magnetic 3rd row seat release issue

[zmf]

Hey all - not sure what that thing is called, but the little magnet that holds the handle/strap that releases the 3rd row seat back came off on my 2014 the other day. As far as I know it was never loose, but started rattling and by the time my kids told me about it, it was off. I tried screwing it back in, but there's nothing there to catch the threads. Any ideas before I have to take the seat apart, or is that the idea? It's not so bad when the 3rd row is in use, but when I have the seats stowed (my preferred normal), the thing flops around and drives me crazy. A quick search here and google showed nothing, but I may not know the right words.

Thanks.

-Z

 

[BluffCruiserDC]

There is a little nut that holds the screw on. Fear not, you don't have to take the entire seat apart to get to it. There is a little rubber bumper with a screw. Take that screw out, and you can pull the plastic piece off. Hopefully you'll find the nut behind there. Since I was missing the screw, magnet, and nut, I ended up buying that entire plastic trim piece that came with those parts installed. It was about $20.

 

[zmf]

Thanks - this helped. I figured that was more of an assembly than a plastic panel, but boy do I hate pulling on those trim pieces without knowing exactly what's behind there, especially when it's cold out.

For the record, the bottom section hooks in under a metal bar, so it must be pried from the top. There's one molded plastic clip, and then one of those white inserts near the middle.

I don't know why I thought I'd be able to find the nut in there. I removed as much of the upholstery as I dared and poked around and found nothing. Rather than try to find a matching nut for that tiny bolt, I just poked a hole in some old plastic T molding and threaded it on. Seems to work for now, and I'm not worried about losing that in the back.

-Z