Hi all, mark here. New to this list, old time IBMWR scribber.

The passenger seat in my 2003 (non S) is stuck forward. It seems the front left release (of the four) is not releasing even though the bar seems to rotate . History is the seat was in the extreme reclined position and when released to go upright it went to the far forward position and would not stay in the upright position. I fussed with the activation handle (outboard side) until the seat stayed upright butt then it slid forward and will not go back. Looking under the seat I can see the front and rear bars rotating when I push/lift on the seat release handle but I also see broken plastic clips on the inboard and outboard sides of the slides.

I would first like to get the seat off the far forward position and then address why the seat has a reluctance to remain in the selected vertical angle, either wanting to flop forward or into full recline.

Please feel free to e-mail me direct at domlovil@yahoo.com and I will try to navigate this list to a "history" section for past postings on this subject.

mark domlovil
Dunedin

 

I too have this same problem. Mine is a 2003 S and the passenger seat is stuck in the far forward position. While operating the slide release handle and looking under the seat, I see the rods rotating and depressing the release mechanisms but the left side of the seat stays locked down in the far forward notch.

Anyone have experience with getting this seat un-stuck?

Because the seat is over the bolts that hold the rails to the floor, I cannot remove the seat from the car to work on the issue. And the bolts that hold the seat tot the rails are in such a position that I cannot get the appropriate torque to loosen these bolts either.

So again, I need to hear from anyone who has been able to fix this issue without the dealer doing it for you. Thanks!

 

Here is the link for the fix...

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-is-broke.html

 

this worked for the seat back but..... My seat bottom will still not slide back from the furthest forward position. When I pull up on the lever to unlatch the slide th right side latch seems to release but the left side latch does not this s on the passenger side seat.

any ideas on how to get the seat to slide back?

 

I realize this is a total necro-post, but @ghostone or @domlovil did you ever get this resolved? I'm having the same exact issue.

 

today …. same stuck passenger seat all the way forward. Anyone solve this??

 

I had this exact same issue in my 04 Mini:

• I had to push the seat as far forward as it would go
• Remove the back two bolts that hold the slide rail mechanism in place
• Remove the headrest on the seat in question
• Push the chair up and forward towards the windshield (it will be at an angle) to gain access to the two front bolts via underneath / the back (sitting in the back seat)
• CAREFUL IF YOU PUSH THE CHAIR TOO FAR FORWARD YOU WILL HIT THE WINDSHIELD (yes I cracked my windshield using too much force)
• BUT, I was able to reach the front two bolts using an extension and a swivel head ratchet connection. BARELY and with FORCE.

I removed the seat and was able to replace the chair rail mechanism. The mechanism itself was about $250 I think. It saved a ton of labor costs because the dealer basically said they couldn't do it. At least in my case.

Good luck!

 

I had the same thing happen to the drivers side on my '03 as it got stuck all the way forward today while cleaning seats. A few notes from my stuck seat challenge today

• A set of allen key torx keys can help you reach the front bolts. I used a socket and a channel lock plier. Not ideal, but I was able to crack the bolts loose.
• I did manage to pull all 8 bolts and get the seat out of the way. Be careful of the windscreen.
• I did pull the tensioner mechanism and the tiny torx using a small torx set I had around. Be careful of the plastic piece that connects to the front part of the rail
• I also pulled all 3 wires for the SRS under the seat. They just squeeze and pull out.
• Remove the two torx bolts and reach UNDER the rails and push the pawls with your fingers, yes it may feel stuck/jammed. It took forever. Keep pushing on them and at some point it will come loose.
• The ears holding the release plate with the fingers on it were bent outwards a little, and I bent them back to help reseat the release fork. It helped, but the rail was still not 100%
• I also bent the inner arm a little to give it more angle so the release arm can push it further. Still not 100%
• The torx bolts for the pawls on the rail were also loose. Nobody has mentioned that in any thread I've seen. Once I tightened these the rail works like new. Very smooth now. They probably should have had some Loctite on these but they don't.

I think my mini was trying to tell me something. I ended up really cleaning the seat since I had it out of the car.

 

This looks to be my first project on the new to me mini.

Thanks for the input.