5 door G Wagen rear seats question

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Wed, 06/04/2011 - 22:47
mikemike39
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Location: Suffolk

My 2008 G has a split rear seat - ie 2 and 1 seats.  Each section will lay flat if you pull the catch at the side of the top of it to release it - you have to pull the catch scarily hard though.  Then if you want you can release the catch at the bottom and tip it full forward.

What has happened is that both sections of the bench are now released and laying flat.  I can release the bottom catch and rock them forward no problem - and click them back in.  What I do not know how to do is to make them sit back up straight - ie so you can sit on them. 

I suspect I pull the same catch I had to pull scarily hard to release them in the first place from the normal position - but I don't want to break these catches if that is not the right thing to do

Doesn't seem to be in the manual (or I'm too thick to find it)

Can any kind soul help me?

Cheers Mike

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Thu, 07/04/2011 - 08:20
#1
fixwin38
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Re: 5 door G Wagen rear seats question

Hi Mike
the seat back control lever is the one at the top of the back on the outer edge.... these move through  a radius of about thirty degrees and are stiff as they have to pull the latches for the back out of the seat base frame...the lift and forward tilt lever for the complete seat is just above the carpet in the seat base -- upper back levers are better accessed from the load space....

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Thu, 07/04/2011 - 08:34
#2
M2dxb
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Re: 5 door G Wagen rear seats question

I suspect I pull the same catch I had to pull scarily hard to release them in the first place from the normal position - but I don't want to break these catches if that is not the right thing to do
Yes indeed you can release them in the same way. It helps if you push down a bit on the seatback to help release the catch. They do it for safety's sake so the seat stays put when folded. These mechanisms are barely used so they get a bit stiff, and the metal rods in the mechanism may flex, but they are fairly robust, so I doubt you'd break anything.

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Thu, 07/04/2011 - 10:15
#3
mikemike39
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Re: 5 door G Wagen rear seats question

Many thanks for the replies - really helpful and gave me the confidence that it was right to pull on the lever to release the mechanism  - worked perfectly and now the seats can be sat on which is perfect since I want to drive the G to France tomorrow  - if I can sort out the stainless steel spare tyre cover (see my other thread!) and it will be much more comfortable in th back with proper seats!!

Cheers Mike

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Thu, 07/04/2011 - 11:51
#4
bigblock
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Re: 5 door G Wagen rear seats question

I had the same problem with one of the seatbacks and discovered that a small coin (5p) had become lodged in the mechanism at the side of the seat causing it to become very stiff.

It may also help if you pull back the plastic cover on both sides of each seat back, near the base and spray some release oil over the catches. If you do this with the seat in a part folded position you can then work the release lever backwards and forwards with no tension on it to allow the oil to penetrate.

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