Never had i folded them down and i ignored the step guide on the side of the seat.

I pulled the cushion out like you are supposed to do. But then i pulled the wrong lever (which is supposed to be only used when tilting the seat to let people in) and ppulled the lower lever to push the seat down. i should have known i was doing it wrong because i had to force the seatback into the down position with some strength and yet it still would not lock. I gave up and put the seat back up and noticed that the bench kept sliding forward and wont lock. So now anyone who sits behind me will be sliding back and forward with the motionm of the vehicle.

I took alook at what i may have damaged and its a rod attached to a bracket that engages the lock.. the rod and latch which holds the rod are completely bent.

Read and follow labels to the idiots like me.

 

Would these help fix the problem?

NEW OEM 2000 - 2005 EXCURSION SEAT LATCH PAIR 2ND ROW | eBay

 

Ouch - why I always offer to assist my passengers

They think I'm being nice !!!

 

Just for kicks, you could accelerate and brake really hard...especially when they're drinking a beverage. That shoulder belt would be a real pain since it's fixed on the pillar and the bench sliding back and forth...

 

If you're a bit handy, you may be able to re-straighten it with a pair of pliers. May have to pull the seat and turn it upside down to get at it but as long as the metal didn't break, you could give it a shot. I suspect the job won't be that bad, just a little time consuming. Also wear gloved, there tends to be a lot of sharp parts under the seats.

Bet swallowing your pride was harder than the fix may be

 

thanks everybody, what i did was bend the metal back like Jasonodsky suggested and it worked. i just hope it lasts haha. Pretty big cargo area!!

 

Mine was like that when u got it. I always wondered how that happened. We ended up bending them back with pliers and changed out the springs
Worked like a champ. U have not ruined them

 

My seats are totally out.

 

Ya i kind of want them out now, just in case they may go forward in an accident. plus i dont need them and im planning on putting a tv in the back with video games ( spare time on my hands )

 

how much hardware shows with the seats out? coverable?