To help you get the most out of your Graco Contender 65 convertible car seat, we’ve put together this Contender 65 tutorial page. On this page you’ll find help with:
And (as they say in infomercials) much, much more!
Graco Contender 65 Car Seat Tutorial YouTube
Here are the best YouTube videos we could find to help you learn to use your Graco Contender 65 car seat:
CarSeatsMom has a great video that demonstrates how to install your Graco Contender 65 car seat:
AshleyTaylor&Sons provides a 6-minute video that shows you the unboxing and review of the Graco Contender 65 car seat:
Graco Children’s Products has a series of good tutorials that show you how to:
Clean the harness straps and LATCH belt
Installation Questions
How to put together a Graco Contender 65 car seat
The Graco Contender 65 car seat should come fully assembled in the box. To see how the fully assembled car seat looks like during unboxing, you may watch this video.
How to install Graco Contender 65 car seat rear-facing
You can install Graco Contender 65 car seat rear-facing with either the LATCH strap or vehicle seat belt.
- 1Attach the top tether hook to the plastic bar on either side of the car seat (please see image below taken from the Instruction Manual).
- 2Remove the LATCH straps from storage location (please see image below taken from the Instruction Manual).
- 3Ensure the LATCH strap is in the rear-facing belt path (marked with a blue label).
- 4Extend the LATCH strap to its maximum length.
- 5Flip the recline feet forward (please see images below taken from the Instruction Manual).
- 6Place the car seat rear-facing in the vehicle’s back seat. Its bottom should sit as flat as possible on the vehicle seat.
- 7Adjust the seat until the ball is completely in the blue zone in the Level Indicator. The ball must be entirely in the light blue circle if your child is below 3 months old. Your vehicle must be on level ground when you check the indicator. Place rolled towels under the car seat at the vehicle seat crease if needed.
- 8Connect LATCH hooks to the vehicle’s lower LATCH anchors (please see images below taken from the Instruction Manual). Ensure the strap is not twisted.
- 9Press down firmly at the center of the car seat and tighten the LATCH strap. You may need to tighten through the belt path (please see images below taken from the Instruction Manual).
- 10Check the Level Indicator again to ensure the ball is completely within the blue zone. The ball must be entirely in the light blue circle if your child is below 3 months old. Readjust the car seat or place rolled towels under the car seat at the vehicle seat crease if needed.
- 1Attach the top tether strap and LATCH straps to the plastic bars (please see images below taken from the Instruction Manual).
- 2Flip the recline feet forward (please see images below taken from the Instruction Manual).
- 3Place the car seat rear-facing in the vehicle’s back seat. Its bottom should sit as flat as possible on the vehicle seat.
- 4Adjust the seat until the ball is completely in the blue zone in the Level Indicator. The ball must be entirely in the light blue circle if your child is below 3 months old. Your vehicle must be on level ground when you check the indicator. Place rolled towels under the car seat at the vehicle seat crease if needed.
- 5Route the vehicle seat belt through the rear-facing belt path that is marked with a blue label (please see image below taken from the Instruction Manual). Buckle the seat belt. Ensure that it is not twisted.
- 6Ensure the vehicle seat belt is in front of the buckle strap when the buckle is in the inner-most position (please see image below taken from the Instruction Manual). When the buckle is in the outer-most position, ensure the vehicle seat belt is behind the buckle strap.
- 7Lock the vehicle seat belt by slowly pulling the shoulder belt all the way out and letting it go. After hearing a clicking sound, slowly pull the belt to ensure it is locked.
- 8Press down firmly at the center of the car seat and pull on the shoulder belt to tighten while feeding the slack back in the retractor (please see image below taken from the Instruction Manual).
- 9Check the Level Indicator again to ensure the ball is completely within the blue zone. The ball must be entirely in the light blue circle if your child is below 3 months old. Readjust the car seat or place rolled towels under the car seat at the vehicle seat crease if needed.
How to install Graco Contender 65 car seat forward-facing
You can install forward-facing using Graco Contender 65 car seat with either the LATCH strap or vehicle seat belt. You may wish to refer to this video to see a demonstration.
- 1Remove the LATCH straps from storage location (please see image below taken from the Instruction Manual).
- 2Ensure the LATCH strap is in the forward-facing belt path (marked with an orange label).
- 3Flip the recline feet backward (please see images below taken from the Instruction Manual).
- 4Remove the top tether strap from the storage location and lay it in the seat (please see images below taken from the Instruction Manual).
- 5Extend the LATCH strap to its maximum length.
- 6Place the car seat forward-facing in the vehicle’s back seat. Its bottom should sit as flat as possible on the vehicle seat.
- 7Connect LATCH connectors to the vehicle’s lower LATCH anchors (please see images below taken from the Instruction Manual). Ensure the strap is not twisted.
- 8Press down firmly at the center of the car seat and tighten the LATCH strap (please see image below taken from the Instruction Manual).
- 9Attach the top tether strap and tighten it (please see images below taken from the Instruction Manual).
- 1Store the LATCH strap (please see image below taken from the Instruction Manual).
- 2Flip the recline feet backward (please see images below taken from the Instruction Manual).
- 3Remove the top tether strap from the storage location and lay it in the seat (please see images below taken from the Instruction Manual).
- 4Place the car seat forward-facing in the vehicle’s back seat. Its bottom should sit as flat as possible on the vehicle seat.
- 5Route the vehicle seat belt through the forward-facing belt path that is marked with an orange label (please see image below taken from the Instruction Manual). Buckle the seat belt. Ensure that it is not twisted.
- 6Lock the vehicle seat belt by slowly pulling the shoulder belt all the way out and letting it go. After hearing a clicking sound, slowly pull the belt to ensure it is locked.
- 7Press down firmly at the center of the car seat and pull on the shoulder belt to tighten while feeding the slack back in the retractor (please see image below taken from the Instruction Manual).
- 8Attach the top tether strap and tighten it (please see images below taken from the Instruction Manual).
How to install a Graco Contender 65 without LATCH system
Without the LATCH system, you can install a Graco Contender 65 car seat rear-facing or forward-facing using your vehicle’s seat belt.
How to install Graco Contender 65 on a plane
The Graco Contender 65 car seat is certified for use in an airplane on only forward-facing airplane seats. Depending on the weight of your child, you can install either forward-facing or rear-facing in the same way you do in a car.
Common Usage Questions & Problems Related to Graco Contender 65 Car Seat
How to recline Graco Contender 65 car seat
You can recline the Graco Contender 65 car seat by flipping the recline foot found at the bottom of the car seat. The images below are taken from the Instruction Manual.
Where can I find the Graco Contender 65 car seat model number?
You can find the model number of your Graco Contender 65 on the sticker found on the back of the car seat.
When does Graco Contender 65 car seat expire?
To find out the expiration date of your Graco Contender 65 car seat, please look for the date of manufacture on the sticker found on the back of the car seat. The car seat expires 7 years after that date.
You may also check the video below for additional car seat expiration details and disposal information.
How to adjust straps on Graco Contender 65 car seat
To loosen the straps of the Graco Contender 65 car seat, lift up the harness release lever and pull out on the straps above the chest clip simultaneously (please see image below taken from the Instruction Manual).
To tighten the straps, pull the harness adjustment strap (please see image below taken from the Instruction Manual).
Why is harness not tightening on Graco Contender 65 car seat?
There are other users who face the issue of harness not tightening on the Graco Contender 65 car seat. To resolve this issue, you may try following the steps below.
- 1Place your child in the car seat.
- 2Buckle the chest clip.
- 3Pull the harness straps as tight as you wish them to be.
- 4Buckle the crotch buckle.
How to remove straps on Graco Contender 65 car seat
To remove the LATCH strap on the Graco Contender 65 car seat, you may follow the steps below. The images are taken from the Instruction Manual.
- 1Push the gray button in and pull on the strap simultaneously to loosen the strap.
- 2Press in on the hook’s spring.
- 3Push the hook in and lift it up.
- 4Twist and pull the hook out away from the anchor point.
To remove the top tether strap on the car seat, you may follow the steps below. The images are taken from the Instruction Manual.
- 1Lift up the tether lock to release the tension.
- 2Press in on the hook’s spring.
- 3Push the hook in and lift it up.
- 4Pull the hook away from the tether anchor.
When to remove infant insert in Graco Contender 65 car seat
You may remove the infant insert or body support when your baby no longer needs it. If your baby’s shoulders are above the lowest harness setting without the infant insert, you may remove it.
How much should a baby weigh to face forward in a Graco Contender 65 car seat?
For a baby to face forward in a Graco Contender 65 car seat, he/she must be at least 10 kg. Please note that the baby can be forward-facing only if he/she can sit upright unassisted.
How to travel with my Graco Contender 65 car seat
To travel with your Graco Contender 65 car seat, please secure the car seat with the LATCH strap or vehicle seat belt, even when it is unoccupied. An unsecured car seat can hurt passengers in a crash.
Questions on Cleaning Graco Contender 65 Car Seat
How to clean a Graco Contender 65 car seat and remove covers for cleaning
Below are some great tutorials that show you how to:
Clean the harness straps and LATCH straps
Remove and replace the car seat cover
Please see below for some detailed step-by-step instructions to clean different parts of the Graco Contender 65 car seat:
- 1Recline the car seat and find the metal retainer. Rotate the metal retainer up through the shell and pad (please see image below taken from the Instruction Manual).
- 2Pull out the buckle from the front.
- 3Place the buckle in a cup of warm water and gently agitate the buckle (please see image below taken from the Instruction Manual).
- 4Press the red button several times.
- 5Shake out excess water and allow to air dry (please see image below taken from the Instruction Manual).
- 6Place the buckle back to the car seat. Pull on it to ensure it is secured.
Seat pad (please refer to images taken from the Instruction Manual):
- 1Loosen the harness straps and extend the headrest to its tallest position.
- 2Remove the strap loops from the splitter plate at the back of the car seat. Pull the straps through the front of the pad.
- 3Open the chest clip and release tongues from the buckle.
- 4Push the harness straps and buckle strap through the seat pad cover and remove the cover from around the shell.
Head support (please refer to images taken from the Instruction Manual):
- 1Pull the tab out from behind the head support foam.
- 2Remove the cover from the head support.
How to put head support cover back on Graco Contender 65 YouTube
Please watch this video for a demonstration on putting the head support cover back on the Graco Contender 65 car seat.
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I have. Grace Contender 65 car seat for my granddaughter. She is tall and I have already extended the crotch latch to the 2nd slot but it is getting too tight for her. I am afraid that I will pinch her. How do I extend it again?