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84 Laser XE, the seat back latches are not catching. The seats can just be flipped forward. Since this happens on both sides I’m thinking the previous owners did something to make getting in and out of the back easier. I took a hinge cover off but nothing is jumping out at me as to what’s wrong. Any one know anything about adjusting these? I have the FSM but can’t find any information about that. Has anyone ever ran into this? Any thoughts?
Thanks
The grease is probably all sticky causing the pawl to not engage. Try spraying a little WD40 on the mechanism.
I know 84 seats are unique
I do not know if the 84 seats have an inertia latch on the seats.. does the passenger seat flop forwards when you mash the brakes..?
some older seats have a seatback catch that only "catches" when in a panic stop or frontal impact
I had a buddy with an 84 lazer back in the 80's .. spent a lot of time in that car but I can't remember having to flip a release to tilt the seatback forward
I do know the later seats aren't much good in a substantial rear end collision.. same buddy , 89 shelby daytona.. pounded in the rear by a topaz doing 50-60 kph.. my buddy stopped for a light .. reached for his coffee and then found himself looking up out the top of the rear window and noted he had started sliding up the rear seat back ..lap belt around his knees..
70-80 kph and he probably would have been ejected out the back window as the car was kicked out from under him
Honestly that sounds like that seat was broken.
no buddy's shelby was only 4 or 5 months old at the time .. brand new '89
Only thing I can say is I've been in 3 rear enders with G-bodies, 1 was an '84 (I was probably 8 or so), 2 others were in a 90 and the 90 got punted pretty hard by an Omni without me in it once...never had that happen.
I talked to another 84 laser owner and he says the black handle on the side of the seat must be lifted to get the seat back to tilt forward. I have taken the hinge cover off and took a video. I need to upload it to somewhere so I can post a link. This place doesn’t host pictures?
https://photos.app.goo.gl/aSXvCRaD4htySeHo6. This should link to a video of the hinge with the cover off