940 estate split-folding rear seats
 

Hi team,

I drove my 1992 Volvo 940 GLE estate to pick up some furniture I bought off eBay for the first time in a blue moon - only to find the split folding rear seats letting me down.

The seat back of the single, offside seat folds forwards happily. The seat back of the double, nearside seat (outer passenger and smaller middle seat) doesn't fold at all. The plastic lever doesn't release the catch by the C-pillar.

I managed to prise the plastic lever off, put a hook against the cable inside the seat, tug on this cable (pulling it away from the C-pillar) and release the catch by the C-pillar. However, the seat is still blocked from moving forward by something in the seat back towards the middle of the car.

Is there a further release catch by the middle seat - and if so, how can I release this using a hook/pliers?

I'll fold the seat forwards and then try to rebuild the catch release mechanism using the plastic lever.

Thanks!

Hard to be sure as mine is working correctly, but I cannot see any mechanism for this. The seat is held only by a hinge at the bottom of the seat in the join point between the double and single and some assisting springs in the middle and door side.

It is very rigid as it is only held at 3 points, and I suspect you have not fully released the catch at the door side.

What Tony said ^^^^^ :thumbs_up:

Check the seat belt hasn't been caught as the seat back has relocated itself in the catch, this make it hard to release the seat back from the catch. Also have you lifted the seat cushions? That makes it easier to release the back as well.

After that, try jiggling the backrest in a variety of directions while trying to release the catch.