Rear Seat Removal Ideas Required

2work

2work

Well Known Member
United-Kingdom
Afternoon all,

Really in a pickle here at 2work Towers. I was hoping to retrofit a False Floor kit into Project RN53 but have failed to remove the drivers side rear seat.

It looks like someone has had an issue in this area before as the handle came away on the first pull.

The plastic bracket that attach to either side handle itself look buckled and not attached to anything.

Does anyone know of a way to remove a locked down rear seat.

I have tried everything I can think of this last hour but I simply cannot remove it. There has got to be a way of doing this.

Please help!

Kind regards,

Tom
 
Hi Tom, the only success I have had is to bounce on the folded seat whilst pulling on the handle! Not much help I'm affraid
 
tdiquattro said:
Hi Tom, the only success I have had is to bounce on the folded seat whilst pulling on the handle! Not much help I'm affraid
Click to expand...
Thanks for jumping in to assist Nigel,

I have tried that and know it would work as it has on the last on previous A2s with incorrectly seated seats.

The issue I’m having is trying to get a tool to hook onto the bar that the handle twists to release the feet. The release handle is in bits so no use to me right now unfortunately.

I have considered cutting the carpet near the front fixing points to undo the said front fixing points but don’t believe it’ll give and better assistance at the rear fixing points.

I just cannot get something on the rear twisting bar to provide the necessary leverage. I’m sure I’ve been so close a few times but it’s been hours now and feeling a little deflated/defeated.

Having fitted the false floor a few times now I know I should have completed it hours ago. Just one broken handle has transpired into an afternoon of frustration.

Thanks again for you help though Sir. I’m sure I’ll solve it but might be a tomorrow job now.

Kind regards,

Tom
 
Good Afternoon Tom,

Maybe this oldish thread may provide inspiration.

Locked down rear seat (A2 1.2)

Hello A2fellows, a report from the swedish chapter here. We had a bit of inspiration yesterday and wanted to share some impressions from one dreaded back seat problem: the irreversibly locked down rear seat!! I remember seeing on here that the only solution seemed to be to saw the seat to pieces...
www.a2oc.net www.a2oc.net

Andy
 
Andrew said:
Good Afternoon Tom,

Maybe this oldish thread may provide inspiration.

Locked down rear seat (A2 1.2)

Hello A2fellows, a report from the swedish chapter here. We had a bit of inspiration yesterday and wanted to share some impressions from one dreaded back seat problem: the irreversibly locked down rear seat!! I remember seeing on here that the only solution seemed to be to saw the seat to pieces...
www.a2oc.net www.a2oc.net

Andy
Click to expand...
Afternoon Andy,

Thank you so much. It’s so frustrating being defeated by such a simple thing and not completing what I set out to have finished hours ago.

I have conducted many various searches this afternoon but did t come across the linked thread. Fingers crossed this will enable me to get this seat out. I’ll have another attempt tomorrow.

Thanks again, really helpful. I’ll report back with results tomorrow.

Kind regards,

Tom
 
spike said:
Did you spot this one - https://www.a2oc.net/community/inde...rear-seats-dont-work-thread.16655/post-126516

Cheers Spike
Click to expand...
Evening Spike,

Thank you for jumping in to help Sir. The linked thread was the actual one I was looking for but couldn’t find it for some reason, think I was searching for ‘definitive’ and not ‘ultimate’. This information along with some other responses I’ve received should see the locked-in seat removed during my next attempt.

Thanks again.

Kind regards,

Tom
 
2work said:
Thanks for jumping in to assist Nigel,

I have tried that and know it would work as it has on the last on previous A2s with incorrectly seated seats.

The issue I’m having is trying to get a tool to hook onto the bar that the handle twists to release the feet. The release handle is in bits so no use to me right now unfortunately.

I have considered cutting the carpet near the front fixing points to undo the said front fixing points but don’t believe it’ll give and better assistance at the rear fixing points.

I just cannot get something on the rear twisting bar to provide the necessary leverage. I’m sure I’ve been so close a few times but it’s been hours now and feeling a little deflated/defeated.

Having fitted the false floor a few times now I know I should have completed it hours ago. Just one broken handle has transpired into an afternoon of frustration.

Thanks again for you help though Sir. I’m sure I’ll solve it but might be a tomorrow job now.

Kind regards,

Tom
Click to expand...
Feel your pain, this sounds ominous
 
Evening all,

Since starting this thread some 7 months ago I must say that I’ve read everything possible and still cannot release the seat base.

The rear seat will release up by the load cover and flop forward without issue. The problems is that I simply cannot release the feet from the floor to fold the seat forward for removal.

I have removed the inner plastic trim to see if I can spot the reason for the mechanism not working but cannot make anything out. The plastic handle fell to bits upon first attempt to remove the seat back in February and I’ve been tinkering with solutions ever since. I’m guessing the bearings on the 2 spigots/shafts are corroded.

Think I’m close to despair here as have been totally beaten by a stuck rear seat.

Is there anyone out there who might be able to provide any further advice that’s not already documented on our pages.

Kind regards,

Tom
 
From experience at Proggy Towers during @timmus' latest residency, you'll have to get under (or through) the carpet at the back of the rear footwell and remove the front seat mounts (M6 spline). Then lever the seat far enough back to be able to prise the header tape of the seat cover material out from its slot on the underside of the seat base. Once the cover is off and the base foam removed, you'll be able to see the internal seat mech and spot where there should be motion that isn't happening - like you say, probably due to corrosion. You'll be able to see where to lift (with a screwdriver) the pin that goes down into the silver locking feet and unlock the base from the floor. The difficulty will be to get enough access to get the seat cover off, without buckling the internals of the seat base enough to render the seat base useless.
 
Proghound said:
From experience at Proggy Towers during @timmus' latest residency, you'll have to get under (or through) the carpet at the back of the rear footwell and remove the front seat mounts (M6 spline). Then lever the seat far enough back to be able to prise the header tape of the seat cover material out from its slot on the underside of the seat base. Once the cover is off and the base foam removed, you'll be able to see the internal seat mech and spot where there should be motion that isn't happening - like you say, probably due to corrosion. You'll be able to see where to lift (with a screwdriver) the pin that goes down into the silver locking feet and unlock the base from the floor. The difficulty will be to get enough access to get the seat cover off, without buckling the internals of the seat base enough to render the seat base useless.
Click to expand...
Thank you Ian,

I was just thinking this might be the next step but was being hopeful that there always a way of doing this without removing the seat covering.

On the off chance I do damage the seat base I think it’s a good idea to place a wanted add for a Soul drivers rear seat with a known good mechanism. I’ll have another tomorrow after work and report back.

I guess I should investigate adding some heat pads to the rears whilst I have one of them in a state of undress… No real need but then neither was a HFBMFSW but I like it. Does it ever stop!

Thanks again.

Kind regards,

Tom
 
Believe this has happen twice for me, though with the pull-handle still in place. The reason is that the pin closest to the door does not attach to the floor, while the other pin is attached. The handle is then of no use and seat is not longer removable.

I solved it by removing the funtional seat, then standing outside the car while pulling the non-funtional seat (backrest in upright position) towards me (towards the door). Then the seat pin closest to the door is forced downwards and also locks into the floor. After you can remove the seat by the normal procedure
 
Olerype said:
Believe this has happen twice for me, though with the pull-handle still in place. The reason is that the pin closest to the door does not attach to the floor, while the other pin is attached. The handle is then of no use and seat is not longer removable.

I solved it by removing the funtional seat, then standing outside the car while pulling the non-funtional seat (backrest in upright position) towards me (towards the door). Then the seat pin closest to the door is forced downwards and also locks into the floor. After you can remove the seat by the normal procedure
Click to expand...
Evening,

Thank you so much for your input. I’ll see if this works for me tomorrow before I get the socket set and spline bits out. The issue I’ll still have though is that the release handle no longer exists.

I’ll report back tomorrow with either good or frustrating news.

Kind regards,

Tom
 
Good luck!

Often possible to see if just one of the pins are attached to floor by looking at seat (base) from the back, if only one of the two pins are attached the base it not perfectly flush/aligned with the floor but slightly in an angle
 
2work said:
Thank you Ian,

I was just thinking this might be the next step but was being hopeful that there always a way of doing this without removing the seat covering.

On the off chance I do damage the seat base I think it’s a good idea to place a wanted add for a Soul drivers rear seat with a known good mechanism. I’ll have another tomorrow after work and report back.

I guess I should investigate adding some heat pads to the rears whilst I have one of them in a state of undress… No real need but then neither was a HFBMFSW but I like it. Does it ever stop!

Thanks again.

Kind regards,

Tom
Click to expand...
Hi Tom
I don't know if the one I have got is "Soul". I have both rear seats in my shed.
Let me know if you want it
 

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Evening Hitesh,

Thank you for jumping in Sir. What you’re holding up with your legs in the picture would be perfect should I cause irreparable damage when I have another go tomorrow evening.

I’m quite sure that I’ll be able to safely and carefully remove the leather covering and fit it onto your drivers rear seat if required.

I’ll report my progress on here tomorrow evening. You certainly have my attention though should I ruin the seat base in the process.

Kind regards,

Tom
 
Depending on what exactly has broken off I do think plan B is plan A. The seat base is probably not repairable so a recover onto a donor base the way forward.
If you gain enough space by removing the front mounts then perhaps the inflatable bag will be able to give enough height to unlatch each of the rear locks in turn or at least give more room to insert a pry bar to lift the washer over the balls.

Good luck, but by the end of this process we will have a definitive way to remove the rear seat(s) if the lower handle is broken or not working even if they may not be suitable to refit again.
 
Good Evening Tom,

You will have doubt looked at it but the solution has to lie in these two pictures but I must admit I can't get my head around it.

Rear Seat Mechanism Diagram sought!

I have two rear seat problems . One is well and truly stuck in place (I have tried, along with another forum member all the tricks). The other seat is out but the mechanism seems jammed in the normal position when in place! So I am trying to work out how the mechanism actually operates - I have...
www.a2oc.net

Good luck.

Andy
 
Evening all,

Almost 12 months to the day sees the Rear Right Black Leather Seat finally removed. What a pain that was but got there in the end. Must say I’ve not tried for months now but think after an hour’s perseverance and tinkering I feeel quite clued up on the simple mechanism now.

Since having the seat removed I can see that someone has been there before me and cable tied a damaged release handle on. It was never going to release the 2 spigots with the bearings. Bodge it and scarper at its best.

I’ll have it cleaned up and in Project PDK soonest once I’ve located a spare handle and the 2 little springs. Wanted advertisement about to live.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this thread and apologies for not completing this sooner.

Kind regards,

Tom
 
Last edited:
Evening all,

To put closure on this thread, I’ve just finished repairing the damaged rear right leather seat…

This evening see me dismantling a scrap rear left seat (thank you Jeremy @sciroccorrado) to obtain the lower release handle which is now on Project PDKs rear right seat. Total repair and all is working exactly how it should. Very happy with this outcome and of course learnt a few things along the way about the rear seat mechanisms.

Thank you to all who have contributed to this thread over the last 12 months.

Kind regards,

Tom
 
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