Right seat back will not lower High effort to raise seat back Right seat latch recliner may not disengage (ASS Only)

Cause 6

This condition may be caused by one or more of the following conditions:

– Seat back cushion recliner latch cable may have too much slack in the cable.

– Excessive friction between the pawl and sector inside the inboard seat back recliner latch assembly.

Correction 6

Inspect the right seat inboard recliner latch cable for proper adjustment and inspect the latch for excessive friction or binding. Adjust or replace components as appropriate.

First design right seat inboard recliner latch and cable shown. Note design of release lever (1) and cable end (2).

Second design right seat inboard recliner latch and cable shown. Note design of release lever (1) and cable end (2).

The first design right seat inboard recliner latch and cable were used in 2007-2008. The first design inboard recliner latch cable (1) is not adjustable. The second design inboard recliner latch cable (2) is adjustable.

Note: If the vehicle is equipped with the first design parts, and the reclined latch or cable need replacement, they must both be replaced with the second design parts.

1. Using the seat back release lever #1, attempt to lower the seat back.

2. If the seat back cannot be lowered, or binds while lowering, perform the following steps to lower the seat back.

1. Reaching over the seat back, carefully lift the rubber seal portion (1) of the inboard recliner latch trim cover to access the latch release.

2. Using a long flat-blade screwdriver (2). press downward on the inboard latch release bar (3).

3.  While depressing the inboard latch release bar. using foot behind seat, lift the seat back release lever #1, and lower the seat back. With the seat back lowered, remove the seat. Using seat  removal handle #3 only, pull straight rearward (do not lift)  to slide the seat back and remove.

4. If the seat cannot be removed, refer to Condition 5 in this Bulletin.

5. Place the seat assembly on a clean workbench.

6. If equipped with the first design inboard recliner system  (shown above), and if the  inboard recliner latch will not release using the seat back release lever #1, the both the inboard recliner latch and latch cable need to be replaced with the second design parts.

1. Remove the inboard recliner seat back latch. Refer to rear Seat Inner Recliner Replacement in SI.

Tip: The recliner latch bolts are self-tapping.

2. Install the inboard recliner seat back latch and tighten the bolts.

Tighten
Tighten all of the seat recliner bolts to 50 Nm (37 lb ft).

3. Replace the seat back cushion recliner latch cable with the new design cable (2).

Refer to rear Seat Back Cushion Latch Cable Replacement in SI.

4. Following the latch and cable replacement, perform the following steps to ensure proper operation is restored.

7. If equipped with the second design inboard recliner system (shown above), inspect the inboard latch release cable (2) for proper adjustment:

1. Remove the seat lower trim panels. Refer to Rear Seat Number 2 Cushion Panel Replacement in SI.

2. Release the inboard recliner latch cable adjustment lock Button.

3. Manually cycle the inboard and outboard recliner latches to raise and lower the seat back.

4. Ensure the seat back is in the fully raised position and ensure the latches are fully latched.

5. Press in to secure the inboard recliner latch cable adjustment Lock button.

6. Using seat back release lever #1, attempt to lower the seat back.

7. If the seat back will still not lower properly, remove and inspect the inboard recliner latch for excessive friction or binding.

8. If the inboard recliner latch does not show any signs of excessive friction or binding, replace the recliner latch cable with a new cable. Refer to Rear Seat Back Cushion Latch Cable Replacement in SI.

Adjust the new cable:
1. Ensure the inboard recliner latch cable adjustment lock button is released, or pulled out.

2. Manually cycle the inboard and outboard recliner latches to raise and lower the seat back.

3. Ensure the seat back is in the fully raised position and ensure the latches are fully latched.

4. Press in to secure the inboard recliner latch cable adjustment lock button.

5. Using seat back release lever #1, attempt to lower the seat back.

10. If the inboard latch does show signs of excessive friction or binding, replace the inboard latch using the following steps:

Important
Manually locking the recliner latches will allow the seat back to be folded up and down during repair.

1. Remove the inboard recliner seat back latch. Refer to rear Seat Inner Recliner Replacement in SI.
Tip – The recliner latch bolts are self-tapping.

2. Install the inboard recliner seat back latch and tighten the bolts. Tighten all of the seat recliner bolts to 50 Nm (37 lb ft).

3. Adjust the recliner latch cable. Refer to step 10 above “Adjust the new cable.”

Important
The seat back must be in the lowered position before pulling out the center rear seat latch release handle.

4. Install the left rear seat latch release knob and the two 30 mm TORX screws. Tighten the screws to 2 Nm (18 lb in).

Important
For 2007-2008 vehicles, the redesign for the new replacement inboard recliner seat back latch included the elimination of three holes from the original latch, which accepted screws for securing the inboard trim covers. When installing the trim covers to the new seat back latch, the covers will snap together then the one remaining screw location will be used to secure the covers to the latch. Discard the three extra screws.

5. Install the center rear seat latch release handle and the two nuts. Refer to Seat Latch Release Handle Replacement in SI.

Important
The seat back cannot be raised or folded unless properly secured to the floor first.

6. Install the third row passenger seat assembly back into the vehicle. Using two hands on the seat (not the handle) roll the seat into position and allow the front latches to drop securely into place, just under the weight of the seat itself. Press  down firmly on the top rear of the seat to ensure the rear latches are fully secured.

Important
If the seat back locks down in the fold position and will not release to the upright position, the recliner latch cable may need to be readjusted. Refer back to Step 10 “Adjust the new cable.”

7. Using the seat back release lever #1, cycle the seat back ten complete times to wear in the recliner latch sector and pawl.

8. Remove the seat from the vehicle. With the seat back lowered, using seat removal handle #3 Only, pull straight rearward (do not lift) to slide seat back and
remove.

9. Install the third row passenger seat back into the vehicle. Using two hands on seat (not handle) roll seat into position and allow the front latches to drop and secure into place, just under the weight of the seat itself. Press down firmly on top rear of seat to ensure rear latches are fully secured.

10. Verify that the condition has been corrected for the third row seat repair.

Seat will not release from floor.

When this condition is present, the seat will be fully latched to the vehicle but will not release. When the removal handle #3 is activated to remove the seat, the outboard seat latch will release, but the inboard seat latch will not release, or both the outboard and inboard latches will not release. This is Not an intermittent condition. Once this occurs in the vehicle, the seat will not tumble or release from the vehicle for removal.

Cause 5

This condition may be caused by one or more of the control cables, located in the lower seat assembly, coming out of its retaining bracket. If this occurs, the outboard seat latch will release but the inboard seat latch will not release, or both latches will not release.

Correction 5

Use the following steps to remove the affected seat, revise the cable bracket and secure the cable using a cable tie strap. This procedure will require the replacement of the seat trim. The original panel will be unusable after the access hole is created.

1. Locate the area to drill the access hole. On the right seat, the location is next to release lever #2 (1). On the left seat, the location is inboard of release handle #3 (2).

2. Protect the carpet with cardboard as shown.
Note: Ensure that the hole saw centering drill does not protrude more than 3.0 mm (1/8 in) past the saw teeth. This is to prevent the drill bit from damaging the seat cover.

3. Using a drill equipped with a 45 mm (1-3/4 in) hole saw. drill an access hole as shown.

4. Apply forward pressure on the cable end with a large standard screwdriver through the access hole (1). This will release the inboard latch. Pull straight rearward on removal handle #3 to release the seat assembly from the vehicle.

5. With the seat assembly removed from the vehicle, remove the lower seat trim panels. Refer to Rear Seat Number 2 Cushion Panel Replacement in SI.

6. Clean the latch area of any plastic debris left from the drilling procedure.

7. Observe correct seat latch release cable routing as shown in the image above.

8. Locate the release cable(s) that are out of the bracket(s).

9. Clip the cables into the brackets.

10.  Ensure the affected cable(s) is are fully seated in the bracket(s).

11.  Using a large pair of locking-type pliers, squeeze the cable brackets as shown. This will lock the cable into the bracket.

12.  To ensure that the cable stays in position, install a cable tie strap as shown. This step only applies to the bracket with two cables.

13. Install a new lower seat trim panel. Re-install the side trim panels. Refer to Rear Seat Number 2 Cushion Panel Replacement in SI.

14.  Install the seat assembly and confirm the proper operation of the tumble and release functions. Cycle the seat functions five times to verify the repairs.

Seat will not fully raise to tumbled (folded forward) position

Cause 4

This condition may be caused by letting go of lever #2 too early, and or pulling on seat removal handle #3 while attempting to raise the seat to the tumbled position.

If it is found that the issue is not a result of improper lever operation, as explained above, then this condition may be caused by one or both of the front seat latches not fully securing to the floor strikers.

Correction 4

1. Remove the seat. Using seat removal handle #3 Only, pull straight rearward (do not lift) to slide seat back and remove.

2. With the seat folded and lying flat on the cargo area floor, using two hands on the seat (not release handle #3) roll the seat into position and allow the front latches to drop and secure into place, just under the weight of the seat itself. Press down firmly on the top rear of the seat to ensure the rear latches are fully secured.

3. Raise the folded seat up to tumbled position: Lift and hold lever #2 Only (do Not grasp seat removal handle #3, as this may partially disengage the front latches), until the seat is about 1/2 way up.

4. If the seat will still not fully raise to the tumbled position, using seat removal handle #3 Only, pull straight rearward (do not lift) to slide seat back.

5. With the seat folded and lying flat on the cargo area floor, using two hands on the seat (not release handle #3), roll the seat into position and Provide Additional Force to help the front latches drop and fully secure into place. Press down firmly on the top rear of the seat to ensure the rear latches are fully secured.

6. Raise the folded seat up to tumbled position: Lift and hold lever #2 Only (do Not grasp seat removal handle #3, as this may partially disengage the front latches), until the seat is about 1/2 way up.

Seat back will raise but will not latch in upright position

Cause 3
This condition may be caused by an interference condition causing the seat back release lever #1 to bind.

Correction 3
Inspect for seat back release lever to trim cover clearance:

1. Inspect the seat back release lever for freedom of movement and sufficient clearance to the seat trim. The release lever shown does not have sufficient clearance (1) to the trim.

2. Raise and hold the seat back in the upright position while carefully moving the release lever outboard slightly to free the lever.

3. If the seat back will not remain secured in the upright position, adjust the release lever just enough to provide freedom of movement from the trim.

4. Operate the seat back several times to confirm proper function.

Seat back will not raise fully to upright position.

Cause 2
This condition may be caused by the rear latches not being fully secured.

Correction 2
Inspect to ensure rear seat latches are fully seated:

1. With the seat back down, release and partially lift the rear of the seat using Only the tumble release lever Do Not pull the seat removal handle #3, as this would
partially disengage the front latches.

2. Using firm pressure on the seat back, press the rear of the seat down to fully secure the rear latches to the floor strikers.

3. Raise the seat back to the upright position.

4. If the seat back still cannot be raised to the upright position, the front latches may not be fully seating to the strikers or may be out of sync, causing the rear strikers to not seat properly. Refer to Condition 1 in this bulletin to investigate and correct front latch operation, then re-check the rear latch operation.

Front and or rear latches of seat will not fully secure to the strikers in floor. Front latches of seat difficult to release from strikers in floor. Squeak noise from seat with seats in tumbled (folded forward) position.

Cause 1

This condition may be caused by one or more of the following conditions:

-Excessive body sealer below the floor striker, causing interference with the front seat latch during installation.

-The plastic carpet escutcheon (track cover) may not be property seated to the floor strikers.

– The metal seat roller bar near the front underside of the seats may be contacting the plastic seat carpet escutcheon.

-The seat front floor latches may be in the tumble position, and or the seat roller bar may be twisted or out of sync, causing the latches to be out of sync.

Correction 1

Inspect valley below floor strikers:

Inspect the valley below the floor striker for the presence of excessive body sealer (1)

If the sealer (1) is making contact with the seat roller, remove the excessive sealer to allow the latch to fully seat to the striker.Inspect carpet escutcheon to floor striker fit.

Inspect carpet escutcheon to floor striker fit:

Visually inspect the carpet escutcheon to see if it is correctly seated to the floor strikers. An improperly seated escutcheon (2) is shown. There are three escutcheons for the third row. Inspect each escutcheon.

Fully seat the plastic seat escutcheon into the correct position to the strikers, as necessary. (It may be necessary to protect the escutcheons and use a rubber mallet to provide force for seating.)

Inspect seat roller bar to carpet escutcheon fit:

With the seat in the tumbled (folded forward) position, visually inspect to determine if there is contact (1) between the metal seat roller bar and the plastic carpet escutcheon.

If contact is present, first ensure the carpet escutcheons have been inspected and fully seated, (mentioned previously). Next verify the customer concern: With the seat still in the tumbled position, wiggle the seat; push the seat outboard while wiggling. Listen for squeak noises. Observe for contact wear witness marks on the carpet escutcheons.

Remove both third row seats using seat removal handle #3 Only, pull straight rearward (do not lift) to slide seat back and remove.

If there was contact between the seat roller bar and carpet escutcheon, with the escutcheons fully seated, note the location of contact or witness marks (3) on the roller bar.

Cut two pieces of 30 mm x 40 mm (12 in x 1.6 in) flock tape. Use polyester 0.8 mm (0.031 in) thick flock (or felt) tape *Such as Kent Industries Part – KT134S6.

Apply tape to the inboard angled section of the seat roller bar (4). Make sure that the seam (gap when wrapping tape around bar) of this tape is NOT at the contact area witness mark noted previously. Install tape to both seats.

Install both seats. With the seat folded and lying flat on the cargo area floor, using two hands on the seat (not release handle #3), roll the seat into position and allow the front latches to drop and secure into place, just under the weight of the seat itself. Press down firmly on the top rear of the seat to ensure the rear latches are fully secured.

Verify that the customer concern has been eliminated. Inspect to be sure that any contact areas on the seat bar are covered by flock tape (5).

Inspect seat latches and seat roller bar:
Remove the seat. Using seat removal handle #3 Only, pull straight rearward (do not lift) to slide seat back and remove.

Place the seat on its back so the latches are visible. The above image shows the latches in the correct position.

Inspect the latches to ensure they are not in the tumble position. The above image shows the latches in the tumble position.

If the latches are in the tumble position, place the seat in an upright position on a firm surface. With the back folded down, pull up on the tumble lever #2 while pushing down on the seat to reset the latches.

If the front floor latches are in the correct position and the condition still exists, visually inspect the seat roller bar (1) for a twisted or out of sync condition. The roller bar (1) is straight in the above image.

 Note: If the seat roller bar is twisted or out of sync, replace the roller bar, Do Not replace the complete latch assembly.

If the seat roller bar (2) appears to be twisted or out of sync, as shown in the above image, replace the roller bar (2).

To replace the roller bar (1), remove the two Torx (2) bolts and remove the roller bar.

Ensure the latches are properly aligned, then install the new roller bar and tighten the bolts. Tighten Tighten the two Torx bolts to 16 Nm (12 lb ft).

Verify proper seat operation:
Install the seat. With the seat folded and lying flat on the cargo area floor, using two hands on the seat (not release handle #3), roll the seat into position and allow the front latches to drop and secure into place, just under the weight of the seat itself. Press down firmly on top rear of seat to ensure the rear latches are fully secured.

Raise the folded seat up to the tumbled position: Lift and hold lever #2 Only (Do Not grasp seat removal handle #3. as this may partially disengage the front latches), until the seat is about 1/2 way up.