ISOFIX seat fixings
Can you tell me if ISOFIX child car seats are a standard fit on a 2006 Citroën C4? Does the actual base fit all cars or are they vehicle-specific? Jemma Meadows
It is thought that many child car seats that require securing by an adult seatbelt are incorrectly fitted. For this reason, the ISOFIX system was developed – using an inconspicuous fixing, ISOFIX seats should fit securely with a simple click, without having to thread seatbelt webbing around them. Although the distance between the fixings has been unified – 280mm centre to centre of fixings – the system is not universal and there are three variations. First, there are ‘vehicle-specific seats’, which are produced by the vehicle manufacturer and incorporate electronic sensing to prevent airbag inflation. The second type is ‘semi-universal approval’, which are only compatible with specific vehicles, but may require more than the two point fixings, such as a base prop or top tether. The third type is ‘universal approval’, which covers forward-facing group one child car seats – these usually fit most modern vehicles and require a top tether as well as the two ISOFIX fixings. To confirm if a particular seat will fit your vehicle you will need to check the seat manufacturer’s website for a listing of compatible vehicles. For instance, this website, https://bit.ly/2q34lvq, will tell you of vehicles compatible with the Maxi-cosy range of seats.
For the next stage of seats – group 2/3 – a system called ISOFIT is used, which anchors the base and uses the existing seatbelt to secure the child.
A few years ago, I had an experience with a Renault diesel van in which the engine melted a piston during the warranty period. The engine was duly replaced and, within ten months, the new engine had also melted a piston. When the vehicle was out of warranty and a third engine had failed, the vehicle came to us. We discovered that the ECU was faulty and causing one injector to fire at the wrong time. After fitting a new ECU, the replacement engine lasted for many years.
In conclusion, I would ensure that the main dealer thoroughly checks the ECU as well as the injectors.