Rear seat lock help - '88

[ejp]

I had to use the rear seats in my '88 in a pinch yesterday. The rear seat locks have always been stiff and a bit rusty. I've applied some PB blaster to the locks in the past, but it hasn't helped much...so I've always just left the seats down in package-shelf mode.

Anyway, I tried to put one of the back seats back down, and the red seat lock knob pulled straight off. The threads all appear intact on the knob, but it appears that the spring has pulled the screw all the way inside of the lock, so there is no way of threading the knob back on without pulling the whole assembly apart:


The other one is still intact, but its operation is consistent with its rusty appearance - it's really sticky, and may come apart like the other side:


I've looked through our host's pages and the Porsche online parts PDF - I can't seem to find a part number for the seat locks. Has anyone found these for sale, or have a parts number?

Alternatively, has anyone had much success on pulling these apart and cleaning them out?

Thanks!

[Bob Kontak]

The hinge assy is in the picture. I was unable to find the other parts in the online pdf catalog here.

[86 911 Targa]

Originally Posted by ejp

I had to use the rear seats in my '88 in a pinch yesterday. The rear seat locks have always been stiff and a bit rusty. I've applied some PB blaster to the locks in the past, but it hasn't helped much...so I've always just left the seats down in package-shelf mode.

Anyway, I tried to put one of the back seats back down, and the red seat lock knob pulled straight off. The threads all appear intact on the knob, but it appears that the spring has pulled the screw all the way inside of the lock, so there is no way of threading the knob back on without pulling the whole assembly apart:


The other one is still intact, but its operation is consistent with its rusty appearance - it's really sticky, and may come apart like the other side:


I've looked through our host's pages and the Porsche online parts PDF - I can't seem to find a part number for the seat locks. Has anyone found these for sale, or have a parts number?

Alternatively, has anyone had much success on pulling these apart and cleaning them out?

Thanks!

Hope this helps:



Good luck,

Gerry

[ejp]

Originally Posted by 86 911 Targa

Hope this helps:



Good luck,

Gerry

Awesomesauce - thank you so much!

[reachme]

I cleaned these out over the winter, here are my notes:

To bring the seats down without stress on the red pull, I always push the seat backs a little further back first to take pressure off them. Then pull red handle, then bring them down.
If you open that up, you will see (part # 18 above) is a strong spring and plastic threads will lose the battle over time if you don't make it easy on them.

Here is what it looks like when you take it apart. Unscrew starting on the outside screw holding seat top first. (remove cap, unscrew). Then slide the seat top off this pivot pin in the center. The rest is straightforward.

1 is the pivot point to raise and lower the seat

2 is the stop for the seat back

3 is a nylon stop that slides over the seat back stop that degrades over time. Never able to find a Porsche part replacement but Sears had something very close. My advice is Do not omit this, the seat top will wiggle back and forth just a bit when fully raised but the bigger issue for me was all the force on the back of the seat goes to the center and pushes back on the pin only when the nylon tube is gone or slipped. This widened the hole that the pin locks into. I fixed it but insurance is having that nylon tube that shows up on no parts lists I could find.
Here is a better shot of the good one on the other side (the original OEM)


Here is the pin that responds very well to a little lubrication.

I have more pics if you get stuck
Good luck

Matt