How To: Release & Fix Stuck Up Rear Backrest

[FezzyFox]

I recently found after installing my new amp, that after pushing the rear seat's backrest home, it was determined not to come down again.

I heard this was a common fault, so thought i'd write a how to on what worked for me, and how i went about it.


Dilemma: You push the plunger in the top corner of the seats and they stick down, not releasing the seat from the hooks.

How i went about repairing it... (Must say a thankyou to Salmon for his initial guideance in my help thread)

You will need: An 8 or so inch bar (preferably a socket extension as you will need a flat edge). Any longer and it will fowl against the rear window)

a little patience and about 30 minutes of your time.

Step One: Remove the rear bench.

This very easily comes out by pulling upward at the front, outer edges to release the 2 spring clips.








Then push the whole bench back sharply to release it from the hooks at the back edges.







Step Two: Remove all 3 rear headrests & gently pull forward the leather surrounding the plunger at the front-most edge on top of the backrest.

Access is very awkward here as you cant quite get your head in here to see down into the inner workings of the latch system, But this is what is in there...




Step Three: Remember that socket extension? Slide it into the opening and tap sharply away at the flat edge of the bar you can see in the image above, while simultaneously pulling forward at corner of the seat. It should eventually come free of the hook.


Wedge a chunk of cardboard in there to prop it forward, otherwise as soon as you let go, it will hook itself back onto the latch and you'll have to try again. Repeat this on the other side to free both latches.

Lower the backrest down completely and lift it free from the 2 slots at each lower corner (The backrest needs to completely flat before the 'hammers' will lift free of the slots)







Now with the seat out you can see into the latches in the rear of the seat.







Step Four: Using the socket bar, lever the bottom of the plastic plunger upward, so it sticks above the plastic surround, exposing the red band. Repeat for the other side.





Step Five: Now, with your bar again, lever the square bars toward the outer edges of the backrest so they sit beneath the base of the plastic plunger. You will feel a sharpish 'Clunk' as they fall into place. Repeat for the other side.







Step Six: Now before refitting, push down on one of the plungers. If successful, the opposing side should move with it, and both should spring back up of their own accord. Check the other side too.

Put a tiny squirt of WD-40 on the latch components inside the seat, and also spray some into a rag and smear it around the rubber hook below the parcel shelf


Done! Re-fit the backrest and bench seat and enjoy your working, folding seats.




Live thread here


Disclaimer:
You are responsible for any work or modifications carried out on your car and you undertake any such work at your own risk. Neither The 75 and ZT Owners Club nor the original author of these How-To's can be held liable for anything that may happen as a result of you following these How-To's.
Any modifications should be reported to your insurance company.

[Dragrad]

Nicely put together and copied to here

[hogweed]

Smashing, can't wait to destroy my seats... errr I mean fix them

Seriously, here's hoping...

[FezzyFox]

Originally Posted by Dragrad

Nicely put together and copied to here

Thanks pal, hope it helps people out

Originally Posted by hogweed

Smashing, can't wait to destroy my seats... errr I mean fix them

Seriously, here's hoping...

hope you get yours sorted bud

[Nev The Bear]

A really big thank you to FezzyFox for posting this how to.

I followed the how to this morning and for the first time in about a year I have working folding rear seats. If only I knew it was as easy as your how to before. It only took me about 1/2 hour to complete.

This is what makes this club so amazing having members who can provide invaluable advice and guidance.

Many thanks again.

[Wayne2015]

Thanks to Suzublu for pointing to this thread
And to FezzyFox for the instructions


I tried it today and after TWO hours - still couldn't fix

But did manage to pop the plunger up,
But it wouldn't go up again once pushed.....have I missed something?


Basically I followed all the steps,
The back bench,
The head rests,
Folded down the back rests - just didn't remove....

Then the latch at the back...
One was fine (under the black plastic casing) - the other I pushed the metal bar under the black casing..

But when pushed plungers down, they do not spring back up
The bar in the latch at the back has no force to push the plunger up again....do I need to remove the back rest????

[FezzyFox]

Originally Posted by Wayne2015

Thanks to Suzublu for pointing to this thread
And to FezzyFox for the instructions


I tried it today and after TWO hours - still couldn't fix

But did manage to pop the plunger up,
But it wouldn't go up again once pushed.....have I missed something?


Basically I followed all the steps,
The back bench,
The head rests,
Folded down the back rests - just didn't remove....

Then the latch at the back...
One was fine (under the black plastic casing) - the other I pushed the metal bar under the black casing..

But when pushed plungers down, they do not spring back up
The bar in the latch at the back has no force to push the plunger up again....do I need to remove the back rest????

I had something similar when i first did mine. try giving the bars below the plunger a sharp tap again to release the mechanism in the middle of the seat. Sometimes they 'tangle'. took one or two attempts when i first took mine out.

Others i have fixed since worked first time.

[Wayne2015]

Cheers FezzyFox

I pushed here 1st to release then folded back rest...




Then discovered one of the rear latches were fine (under the black casing).
BUT - when u push the plunger if wasnt pushing it up again





The other rear latch the metal bar was ABOVE the black casing,
So I push the bar under the black casing,
But again it didn't push the plunger up AND it kept slipping and the bar kept coming up out from under the black casing




Which metal bar u referring to???

[FezzyFox]

You might need to push the square shaped metal hook that sits beneath the black plunger outwards a little harder, until you hear a clunk.

[Wayne2015]

Cheers bud

I didn't push it that much last time (no clunk) was worried might break something....


I ll give it another go soon..