 to 18 kg)

•Toddlers 20 to 30 lbs. (9 to 13.6 kg), over one year of age, and who are capable of sitting upright unassisted may be
forward-facing. If unable to sit unassisted, use rear-facing.

•Toddlers 30 to 40 lbs. (13.6 to 18 kg) and up to 40 inches (102 cm) tall MUST be forward-facing.

Rear-facing Use

40 lbs.

(18 kg)

5 lbs.

(2.3 kg)

30 lbs.

(13.6 kg)

20 lbs.

(9 kg)

Forward-facing Use

One Year or Older

40 lbs.

(18 kg)

5 lbs.

(2.3 kg)

30 lbs.

(13.6 kg)

20 lbs.

(9 kg)

• Harness covers MUST be used when forward-facing.

•To avoid injuries from whiplash, top of child’s ears must be below top edge of car seat.

• Child’s shoulders MUST not be above top harness slots.

WARNING

DEATH or SERIOUS INJURY can occur

7

Section 6 - Selecting A Vehicle Seating Location

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) alerts vehicle owners that according to accident statistics,
children up to age 12 are safer when properly restrained in the rear seating positions rather than the front seating
positions.

Refer to vehicle owner’s manual for car seat installation instructions for your vehicle.

- Use car seat in a rear vehicle seat location whenever possible.

- Never use a car seat in a front seat location unless recommended by vehicle owner’s manual.

- For vehicles with air bags, always follow child restraint installation information

provided in vehicle owner’s manual.
DO NOT use car seat rear-facing on front seat with an air bag.
For a toddler over one year old and forward-facing, if a vehicle front seat location

with an air bag must be used, follow the vehicle manufacturer’s instructions for

child restraint use and move the vehicle seat back as far as possible.
Vehicle seats:
DO NOT use this Car Seat on the following types of vehicle seats:

1

2

Seats Which Face

Sides Of Vehicle

Seats Which Face

Rear Of Vehicle

•DONOT use this child restraint rear-facing in a vehicle front seating location with an air bag. Child’s head
and neck may be seriously injured when an inflating air bag hits back of child restraint.

• Never put a car seat in a vehicle front seating location unless recommended by vehicle owner’s manual.

WARNING

DEATH or SERIOUS INJURY can occur

3

Options For Securing

A Car Seat:

This car seat can be secured to a vehicle using the new LATCH System or a vehicle seat belt.

1. LATCH System:

LATCH stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren.

Starting with model year 2003 vehicles are equipped with LATCH Systems. See “LATCH System”
section for more information. Check vehicle owner’s manual to determine if your vehicle has the
LATCH System that may be identified with the symbol in fig. c.

Some vehicle owner’s manuals may identify the LATCH System as “ISOFIX”. An ISOFIX System
can be used in the same way as the LATCH System.

If your vehicle has the LATCH System, the LATCH System should be used whenever possible.

2. V

ehicle Seat Belt and Top Tether Strap:

If your vehicle does not have the LATCH System, the car seat MUST be secured to the vehicle using
a vehicle seat belt and top tether strap as required.

Check vehicle owner’s manual for seating locations recommended for car seat use and location
of top tether anchorages.

T

op Tether Information:

If a top tether anchor is not available in your vehicle, the car seat MUST be secured with only the
vehicle seat belt until a top tether anchor can be installed. For those passenger vehicles or buses
where top tether anchors are not available, the car seat may be used without the top tether
provided a secure installation can be achieved.

NOTE:Top tether is NOT used in the rear-facing position.

When not in use, store top tether and LATCH lower anchor belt by snapping onto back of
base (fig. d).

(fig. c)

8

(fig. d)

NO coloque el asiento infantil para el automóvil orientado hacia
atrás en el asiento delantero del vehículo que tenga una bolsa
neumática de seguridad. El niño podría MORIR O SUFRIR
LESIONES GRAVES. El asiento trasero es el lugar más seguro
para los niños de 12 años o menores.

DO NOT place rear-facing child seat
on front seat with air bag. DEATH OR
SERIOUS INJURY can occur.

The back seat is the safest place for
children 12 and under.

WARNING

9

Section 7 - LATCH System

(fig. b)

(fig. a)

2

3

2

1

LATCH System On This Car Seat:

The LATCH System on the Victoria Car Seat consists of a lower anchor belt with lower
anchor connectors and for forward-facing use, a top tether strap with tether hook (fig. a).

Rear-facing car seat installation typically uses only the lower anchor belt with lower anchor
connectors (fig. b), no top tether.

Securing Car Seat To Vehicle:

The lower anchor connectors and top tether hook on the car seat connect to the LATCH
System in a vehicle.

LATCH

System In Vehicles:

Child restraint anchorage system or LATCH System in the vehicle consists of two lower
anchors located at the vehicle seat bight and a top tether anchor (fig. c). Refer
to vehicle owner’s manual for seating locations which have the LATCH System.

Lower anchors may not be visible in some vehicles. Lower anchors that are not visible are
located below a solid color round dot on the vehicle upholstery or a round dot with a picture
of a car seat in the center as shown in fig. d.

The vehicle manufacturer may provide funnel guides to separate the vehicle seat
cushions providing easier access to the lower anchorage. See vehicle owner’s manual.

2

2

3

1

2

1

3

1

(fig. c)

6

(fig. d)

4

5 6

4

5

10

•DONOT use this car seat rear-facing in a vehicle front seating location with an air bag.

•LATCH or vehicle seat belt MUST be routed though rear-facing belt path when using car seat rear-facing.

• Rear-facing car seat must be properly reclined:

-Too reclined can result in injury or ejection.

-Too upright can result in breathing difficulties.

• For proper harness fit:

- Infant insert must be used with small infants.

- Shoulder belts MUST be through shoulder belt slots in infant insert.

- Discontinue use of the infant insert when shoulder belts become too short to fit infant.

WARNING

DEATH or SERIOUS INJURY can occur

Section 8 - Rear-facing Installation

8a. Rear-facing Set-Up And Adjustment

Rear-facing For Use 5 to 30 Pounds (2.3 to 13.6 kg)

The Victoria Car Seat is color coded to identify adjustment positions and vehicle belt path locations for both rear-facing
and forward-facing use. Rear-facing adjustments and vehicle belt path are color coded with blue. Forward-facing
adjustments and vehicle belt path are color coded with red.

1. Infants less than one year old and 20 lbs. (9 kg) MUST be rear-facing.

2. Adjust the seat recline into rear-facing, full recline position #1. To change recline position,

see “Recline Position Adjustment” section.
NOTE: Use only recline position #1 for rear-facing.

3. Shoulder harness position:

a. For rear-facing, shoulder harness MUST be through slots at or below the shoulders of the

infant.

b. Use only the middle and lowest sets of harness strap slots rear-facing (fig. a).

To change shoulder harness slots, see”Changing Harness Position” section.

4. Infant insert must be used for small infants. To install infant insert, see “Infant Insert”

section.

(fig. a)

Middle Harness

Strap Slots

Lowest Harness

Strap Slots