82 Seat Release Question
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
82 Seat Release Question
I cannot get the driver's side seat back on my 82 to tilt forward. I cannot find any type of release mechanism for it. The passenger side tilts forward freely. Thank you for your time. 
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 4,930
Likes: 11
From: AnyTown NJ
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
I seem to remember there is an inertia locking system built into the side of the seat....there is no locking/unlocking button....you have to gently try folding the seat back and forth until it unlocks.....unless it's jammed which might require some disassembly.
edit, it's the plastic area on the side where the seats folds.
edit, it's the plastic area on the side where the seats folds.
Last edited by gq82; Mar 26, 2006 at 01:59 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 13,138
Likes: 0
From: Inside the woods living my passion
St. Jude Donor '07-'08
Originally Posted by gq82
I seem to remember there is an inertia locking system built into the side of the seat....there is no locking/unlocking button....you have to gently try folding the seat back and forth until it unlocks.....unless it's jammed which might require some disassembly.
edit, it's the plastic area on the side where the seats folds.
edit, it's the plastic area on the side where the seats folds.
should tilt forward with no effort..
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 936
Likes: 0
From: Tulsa OK
There is a locking system there that's supposed to keep the seats from tilting forward in case of a crash. Mine locked up on me and it took some finessing with a small flat-head screw driver to get it to unlock. Go at it from the back side. Dirt and other crap tends to fall in there and makes it work not as smoothly as it should.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
Seat Release Question
Thanks for the info but still no luck. The door side of the seat back seems to be loose but the side next to the console is still hung. The seat back seems to be lower on the console side when you look at it from the front of the car. 
Pro
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 683
Likes: 4
The way to unlock the seat is to first determine which side is locking. One side of the seat will move foward more than the other. Get a flat feeler gauge of about 15 thousands and insert it between the parts of the seat hinge. You will have to practice at it a bit but it will move the part that does the locking to the open position. Let us know how you do.
Good Luck
Steve
Good Luck
Steve
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 233
Likes: 0
From: Merritt Island FL
my driver seat on 81 has done that and then stop doing that and then will work for weeks then bingo its locked up agian.but when it locks i just drive the car a forget about it and the next time i try it works. 
Drifting
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,442
Likes: 2
From: Flanders NJ
Originally Posted by Steve COSD
The way to unlock the seat is to first determine which side is locking. One side of the seat will move foward more than the other. Get a flat feeler gauge of about 15 thousands and insert it between the parts of the seat hinge. You will have to practice at it a bit but it will move the part that does the locking to the open position. Let us know how you do.
Good Luck
Steve
Good Luck
Steve
When I had my seats out redoing them they would lock up on me a lot, I needed to wedge the parts apart and it would then work ok. I've never had a problem with them after I put them back in the car.
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Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,891
Likes: 2
From: Baltimore MD
Originally Posted by gq82
I seem to remember there is an inertia locking system built into the side of the seat....there is no locking/unlocking button....you have to gently try folding the seat back and forth until it unlocks.....unless it's jammed which might require some disassembly.
edit, it's the plastic area on the side where the seats folds.
edit, it's the plastic area on the side where the seats folds.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 924
Likes: 15
From: DFW Metroplex Texas
Originally Posted by my red 81
my driver seat on 81 has done that and then stop doing that and then will work for weeks then bingo its locked up agian.but when it locks i just drive the car a forget about it and the next time i try it works.
Same here. The first time it happened I fussed around with it for an hour before I gave up. The next day after a short drive I could fold the seat as usual. . Still happens occasonially.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
82 Seat Release Question
Well, I FINALLY got the seat to release. I used WD40 around the hinges on the back. At first nothing happened but I kept moving it and all of a sudden it just went. I thought the problem was solved but two minutes later it did the same sh.. again. A few trys and it released once more. At that point I figured I better quit while I was ahead. I noticed that when the seat is moved all the way back against the cargo area it raises up some when it gets to the end of the track and the seat back tilts forward. I'm wondering if this effects the locking mechanism. Anyhow, thanks to all who replied. Each and everyone of your suggestions were helpful. 
