2nd Row Seat Not Latching

[damagnan]

Okay, so I've done some searching and haven't found much for my issue other than clean/lube. I WILL try that tomorrow, but I want to be armed with alternative tactics if it's not that simple. That said...

My second row passenger-side seat is not latching anymore. I did a lot of playing with it (moved the release lever while pressing the seat down; SLAMMING the seat down; etc.). The best I could get was an *almost* (it would disengage if I pulled up on it). In most cases, it just bounces right back up when I direct it downward.

I got my dad to look at the latch (took off that little plastic cover over it) while I was lowering the seat, and he said as far as he could see, it didn't look like the latch was reaching the steel bar in the floor sufficiently (so it wouldn't fully trip the latch)...like something was keeping the seat from lowering all the way.

As far as I can see, there is nothing between the seat and the floor which would prevent the seat from lowering completely. The rubber stopper on the door-side of the seat (IIRC, I think it sits on the wheel well when you lower the seat??) is not causing problems. The steel bar does not look bent (such that it would keep the latch from reaching). I moved the fabric away from the latch, removed the plastic cover off the latch, and it doesn't look like it's bent/damaged in there.

So, if you read that whole thing...any ideas? Lemme know if pics would help.

Thanks.

 

[azcromntic]

Unfortunately I don't have pics at the moment but I have had the same problem. I changed out the center seat belt in the second row which means I had to unhook it all, even the metal cable that goes from the lever on the side of the seat to the latch under the seat.

Here is what I remember that gave me grief:
1. If you mix up the two black screws that hold the cover on (one is short and one is long) it will prevent the seat latch from functioning correctly. I think this is what prevented me from getting the seat to latch??? I think.
2. If the tab at the latch end of the cable is broken you'll have to feed a standard screw driver down from the top side of the seat, into the hole where the center seat belt (or center seat belt latch) comes up and push down on the notched piece of metal. That notched piece of metal controls the latch. By pushing (toward the floor) on it the latch will release.
3. If the latch mechanism is already closed you will need to push it open (like #2 above) and then try it again.

That's all I know for now.

 

[damagnan]

2. If the tab at the latch end of the cable is broken you'll have to feed a standard screw driver down from the top side of the seat, into the hole where the center seat belt (or center seat belt latch) comes up and push down on the notched piece of metal. That notched piece of metal controls the latch. By pushing (toward the floor) on it the latch will release.

That's all I know for now.

First, thanks! Second, in your step 2, what tab are you talking about? (Can you give a little more description?) Also, if the latch releases just fine with the lever (say, if I manually manipulated the latch into closing), does that mean this "tab" is not the problem?

Thanks

 

[sandcruiser]

on the early models, there is a metal rod that connects the latch to the hinge
if that rod gets bent/tweaked it becomes too short and changes the geometry of the latching system, making it not work

take a look, could be part of your situation

 

[azcromntic]

First, thanks! Second, in your step 2, what tab are you talking about? (Can you give a little more description?) Also, if the latch releases just fine with the lever (say, if I manually manipulated the latch into closing), does that mean this "tab" is not the problem?

Thanks

At the end of the cable that runs from the lever (on the side of the seat) to the latch is a metal cylinder about 5/16" long (on the latch side) and about as round as a pencil. The cable goes into this "tab" thing and the tab is inside the latch mechanism. On mine the cable came lose from the tab and therefore I could not operate the latch via the lever on the side of the seat. The tab is what makes the lever release the latch when the cable is pulled.

If you can manually close the latch and open it with the lever then the tab should be fine.

Did you check the screws yet? If you put the long screw in the wrong spot it just so happens that it will screw through a hole in the latch housing and thus prevent the latch from closing all the way to keep the seat locked in.

just swap positions of the two screws that hold on the plastic latch cover. Or take the cover and screws off entirely and see if it works.

Sandcruiser is right: There is a rod coming out of the latch mechanism that runs...to the floor _I think_. It's like 1.5 ft. long. If that were bent it would change how things work.

 

[damagnan]

on the early models, there is a metal rod that connects the latch to the hinge
if that rod gets bent/tweaked it becomes too short and changes the geometry of the latching system, making it not work

take a look, could be part of your situation

I took your advice and took a look--Lo and Behold!! the bar somehow had an almost 45 degree bend in it...it was SO bent, it looked like it was supposed to be that way (because why else would it be THAT bent, right?). Between checking and un-bending, I estimate the total fix time at approximately 6 seconds.

Anyway, problem solved!

 

[Tar Heel 1]

My rod was also bent () and the latch would not latch correctly. Fixed the bend and the latch now latches correctly.

Thank you all!

 

[DIRTBIKEUSA]

I have the same problem. Thanks for this!

 

[mudgudgeon]

Hmmm, same!

 

[beltsLC100]

Howdy Team,
Seem to be having the same issue with the middle passenger not latching.
To confirm, this is the bar you’re talking about that is bent?