W124 estate - Rear seat back will not fold down

[PaulStewart]

Wonder if anyone can help: I cannot work out how to get the rear single seat to fold forward; the double folds down without an issue. When I push the single, it feels as though it is locked in place by a catch but I'll be jiggered if I can find how to release it.

I can see some sort of lever down in between the two seat bases but it does nothing.

Is it me?

Kind regards

Paul

 

[brucemillar]

Paul

Make sure you have double down and the seat base upright. You should just be able to pull the back forward, with a bit of a heave. Check that the small pins are retracted on the door shuts. If that fails get in the boot, lie on your back and try giving a shove with your feet. Probably just stuck from lack of use.

 

[DITTRICH]

+1
Middle seat passenger door must be open on driver's side.
Little pin which is kept in place by the door needs to be out.
Then if necessary a bit of a shove with your foot.

 

[tintinmt]

There are two spring loaded catches (one for each section) in the centre underneath the seat back revealed once you lift the seat bases. On my car one occasionally sticks and has to be encouraged to move to the release position.

 

[PaulStewart]

Still stuck

Tried pulling pin with pliers to its full extent and been in the load area on my back kicking but it will not budge: Really cheesed off as I wanted to fit my newly acquired load cover!!!!

 

[tintinmt]

Did you check my advice above?

 

[PaulStewart]

Yes I have located the spring and even removed the plastic trim on the side of the seat and can see thye mechanism pushing the rod up and down but its not making any difference.

Paul

 

[tintinmt]

I am talking about the catch in the middle of the seats attached to the floor - not the ones in the door shuts.

 

[PaulStewart]

Yes I understand which one its under the seats between the single and double seat base

 

[PaulStewart]

Im going back out onto the drive with some WD40 and have another bash.

2 mins

 

[jaymanek]

these are an absolute pain...

We had a cheap banger one of these.... we never managed to get one side down at all... it was well and truly seized... without cutting the back panels off, we could see no way of getting the latch to go...
Then again, it was a cheap banger so we didnt give it a lot of time. We even tried a spade between the rear seat and wheel arch.... there was no way it was being pursuaded..
Car is in scrap yard now anyway..

On my own car which is not a cheap banger, it was evident that they hadnt been folded in ages... what I did was lubricate everything visible in WD40... then I had to get in the back... with the bases folded forwards, i proceeded to shake the seats whilst someone pressed those buttons in the door aperture...
eventually they let go...
i remember feeling quite feint after that episode!

Once opened I lubricated and then greased all the gubbins... been fine since..

 

[PaulStewart]

Thanks for that.

Just spent the last 20mins screaming abuse at the offending catch whilst trying to operate all actches and pulling at the seat back: Just ended up furious and feeling like a petchelant child.

Shes not a banger and not the most expensive car in the world but of all the cars I have ever owned its the most sublime ride I have ever had: Now where did I put those matches, I''ll show the old cow!!

 

[PaulStewart]

Seat locking mechanism rear seats

Have removed door seal from wheel arch area next to single seat: prized the moulded interior arch using a metal strip and with the aid of a torch can see the seat catch in the locking mech. Lost day light now but does anyone have any schematichs in PDF of how the mechanism operates; this may give me an idea of where I can try and get a flat blade driver in to persuade the blighter.

P

 

[Dieselman]

Have you tried lifting the seat back at the hinge area. The hinges wear and the back drops so the catch doesn't release fully.

 

[hotrodder]

^^ The single on mine is still stiff unless lifted as you fold it however...

I went through the exact same thing when i bought it. Lifting/jiggling/twisting/lubing things didn't work. Lying in the boot and kicking seven bells out of it did. Tough love and all that

Estate back rest is covered here (scroll down past the sedan to sedan T... http://www.w124performance.com/service/w124CD2/Program/Chassis/91-170.pdf Might be something more relevant elsewhere under 91 Seats and Restraints

 

[Druk]

Don't know if these are of any help. Took them after my own (deceased) 124 seat jambed.

Top arrow is of where door push/pull interlock is a rattle fit in hole and iirc position of this is important. ie. I think it has to be at 'top' of black hole. Not completely sure on this point though. Age related grey cell deficit.

Lower arrow is of seat base interlock and positions of this with seat base in both up and down modes.





.

 

[PaulStewart]

Wrapped and gone on the lash

5 pints of Workie Tickett will make it all better; thanks for all your posts

P

 

[PaulStewart]

Thats just the info I was after, thanks very much fella.

P

 

[bolide]

Two tips: remove the offside rear squab, stand in the car and lift the rear seat back as you pull it towards you. It may help to have someone push the seat back from the load area

If all else fails, climb in the load area and kick the offside seat back just below the cassette. If you kick hard enough the seat will fold or you'll be propelled out the back

Nick Froome

 

[PaulStewart]

Success: found that you can activate the locking device by; removing the door seal from the wheel arch down to the sill. Widen the gap between the inner wheel arch moulding and the door latch to enable you to see the seat back locking mechanism: With a long flat blade screw driver then locate the spring loaded catch at the bottom of the lock (closest to the floor), and push in. Thats it, no kicking or violent shaking.

Load cover / and cargo screen now installed; all we need is a dog!

Thanks for all of your input.

P