problem with my 240 estate rear seat

Jun 20th, 2004, 11:07

Hello fellow members,
I hope you can advise me on this problem.
The rear seat of my beloved 240 estate F reg (1987)is locked on one side.
I do not know what could have happened but I can tell that the handle seems to required less effort to pull than before, almost as if I dont know , the cable linked to one of the hooks had snapped ??
I cannot find instructions anywhere as to how to deal with this situation nor I can tell what part to dismantle in order to have a good look and deal with the problem.
Anyone experienced this?
Thanks

Clifford Pope · Jun 21st, 2004, 22:26

It could be a cable, or, in my experience, more likely to be a plastic component in the lever system inside the seat.
You really need to lever the catch free with a screwdriver, and then unhitch the whole seat at the bottem. The hinges are sort of mushroom-shaped spring-loaded catches. You need a long screwdriver down the side, to lever the mushroom out so that it disengages from the slot in the seat hinge fitting. Having got one side free, wedge it with something so that it doesn't re-engage when you do the other side.
There is usually a zip in the seat cover, then you can gradually peel it off. The actual mechanism is a bit like the double catch on an up and over garage door, with rather shoddy (for a Volvo) plastic levers. When you get inside and see what is broken, or disconnected, you will be able to judge whether you can replace or bodge it up.
I have once fabricated a metal bit to replace a plastic lug that had broken off, but it might have been easier simply to find another scrap seat.

Good luck!

Jun 22nd, 2004, 16:57

I did mine a few months back. parkside Volvo in Orpington, Kent, got me a new mechanism for about £20. Having got the catch out of the back of the seat, I managaed to hook the operating cable out and pull it with pliers to release the seat. All in a bit fiddly but it works fine now the new mech is installed. All this was achieved with the seat in situ, in the locked position.

vjck_uk · Jun 23rd, 2004, 17:42

My 1988 240 has a steel bar about 8 m/m thick right across the seat and no cables or anything else.
I suppose this cable idea is a more recent idea (cheaper).
Why not just get the seat up as the guys say and then remove/break the catches and leave it.
It's not going anywhere but down is it,and it's certanily not going to jump up with someone sat on there,is it?.
An awful lot of cars don't have any sort of seat securing and just locate on pins.

migrator · Jun 23rd, 2004, 19:21

One of the reasons that these seat backs are firmly locked in the upright position is that they help to stop some loose heavy items from attacking the driver etc in the event of an emergency type stop (usually assisted with a good luggage/dog guard).

vjck_uk · Jun 23rd, 2004, 22:26

Sorry,I thought you all meant the seat squab not the back.
The back certainly has got the wires etc in.

Jun 20th, 2004, 11:07	#1
dino3 Guest Location:	problem with my 240 estate rear seat Hello fellow members, I hope you can advise me on this problem. The rear seat of my beloved 240 estate F reg (1987)is locked on one side. I do not know what could have happened but I can tell that the handle seems to required less effort to pull than before, almost as if I dont know , the cable linked to one of the hooks had snapped ?? I cannot find instructions anywhere as to how to deal with this situation nor I can tell what part to dismantle in order to have a good look and deal with the problem. Anyone experienced this? Thanks

Jun 21st, 2004, 22:26	#2
Clifford Pope Not an expert but ... Last Online: Today 14:48 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Boncath	RE: problem with my 240 estate rear seat It could be a cable, or, in my experience, more likely to be a plastic component in the lever system inside the seat. You really need to lever the catch free with a screwdriver, and then unhitch the whole seat at the bottem. The hinges are sort of mushroom-shaped spring-loaded catches. You need a long screwdriver down the side, to lever the mushroom out so that it disengages from the slot in the seat hinge fitting. Having got one side free, wedge it with something so that it doesn't re-engage when you do the other side. There is usually a zip in the seat cover, then you can gradually peel it off. The actual mechanism is a bit like the double catch on an up and over garage door, with rather shoddy (for a Volvo) plastic levers. When you get inside and see what is broken, or disconnected, you will be able to judge whether you can replace or bodge it up. I have once fabricated a metal bit to replace a plastic lug that had broken off, but it might have been easier simply to find another scrap seat. Good luck!

Jun 22nd, 2004, 16:57	#3
wagoneer Guest Location:	RE: problem with my 240 estate rear seat I did mine a few months back. parkside Volvo in Orpington, Kent, got me a new mechanism for about £20. Having got the catch out of the back of the seat, I managaed to hook the operating cable out and pull it with pliers to release the seat. All in a bit fiddly but it works fine now the new mech is installed. All this was achieved with the seat in situ, in the locked position.

Jun 23rd, 2004, 17:42	#4
vjck_uk Premier member Last Online: Jul 29th, 2017 15:54 Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: southern edge of birmingham	RE: problem with my 240 estate rear seat My 1988 240 has a steel bar about 8 m/m thick right across the seat and no cables or anything else. I suppose this cable idea is a more recent idea (cheaper). Why not just get the seat up as the guys say and then remove/break the catches and leave it. It's not going anywhere but down is it,and it's certanily not going to jump up with someone sat on there,is it?. An awful lot of cars don't have any sort of seat securing and just locate on pins.

Jun 23rd, 2004, 19:21	#5
migrator Aye - him again Last Online: Today 19:07 Join Date: May 2001 Location: HAWICK	RE: problem with my 240 estate rear seat One of the reasons that these seat backs are firmly locked in the upright position is that they help to stop some loose heavy items from attacking the driver etc in the event of an emergency type stop (usually assisted with a good luggage/dog guard). __________________ (Ouch - that's another knuckle ...) VOC 11817

Jun 23rd, 2004, 22:26	#6
vjck_uk Premier member Last Online: Jul 29th, 2017 15:54 Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: southern edge of birmingham	RE: problem with my 240 estate rear seat Sorry,I thought you all meant the seat squab not the back. The back certainly has got the wires etc in.

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