Broken Passenger Seat
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 511
Likes: 66
From: Timnath, CO
Broken Passenger Seat
Yesterday my 3rd battery died since I bought the car. The top was locked in the back, and the hatch wouldn't open. While reaching back from inside to unlatch the top so I could put it on before I left the car, I appear to have broken the seat.
I have the standard (non-sport / non-power) passenger seat. The seat-back is now tilted forward about 20 degrees from vertical. I can tilt the seat-back farther forward when I pull on the latch, but it will not tilt back to a normal position suitable for sitting.
Any suggestions on how to fix?
Thanks.
I have the standard (non-sport / non-power) passenger seat. The seat-back is now tilted forward about 20 degrees from vertical. I can tilt the seat-back farther forward when I pull on the latch, but it will not tilt back to a normal position suitable for sitting.
Any suggestions on how to fix?
Thanks.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,631
Likes: 2
From: Clever, MO aka SOMO
Let us know what you find in there. I have a similar problem on the drivers side sport seat when something snapped and now the inside bolster doesn't have a stop, and wants to fall further to the back. I must have leaned back to hard connecting my seat belt on that side. But, I'm long legged and have my seat all the way back against the bulkhead so it really doesn't effect my driving position. But, I'd like to get it fixed anyway and just haven't taken the time to pull out that seat.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 511
Likes: 66
From: Timnath, CO
It took some disassembly to figure out what was going on. Each side of the seat has a small silver bracket with about a 1" silver rod coming out perpindicular to the bracket. The bracket attaches to the seat hinge. The bracked also is attached to a cable that runs to the top back seat-back release. When the seat back release is lifted, the metal rod lifts up over a catch in the seat hinge, so the seat back can move forward.
On mine, the rod had gotten twisted around in the seat hinge and the bracket was bent. If you take the seat out and look at the location of the pin on the inboard and outboard sides of the hinge you can tell if it is aligned right. It was pretty flimsy, so it isn't hard to see how this could happen. Be careful leaning against the seat back when you are trying to reach way back in the rear of the car.
The good news is I was able to disassemble the hinge/bracket and reassemble. All works fine now.
On mine, the rod had gotten twisted around in the seat hinge and the bracket was bent. If you take the seat out and look at the location of the pin on the inboard and outboard sides of the hinge you can tell if it is aligned right. It was pretty flimsy, so it isn't hard to see how this could happen. Be careful leaning against the seat back when you are trying to reach way back in the rear of the car.
The good news is I was able to disassemble the hinge/bracket and reassemble. All works fine now.
