MaxiCosi Pearl - straps tightening unevenly.

[fruitybread]

Does anyone have this problem? It happens with my Pearl and my mother's Pearl, so I'm thinking it has to be us, not the chair....

You know how you can only tighten both the straps by pulling on the front 'tightening' strap after they've been clipped in? (i.e you can't adjust the straps individually).

Well, one strap is always a lot looser than the other, after they've been tightened. If I keep on pulling at the single tightening strap, the strap that fits snugly then gets too tight. And I mean a lot tighter, there's enough difference between the straps that to get the loose strap safely tight, the other one is MUCH too tight - pulling DS's shoulder on one side downwards, and making him very uncomfortable and lopsided.

Atm, I am basically driving with one strap too loose. Which obviously isn't safe.

It's very frustrating. I have tried pulling one strap out more than the other to start with. Doesn't work as the looser one tightens first. Which would be fine, if they evened out, but they don't, I still get one longer than the other.

The chair seems to work okay on the floor in the house, without DS in it. (DS is not noticeably lopsided, before you ask!). But once he's in the seat, even if he's sitting nice and still and as symmetrical as I can get him - one strap is tight over his shoulder and leg while the other, I can slip 2 fingers underneath it. And frankly, if he really tries, DS can get his arm out from underneath it. Not safe at all.

I'd bloody love to be able to adjust these straps individually, but I can't, it's just that one sodding tightening strap for both of them. Can anyone help please?

TIA

[bellap1981]

Hi there, did you ever get an answer to this as to why the pearl does this? I'm having the same problem.
Thanks

[fledermaus]

Can you not just pull the tighter strap to even them out?

[kitkatsfordinner]

Did anyone ever get an answer to this? I have the same problem with mine. I've had it for several years and it is really driving me nuts. Also I don't think I have particularly thin children but I can never really get it tight. I can't find anyone reporting this problem anywhere - I can find nothing but good reviews of this chair, but I think I'm going to shell out to buy a new one because I can't sort it out...

[smudge44]

Many years since this thread was last open but I'm having the same issue with my Maxi Cosi 2-way Pearl. Has anyone ever found a solution to this problem?

[BertieBotts]

Usually what causes this is that the yoke, which is the metal part where the harnesses are connected at the back is getting caught on something inside the seat, causing one side to reach max tightness while the other is loose. You can't easily get to the yoke to free it in these no-rethread seats though.

If you have a look at this video from around 1 minute onwards, you can see what I mean by a yoke which connects the harness. In the Maxi Cosi 2 Way Pearl this is inside the seat itself and you can't see it, but it can help to have a visual.

What you should try first is completely loosening the harness all the way so that the straps are very long. Then completely tighten it so that they are very short. Then pull them out long again and check if they are still different lengths. This usually dislodges a stuck yoke and makes them even lengths again.

If the above trick does not work, what I would suggest is bring the seat unit inside the house and turn it upside down and jiggle it around, to see if you can dislodge the yoke from where it's stuck. You should then be able to use the lengthening and tightening trick to make both sides the same length again.

If you're continuing to struggle I would recommend contacting Maxi Cosi, it won't be safe to use the seat with one side of it being slack.

If the straps are not visibly different lengths when you're pulling them out, but they are different lengths on the child, check that the child is sitting centrally in the seat and not lopsided. Don't be afraid to reach your hands under their bum and re-centre them. Make sure in addition you're pulling the slack out from the hip straps first, so start with the straps loose, do up the buckle, then hold the straps just above the buckle with one hand and pull those up to collect all the slack from the hips, before you pull the long tightening strap at the bottom. This should ensure an even tightness all around. When reaching into the car from the side to tighten the seat or place the child, you can find that it's difficult to ensure everything is done centrally but it's important to do this to keep everything lined up.

[smudge44]

Thanks @BertieBotts for all that really useful information. I suspect the yoke cause is likely, as after watching the video linked above I can imagine the yoke just catching on one side, giving a cm or two less flex on one side. I have tried the pulling the staps all the way and tightening but I still think there is a slight difference between the two straps. When tightening up, everything seems fine and central till the very last moment, at which point the straps then have the difference in tightness. I've had the seat a few years as its been used with both my son (4) and now my 11 month old, but I'll drop MaxiCosi a message and see what the say.