Rear Seat Locking Mechanism

[neomedic]

I had to move a big box today and had the rear seats folded down.

Now I'm trying to get it to lock back in place and can't for the life of me. Tried looking at the manual and didn't find anything about rear seats in the index.

How do I lock it back down? I tried to push it hard / slam it back and nothing engages. Still folds down with a simple pull of the seats. The little red tab on top of back deck is still up. After slamming the seat back up, I tried to push the red tab down, but they won't move at all no matter how hard I press. What am I doing wrong?

thanks.

[SoCalS4Avant]

The tab should be up to go back in the locking position. It's down when it's locked into place. Maybe somethings stuck, or in the way (seat belt?). I usually forcefully put mine back into place.

[Greedo]

If the brackets that stick out of the interior pieces are even slightly off the seat won't lock into place. When I removed mine I had twisted them too far in and they wouldn't catch the locking mechanism on the back of the seat. Just another option for something to look at.

[madkimchi]

once you fold down your seat a "red" tab will pop up(on top of your rear seat near headrest). if that tab gets pushed down your seat won't latch back down. this happened to me before and its super easy to fix. look down where it actually has the latching locks on rear seat. you will have to look inside the black plastic trim piece and there will be small metal piece you can push back up(?) then you will hear a click and that "red" tab will go back up. then you will be able to close your rear seat again.

it's hard for me to explain but it happened to me before and it's actually super easy to fix.

[madkimchi]

http://www.automobilemag.com/feature.../photo_07.html

click on that link and see the picture. its not the same seat but it will do the job. you see the hole on rear seat? that's where you need to look and look towards the top of the seat. there is a small metal piece that you need to push up to reset.

[adub]

Did you say locking mechanisms? On vehicles?

[yObOyGeo]

Did you say locking mechanisms? On vehicles?

AHAHAHAAAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAH

[RicardoTG]

I had to move a big box today and had the rear seats folded down.

Now I'm trying to get it to lock back in place and can't for the life of me. Tried looking at the manual and didn't find anything about rear seats in the index.

How do I lock it back down? I tried to push it hard / slam it back and nothing engages. Still folds down with a simple pull of the seats. The little red tab on top of back deck is still up. After slamming the seat back up, I tried to push the red tab down, but they won't move at all no matter how hard I press. What am I doing wrong?

thanks.

Not sure if you fixed this, but I had this same issue when I first picked up my S4. I was told by the dealer that the locking mechanism probably broke and it would be at least a grand to get into the seat, inspect/repair it, get someone to sew the seat back up, etc. Yea, right.

HOWEVER I got a little time to tinker with it a little later, and played around with the catch pin. I moved it forward a little bit and voila, the seat locked right in.

I'd suggest you check the lock on the seat, and if it doesn't seem frozen (i.e. you can actuate it with your finger) then the catch pin is probably the issue. It's pretty easy to loosen/retighten.

[adioman6000]

Back from the dead....
How did you guys end up fixing this? I spent an hour adjusting the pin/screw by quarter turns and it won't lock. The locking mechanism inside the actual seat is fine.

[acohn322]

I'd also like to know if anyone got this problem fixed. Played golf and put the back seats down to make it easier to get the clubs in and out and now the smaller side (rear driver side) won't latch. Stealership told me I'd have to set up an appointment and they'd have to take it apart. Kiss my ass. I'm not paying through the nose for them to do it, yet I can't stand knowing there's something "wrong" with the car.

[S4orgy]

Try taking the key and twisting in the lock back and forth.

[LOUDERPLEASE]

Same thing happened to mine.

I lubed it with silicone spray. Fixed.

My theory is that being under the back window in the sun it all dries up and seizes with age.

[PNW Avant]

From my experience its the lock pin. I had the same issues as you guys, spent an hour with the lock pin (it moves in ALL directions for adjustment). Eventually you can get it.

If you think it's the actual latch, operate and lock the latch by hand to see if its closing and releasing properly.

Lol at taking apart and "sewing" the rear seat. I have had the seat covers off of a set of rear recaros and that is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. Oh the joys of the dealership. It's a bit of a pain on your fingers, but removing the seat cover from the seat back is easy.

[acohn322]

I decided to take a shot at it again this morning and I fixed it quite easily. It's a little hard to describe, but all it took was me using my finger to push into the locking mechanism in the back of the seat (to where the mechanism within the seat would be once it was latched correctly) and then undoing it again with my finger. Then when I tried it again and it worked. Maybe my problem isn't the same or as bad as others but it's certainly something to try. Then again, maybe me slamming it over and over again out of pure frustration knocked something loose and "warmed it up". Anyhow, I hope this helps for you guys and, if not, I hope you figure it out somehow.

[PNW Avant]

There are a couple degrees of closure from what I've seen with that latch, you must just not have had it completely open and "ready to latch" so to speak. Glad it worked out.

[torquesteer]

I have the reverse problem. One of the rear seats (the "40" part) won't fold down. I can't take it apart either.

[QIKRNU]

Maybe it's a perverse problem.

[TarlCabot]

I decided to take a shot at it again this morning and I fixed it quite easily. It's a little hard to describe, but all it took was me using my finger to push into the locking mechanism in the back of the seat (to where the mechanism within the seat would be once it was latched correctly) and then undoing it again with my finger. Then when I tried it again and it worked. Maybe my problem isn't the same or as bad as others but it's certainly something to try. Then again, maybe me slamming it over and over again out of pure frustration knocked something loose and "warmed it up". Anyhow, I hope this helps for you guys and, if not, I hope you figure it out somehow.

I had to do the same thing with mine :)

[acohn322]

Torquesteer, I know it sounds simple, but make sure it's not locked - there is a keyhole there so you can lock it. Once I finally got mine to latch properly, then it wouldn't fold down. And I thought to myself that I'd rather have it not fold down than not latch, but then I remembered there was a keyhole on top so I checked to see if maybe the guys at the dealership had messed with the lock when I took it in for them to look at. Sure enough, it was locked, and now works properly. I hope that's the culprit for you, because that's an awfully easy fix.

[torquesteer]

Torquesteer, I know it sounds simple, but make sure it's not locked - there is a keyhole there so you can lock it. Once I finally got mine to latch properly, then it wouldn't fold down. And I thought to myself that I'd rather have it not fold down than not latch, but then I remembered there was a keyhole on top so I checked to see if maybe the guys at the dealership had messed with the lock when I took it in for them to look at. Sure enough, it was locked, and now works properly. I hope that's the culprit for you, because that's an awfully easy fix.

Nope, I've tried all the keyhole positions. The lever moves but nothing unlatches (when it's locked, the lever can't move).

[koolade9]

I you don't care about the lock itself, you can take a flathead screwdriver and manually (forcefully) twist the entire locking mechanism. You could also take a 90deg pick and unsnap the lever (where the locking mechanism lies) and unlock the seat that way.

For those having issues with the seat not fully latching when you close it (red tab still up), adjust the large locking pin/bolt on the side bolster a few mm outwards and that should do the trick.

[andivic]

I have the same problem, passenger side rear fold down seat does not go back to locking position. I fixed it by removing the plastic cover (2 scews, a philips and a torx 15). upon carefully examine the plastic cover, I noticed there was a 'bent/deform" of that cover, so I applied heat from hair blow drier and carefully pried it back to "normal" position. Put back everything, passenger rear seat lock normally now.

Also compare the plastic cover with the side that lock "normally", you should be able to figure out easily.

I am not able to attach images here, but it should be very straight forward

[Mech_Mike412]

Reviving this thread. Anybody have a procedure to release a stuck latch? It's unlocked with the key, but the handle will not release the seat back. What should I do? I really need this folding seat working properly.

[mholme]

Reviving this thread. Anybody have a procedure to release a stuck latch? It's unlocked with the key, but the handle will not release the seat back. What should I do? I really need this folding seat working properly.

Isn't that the locked position??

[Mech_Mike412]

Isn't that the locked position??

I don't remember, all I know is it was in the locked position and it won't release

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[mholme]

I don't remember, all I know is it was in the locked position and it won't release

The picture you posted is a locked seat. If that's what you're working with, you'll get no action on the handle in that position. Spin the lock the other way to troubleshoot, if there is anything to troubleshoot.

[Mech_Mike412]

The picture you posted is a locked seat. If that's what you're working with, you'll get no action on the handle in that position. Spin the lock the other way to troubleshoot, if there is anything to troubleshoot.

Trust me when I tell you I already did... It's in the locked position because I started messing with it with a screw driver because I got frustrated lol. I already used the key, put it in the unlocked position, and tried to pull the handle

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