I'm an idiot. Please help!
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Junior User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 65
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From: Raleigh, N.C.
I'm an idiot. Please help!
I have an '01 SuperCrew and I took the rear seat head rests out to fold the seats down when i went on a trip. When i put the head rests back in, i mistakenly put one in backwards (its not as obvious as you would think as to which way faces front). It did not go in very far (maybe to the first notch) but it is really stuck and i cannot get it to come back out or go down any farther. I have tried WD-40 with no luck at all. Any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 207
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From: North Bay, ON
NCF 150, maybe your dealer has some ideas. They have to have done this themselves before. I would think that more force might get it out, unless you used lots to put it in there. Maybe try wiggling it side to side while getting some good torque on it upwards?
And Rambo, what are you doing - increasing your post numbers? I don't think too much of your suggestion, personally. I don't think it was intended to help.
And Rambo, what are you doing - increasing your post numbers? I don't think too much of your suggestion, personally. I don't think it was intended to help.
Elder User
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 778
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Now, Now, lets all play nice or its the bighouse for us. NCF150 you might try to post under the paint and body forum as well. There might be a body shop tech that can help you out. I am sure your not the only one to do this. Let us know how it works out, or you solve this.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 125
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From: Edison NJ
I've done that B4 on other cars when I was an installer (car stereos and electronics). What happens is, the noches are on one side and smooth on the other and a wedge type pressure occurs. The lube is good, but what your going to have to do is muscle it up. Use a rubber mallot and pounce up on the head rest. It will come out. also while doing this, if there is a release lever or tab, keep that pressed in while hammering up.
DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK!!!!!! This was how it was done at our shop when all else fails. Plus it never did any harm- I'd say it happened to 12-15 cars out of 8 years
Mike
DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK!!!!!! This was how it was done at our shop when all else fails. Plus it never did any harm- I'd say it happened to 12-15 cars out of 8 years
Mike
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2004
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This may not be the most helpful reply, but hitting the head rest with a rubber mallet? Eeesh. Gives me the chills just thinking about that for some reason :P
What does it bolt down to? Couldn't you get under the truck and tap them up/out?
What does it bolt down to? Couldn't you get under the truck and tap them up/out?
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Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Homer, Alaska
Actually, my reply was more for the humor value than anything else. From reading the topic that NCF150 picked, I was pretty sure he could handle a little joke. As you might know, when things go wrong with your truck, it tends to get you in a bad mood, especially if you did something to cause it, like putting a headrest on backwards. I was simply trying to lighten his mood a little, so I actually was helping him. I'm so sorry if you had to waste 2 seconds of your life reading my little reply, and I'm even sorrier you wasted 15 seconds with your reply to mine.
Maybe I dont know something, but does post count matter? Do I get a cookie at 100 posts or something? Kind of ridiculous if you ask me to accuse someone of just trying to up their post count, but hey, whatever ya gotta do to be happy.
Maybe I dont know something, but does post count matter? Do I get a cookie at 100 posts or something? Kind of ridiculous if you ask me to accuse someone of just trying to up their post count, but hey, whatever ya gotta do to be happy.
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 22,436
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From: Louisville,Ky.
It's all good! I to prefer a little humor when I am frustrated, especially if I am the one that caused the problem to start with !! To err is human. Boy am I human, I have gotten myself into these type of situations too many times. The one good thing is that when you learn the hard way, You never forget!!!
Just the other day, I went thru all of the trouble of changing the tensioner pulley on my 96 Windstar. After jacking up the engine and getting just the right angle with my prybar (Why couldn't Ford have used a 1/4" shorter bolt that wouldn't hit the frame instead of coming out) I finally got the new pulley on and the bolt started after skinning my forearms on hose clamps and things, and wouldn't ya know that my prybar slipped and when the tensioner snapped back it broke off the locating pin that holds the whole assembly from turning. I ended up having to remove the whole tensioner and replacing it (luckly I had a complete used unit). The moral of the story is, I know now to remove the whole assembly if the pulley needs replacing. Yes I learned the hard way, but the frustration and scars on my arms will keep me from doing it the wrong way the next time.
ANYWAY,
any luck on getting the headrest back out yet?
Jimmy
To err is human. Boy am I human, I have gotten myself into these type of situations too many times. The one good thing is that when you learn the hard way, You never forget!!! Just the other day, I went thru all of the trouble of changing the tensioner pulley on my 96 Windstar. After jacking up the engine and getting just the right angle with my prybar (Why couldn't Ford have used a 1/4" shorter bolt that wouldn't hit the frame instead of coming out) I finally got the new pulley on and the bolt started after skinning my forearms on hose clamps and things, and wouldn't ya know that my prybar slipped and when the tensioner snapped back it broke off the locating pin that holds the whole assembly from turning. I ended up having to remove the whole tensioner and replacing it (luckly I had a complete used unit). The moral of the story is, I know now to remove the whole assembly if the pulley needs replacing. Yes I learned the hard way, but the frustration and scars on my arms will keep me from doing it the wrong way the next time.
ANYWAY,
any luck on getting the headrest back out yet?
Jimmy
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Junior User
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Raleigh, N.C.
Finally
OK, thanks for all the sugestions and help, I was able to get the head-rest out! After pulling and lubricating and trying all kinds of wrenches , it was obvious that even though there was no push tab on the side that was stuck, it had locked into the first notch on the head-rest post and there was no way to just pull or bang it out. Eventually, I pulled the rectangle cap off the entry hole where you put the head-rest post in (on the side without a push tab) and exposed the same push tab mechanism but hidden inside. One push with the finger and the head-rest came right out. I guess Ford uses the same entry part for both the notched and un-notched sides but they cover the tab on the un-notched side. In my opinion, there should be no way to put the head-rest in backwards (a square post on one side and round on the other for example) to avoid this problem. I hope this helps someone with the same problem in the future, that is if anyone else is as dumb as me for doing it in the first place.
Moderator
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 22,436
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From: Louisville,Ky.
Glad you got it out!!! If I ever remove mine, I will be sure to pay attention as to how they came out.
Thanks for letting us know how you got it back apart. I'm sure it will help one of us someday.
Jimmy
Thanks for letting us know how you got it back apart. I'm sure it will help one of us someday.
Jimmy
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 648
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From: Canyon Lake, Tx. 78133
Now if someone can just figure out how to keep the headrest cover "closed". I've worked & worked & finally got them to "snap", the in a few minutes they just "pop" apart again. I have finally got to where it doesn't bother me for them to not be done right!