testing a used car seat for safety?

[jetstar]

We have an old car seat from 2009 that we used with DC1. DC2 is due in June and I am wondering whether we could re-use it. It is a Britax one which fits with a travel system ie. we have a buggy base that it fits onto. It would be really handy to re-use it as we don't want to buy a whole new travel system but I remember it being really handy to jusy clip the car seat out of the car and onto the buggy frame.
Does anyone know of somewhere we could take it to have it tested to see if it is still safe to use? My DP says that anywhere might just try to persuade us to buy a new one from them anyway!! The car seat wasn't involved in any accidents while we had it but it was once manhandled on an aeroplane
TIA

[thisisyesterday]

no, the only way you could test the safety of a seat would be to crash test it, which would then render it unusable

as long as you were careful with it, it hasn't been in any accidents and it hasn't been exposed to extremes of temperature (ie kept out in a shed, or in the attic) then it should be ok.
it will probably have an expiry date on it somewhere (often on the back/base- possibly under the cover or under a flap) but I'm pretty sure Britax seats last for over 8 years or so, so you ought to be ok

[jetstar]

Ooh thanks for that thisisyesterday will find out where DP has it stored (could be attic) and then check it for an expiry date - good to know about the 8 years!

[TruthSweet]

Strip the cover off and check the straps for fraying/wear/twisting/mould (don't use if there is), polystyrene foam for cracks or bits missing (don't use if there is), the plastic shell for whitening or pale areas (e.g. if it's a black plastic shell check there is no white or grey areas as this would indicate the shell was degrading). This is no guarantee there isn't any damage just nothing obviously wrong that would make the seat unsafe.

Don't wash the straps by immersing them in water, just sponge clean. The seat cover can be washed in the machine at 30C then hung up (no spin dryer or tumble dryer). The shell can be wiped down with a damp cloth. No lubricants should be used although if the buckle is full of crumbs/dust it can be run under the tap then air dried.

Check you still have the manual and that it fits in the car you have now safely.

[shrinkingnora]

The Britax we had was 6 years. But we didn't notice til we stopped using it at the end of the seventh year

[jetstar]

truthsweet do you happen to know what purpose the polystyrene bit has? I think ours might be broken in 2 unfortunately.

for the replies

I am now thinking we might have to find a replacement sadly.

[thisisyesterday]

it might be worth contacting britax and asking them? they may be able to replace the polystyrene

i think, and i could be wrong, that the polystyrene is just a good thing for absorbing impact?
a small bit of the polystyrene broke off the back of our 2 way elite and britax and the in car safety centre both said it was ok to use masking tape to put it back on!

that was just a tiny bit though, right at the top, it might be different if it has completely broken.

[keepthechangeyoufilthyanimal]

100% do not use it if the polystyrene has broken - the seat is totally useless without it.
You should be able to get a replacement polystyrene part from Britax.
YOu may way be able to send it into Britax for a full inspection/service/replace parts as necessary, but to be honest I think this will cost you as much as a (cheapish) brand new seat anyway!
Might be worth ringing them or asking on their Facebook or twitter page.

[jetstar]

Thanks again. Will take your advice as soon as I get a spare minute.